Regent's Park Festival

Sunday July 4th

ANITA WARDELL
2:30 - 5:00PM

**Winner BBC Jazz Awards 2006/7**
This Award winning singer is another of those powerful and impressive singers who hail from “down under”. Well known as both a teacher and performer, Anita not only performs jazz standards in her own inimitable style, but she is also universally recognised as one of the best “scat” singers in Europe. Invited to perform in New York, she was such a success that she was immediately invited back. This is really good, hard driving jazz from one of the great masters of be-bop vocals.

“..the most creative Jazz singer in London” Evening Standard

“..one of the country’s leading..jazz singers” Jazz UK

Click play if you wish to listen to a sample track by this musician

Sunday July 11th

STAN TRACEY QUARTET
3:00 - 5:30PM

Multi award winning pianist Stan Tracey has been a pivotal figure on the British Jazz scene for more than 50 years. His influence and stature were nicely captured by the title of the recent BBC TV profile, “The Godfather of British Jazz”. A self taught musician by the early 60’s he was the “house” pianist at the original Ronnie Scott’s Club, in Soho. During this period he worked with many of the finest Jazz musicians in the world, establishing an international reputation in the process. Through the 60’s he produced a number of highly acclaimed works, including the “Under Milk Wood” suite and “Alice in Jazzland”. He embraced the turbulent era of 70s improvisation and free jazz, and throughout the 1980s and 90s his triumphant career as an interpreter, arranger and composer earned him the affectionate title of “The English Ellington”. Stan continues to write and work extensively, and it is with enormous pleasure that the we welcome one of the greatest British Jazz musicians of all time.

“Stan Tracey....one of the greats of British Jazz” The Guardian

Sunday July 18th

ALLISON NEAL
3:00 - 5:30PM

A beautifully fluent and inventive player on both Alto sax and flute, Allison plays in a strongly melodic “West Coast”style reminiscent of her main influences Paul Desmond (of Dave Brubeck fame) and Art Pepper. Work in groups such as John Dankworth’s Big Band and “Generations” band have established Alison as one of the scene’s leading melodic sax and flute players. Supported by a rhythm section of some of the best players around, this is fine music from an excellent musician.

“impressive….a talent to savour” Jazz UK

Sunday July 25th

FEMI TOMOWO
3:00 - 5:30PM

Multi-talented guitarist, composer, producer and musical director Femi Tomowo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, arriving in the UK aged 10. He began playing the guitar at the age of 17 and by 2001 had obtained a degree in music from Middlesex University. Already a busy guitarist whilst at University from 2001 Femi travelled the world playing with a variety of artists including George Benson, Terri Walker, Roachford, Jason Rebello and Amy Winehouse. In 2003 saxophonist Soweto Kinch asked him to form part of Soweto’s award-winning quartet. An association that continues to this day. In 2006 Femi set up his own record label, Femitone, that released his debut album “Quiet Storm” to great critical acclaim. Soweto Kinch said of the album, “I really believe that in years to come people will look back and see how important a work it is.” The gig tonight will see Femi’s latest project uniting the rhythms and music of his native Nigeria, particularly the use of the “talking drum” with the modern Jazz feel of his own compositions. Highly recommended.

“Hugely skilled guitarist … see him switch effortlessly between….Afro-beat grooves and a natty line in post-Wes and Benson solo flights.” Jazzwise.

*August*

Sunday August 1st

LILLIAN BOUTTE
2:30 - 5:00PM

On the music scene for more than 30 years Lillian is a monument to Jazz, Gospel and R&B. She has performed and recorded with a myriad of legendary musicians including Jay Mc Shane, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Milt Hinton, Gus Johnson, Doc Cheatham, Arnett Cobb, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Clark Terry and our own Humphrey Lyttleton. She has quite literally travelled the world performing her brand of New Orleans Jazz and R&B. Named "New Orleans Musical Ambassador" in 1986, she was only the second jazz legend in the city's history to be accorded this honour - the first being Louis Armstrong. A successful actress and stage performer as well she appeared in and sung on the sound track of Allan Parker’s “Angel Heart” and was for 4 years a featured performer in the classic stage show “One Mo Time”, performing with the show in New Orleans, Sweden and Brazil. In 1992 she took the show “Spirit of Louisiana” to Germany, in 1992 to 1994 she toured “Gospel United” around Europe culminating in 1995 with Lillian and her group performing in Denmark with a 3,000 voice Gospel choir. Lillian has been touring almost non-stop for the last 18 years doing concerts, club dates and festivals all over the world and with the help of 17 albums featuring jazz, pop, blues, soul and gospel has striven to convey New Orleans’s unique atmosphere to an international audience. Although now based in Europe this has become particularly important for Lillian post Hurricane Katrina and she has been widely praised over the last 3 years for her tireless efforts to raise money for victims and to enable reconstruction work in her devastated home town. A unique singer who blends all that is best in Jazz, Gospel and R&B in one high energy, enormously entertaining package. The band Lillian leads tonight also features one of the UK’s finest guitarists, Denny Ilett.

