 5:00pm Pre-concert Early Bird meal at La Casa Vecchia (not included in the ticket) Why not make an evening of it and book your pre-concert dinner at www.lacasavecchia.co.uk who are kindly helping to sponsor the first concert series |
Programme
6:30pm Doors open
7:00: Spotlight Concert
Music performed by talented young people from Sandbach
7:30 Intermission
Art Exhibition by Sandbach Photographic Society
Refreshments
8:00 Main Concert
Programme to be announced
Tina and Nikki take their inspiration for tonight’s repertoire from, not only, the American Songbook but also the composers Ellington, Bernstein, Dankworth, Mercer, plus a smattering of French Chanson.
Tina May is an international concert and recording artiste who began her career in Paris singing with legendary jazz musicians like Kenny Clark , Roger Guerin and George Arvanitas. She has toured the Far East, Australia, USA and most of Europe with concert appearances – recording with very diverse international musicians: Ray Bryant, Tony Coe, Stan Tracey, Stan Sulzmann and, of course, Nikki Iles.
Their musical partnership began in 1996 and their album ‘Change of Sky’ has been widely acclaimed. Tina and Nikki have toured together ever since and recorded four further albums – all well reviewed. There is an extraordinary creative chemistry between them and in duo the result is always sparkling .
“Tina May is that rarity… a singer who enhances a song”. The Observer
“Great Britain’s finest jazz singer”. L.A. Jazz Scene
As a founder member of the hugely innovative Creative Jazz Orchestra in the early 90s, Nikki Iles came to prominence working with world class musicians such as Anthony Braxton, Vince Mendoza, Mark Anthony Turnage, Kenny Wheeler and Mike Gibbs and has won the BT British Jazz Award and IAJE Award in America for services to Jazz. Although very well known as a pianist, composition still remains a major part of her musical life ans she has been nominationed for the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award. Commissions have included “In All My Holy Mountain“ with poet Roger Garfitt and New Perspectives ensemble, collaboration with American dancer Mimi Cichanowicz, “A Gentle Prayer“ London Sinfonietta, “Red Ellen” Tim Garlands Underground Band. Nikki was honoured to have her piece commissioned by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra featured at the 2012 Proms (broadcast Radio 3 and BBC TV). “Iles displayed the rhythmic surprises, shape shifting phrases, playful dialogue with a mix of ruggedness and reflection that make her comparable with the great John Taylor.’” The Guardian