began his career in jazz as pianist with
the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. He
studied piano and composition at the Guildhall
School of Music in London, and jazz with
Lionel Grigson. Moving to Bristol in 1991,
he quickly established himself as a teacher
and performer; working at Wells Cathedral
School by day and gigging by night. Alongside
his jazz career he has found time to research
Jewish music and explore music therapy.
He remains quite sane.
Jake McMurchie
is one of the few jazz musicians
to be a Cambridge-qualified
mathematician. He picked up
the saxophone aged 16 and
has been exercising his digits
ever since. He has performed
with the National Youth Jazz
Orchestra and Bristol contemporary
big band Ultrasound, and is
co-founder of What Four. Though
rooted in the jazz tradition,
Jake's writing and playing
also embraces contemporary
classical, dance and pop music.
Simon Gore
has come a long way since his
days with the Bristol Schools
Dance Orchestra. Simon learned
his craft through cabaret,
theatre and big bands and
emerged in the mid 80's as
the drummer of choice on the
burgeoning Bristol jazz scene.
His propulsive drumming accompanied
Andy Sheppard on the sax-player's
rise to stardom, and he has
played with many other top
jazz players at home and abroad.
He has recently recorded with
funk legend Pee Wee Ellis.
Andy Hague
is a multi-instrumentalist
and composer, but we're only
paying him for his superb
trumpet and flugelhorn playing
(he studied the latter with
Kenny Wheeler). He is an experienced
professional who has recorded
and performed not only with
his own groups but with many
jazz greats and even the pop
group Portishead. He has had
his music broadcast on Radio
3 and despite all this activity
finds time to manage a music
shop and run a successful
jazz club.
Adam Gittins
began his musical career as
a trombonist but switched
to the bass and has never
looked back. He has been a
stalwart of the Bristol jazz
scene for 15 years and is
always in demand for his solid
and imaginative playing. Though
he has played with Andy Sheppard
and other jazz luminaries
he is also willing to help
bands just starting out. Aside
from his jazz work he has
performed with folk and world
music groups including Carmina
and Mopti.