“A versatile singer from New Orleans now based in Europe, ……she takes a song like "All of Me" and turns it into a work of jazz art. Her rendition of "He Touched Me" reflects the depth of her feeling for her gospel roots. The ballads "I Cried for You" and "For All We Know" are perfect vehicles for showcasing the soft and subtle way that she engages in a song and "Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night" shows her bluesy side. One can understand upon hearing Lillian Boutte sing why music is her life” All Music Guide

Click play if you wish to listen to a sample track by this musician

Sunday August 8th

GARETH LOCKRANE BIG BAND
2:30 - 5:00PM

Over the last couple of years Award Winning Jazz flute player Gareth Lockrane has established himself as one of the finest flautists in Europe with a string of high profile appearances alongside the likes of the James Taylor Quartet, Natalie Williams and Bheki Mseleku. It is a measure of Gareth’s growing International standing that he was recently named “Rising Star on Flute” in the prestigious 2008 Downbeat Critics Poll (USA). This afternoon Gareth will be fronting his 18 piece big band which will perform mainly his arrangements of a mix of originals and classic Jazz standards. Given Gareth’s standing on the UK scene it’s not surprising that his Big Band attracts some of the finest players around, including the likes of Alex Garnett (Van Morrison), Sam Mayne (BBC Big Band), Henry Collins (Amy Winehouse), Trevor Mires (Incognito) and Mike Outram (BBC Big Band). A rare gig by this exceptional band and not to be missed.

“Lockrane’s flute work is exceptional, combining a relaxed fluidity with an acute adventurousness…...very special indeed” Jazzwise

“..formidable” Guardian

“..brilliant” Observer

“Flute phenomenon” Evening Standard

Sunday August 15th

JANDIRA SILVA
2:30 - 5:00PM

Born in Rio de Janiero, Jandira is a highly talented singer whose voice conveys the power of popular Brazilian music. Singing professionally since 1997, her search for wider artistic horizons have taken her from Brazil to Lisbon where she became the resident vocalist at the Casino do Estoril. Now living in London she performs a wonderful selection of rhythmic, enchanting and seductive songs, accompanied by her terrific Brazilian trio.

“..outstanding” Soul Tracks.

Click play if you wish to listen to a sample track by this musician

Sunday August 22nd

CHRISTINE TOBIN
2:30 - 5:00PM

One of the foremost UK Jazz singers for more than 15 years now Award winning vocalist Christine just gets better and better. With 6 cd’s, numerous gigs and a number of high profile interviews to her name she is without question one of the leading lights of the European Jazz scene, a fact emphasised by her recent BBC Jazz Award for “Best Vocalist”. Highly versatile she performs, with her beautiful clear, rich, voice, a set that is a truly marvellous mix of originals and established and lesser-known Jazz classics. A powerful yet sensual singer she describes the gig as “…singing contemporary and exciting arrangements of old and new standards”. A world class vocalist.

“One of the country’s finest musicians” Time Out

“..peerless” Jazzwise

Click play if you wish to listen to a sample track by this musician

Sunday August 29th

THE LONDON HORNS
2:30 - 5:00PM

The London Horns are the new sound of the modern Jazz horn section, with a stylistic versatility and a “groove” driven feel that gives them an explosive live impact. Recently returned from the Kylie Minogue world tour the “London Horns” have established themselves as one of the most formidable musical front lines in the world. Barnaby Dickinson, who includes work with Jamie Cullum, is one of the best trombonists in Europe, award winning saxophonist Graeme Blevins is rapidly becoming regarded as one of the most creative and fluent performers around and trumpeter Graeme Flowers has been seen with the likes of Kyle Eastwood and the JTQ. This amazing three horn front line create an electrifying, powerful and highly musical sound performing music which is a mix of groove originals and high energy Jazz standards. Highly recommended.

“….world class players” BBC Music Magazine

“…Dazzling” Guardian.