North Wales Jazz

NORTH North Wales Jazz will be returning to the White House, on Holywell Road in Rhuallt, near St Asaph, next month.

On Wednesday, October 10, the group will welcome Wendy Kirkland: Piano Divas, a tribute to the female singer-pianists of jazz, including Shirley Horn, Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Blossom Dearie and Nina Simone

The Wendy Kirkland Quartet, plus special guest saxophonist Chris Gumbley, will be presenting their unique blend of melodic, lyrical jazz, with special arrangements of many well-loved songs designed to captivate and entertain.

Wendy Kirkland has been performing as a jazz pianist and singer for over 15 years, playing all over the UK with players such as Karen Sharp, Jim Mullen, Stuart MacDonald, Christian Brewer, Roger Beaujolais, Fat Chops Big Band and Alan Barnes.

Wendy's influences range from Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, through Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly to Chick Corea and Michel Petrucciani.

Her voice has been compared to Blossom Dearie and Diana Krall, while her pianistic style has been described as a happy marriage of Wynton Kelly and Eliane Elias.

Since its release in 2017, Wendy's album 'Piano Divas' has attracted airplay from over 20 radio stations worldwide, has been album of the week on The Jazz UK, and was described by

The Observer's Dave Gelly as “Proper jazz piano, excellent band. A very classy debut”.

Chris Gumbley (sax) is a seasoned performer who has toured with The Temptations and Four Tops, and has been a member of the renowned The Pasadena Roof Orchestra.

As a freelance musician, he has played with with the BBC Big Band, the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the English Chamber Orchestra and many more, while his popular jazz club in Stafford, called Gumbles, has been attracting leading players since 1987.

On guitar, Pat Sprakes cut his jazz teeth with Tony Kofi and Darius Brubeck, and has performed for Robben Ford.

Pat is an excellent accompanist as well as a clear and melodic soloist, whose influences include Wes Montgomery and George Benson.

The line-up for Wendy Kirkland: Piano Divas is completed by Mike Green (double bass) and Chris Pike (drums).

The music commences at 8pm on October 10 and admission is priced at £6.50, with concessions at £6, and school children are charged £3.

Further information is available from www.northwalesjazz.org.uk