Jonathan Edwards – Tenor Sax
Jonathan is a Saxophone player, born 1992, in Southport, England. He began learning the piano at the age of 8, and explored a range of other instruments over the next few years, before discovering the Saxophone in 2003 which was later to become his main instrument. He studied at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), then at Chetham's School of Music (Manchester), before securing a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow). He is participated in an ERASMUS study exchange in the Netherlands at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and is back in Scotland now and is studying in the third year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Being a founder member of dBass Collective gave Martin a chance to develop his musicianship and his skills at compositions and arranging.
Currently he is completing a BA in Jazz performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under the tutelage of internationally renowned tenor sax man Tommy Smith and Julian Arguelez and other great jazz personalities.
Whilst Martin is influenced and inspired by such classic jazz legends as Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, he also loves music from across a wide sweep of genres, hip hop, opera, electronica, dance, folk and world music, classical and contemporary….. and so on. As such he finds it almost irresistible to try to fuse and experiment with these different styles.
Tim Quicke - Trumpet
Tim grew up in South London, and started playing the trumpet at primary school. He now studies Jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tuition of Tommy Smith and Tom MacNiven, among others. He plays in groups such as TSYJO and Martyazz ensemble, and would name Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Ambrose Akinmusire as his biggest influences.
Utsav Lal - Piano
Born on 18 August 1992, Lal gave his debut solo piano concert in New Delhi, India at the age of 9 with a unique repertoire of Indian Music compositions. Over the last eleven years, the young musician trained and excelled in three diverse genres of Western Classical, Indian Classical and Jazz. With early piano training, Utsav completed all grade exams as a classical pianist at 14 and obtained the ATCL Piano Diploma with distinction from Trinity Guildhall, London at 17 years of age.
Lal’s musical creativity draws from his advanced training in western classical and jazz at the world’s best international music conservatoires.
The young musician has had an extraordinary career performing across Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Sweden, Netherlands, USA, Canada, Singapore and India. More at www.utsavlal.com.
Zoe Hodgson - Violin
Zoe is in her final year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying violin with Gina McCormack, after three years with Ruth Crouch. Previous to this, she was a member of the RSAMD Junior Academy and studied with Angus Anderson. She also plays viola and studies with Steve Tees. Zoe is very interested in chamber music and plays regularly with her piano trio and string quartet. In December 2012, she had the opportunity of playing Mendelssohn's Octet with the violinist Nicola Benedetti and has attended the Cadenza International Music Course, studying with Leland Chen.
Andrew Thomson - Cello
Glasgow born Cellist Andrew Thomson began playing the cello’ from the age of 11 under Gary McBretney. He then moved on to the RSAMD Junior Academy studying with Betsy Taylor. While at Juniors he was the winner of the Nan Christie Memorial Prize in 2010. He is currently entering his third year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying with Rudi de Groote.
Iain Jennison - Viola
Hailing from East Yorkshire, Iain has been playing viola (and violin occasionally) for nigh on 13 years. He moved to Glasgow in 2009 to begin studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (nee RSAMD), where he is currently studying viola with Duncan Ferguson and composition under Drew Hammond. Former teachers include Roger Bigley and Jane Atkins. He has performed across the continent from Iona to Vienna. Recently Iain performed at Mendelssohn on Mull Festival in July '12, Celtic Connections '13 and with performance artist Aby Watson for her show Dust Yourself Off and Try Again at Into The New '13.
Stephen Henderson - Drums
Stephen has been immersed in music from an early age, coming from a family of professional and successful musicians. He first picked up his sticks at his local bag pipe band in Ayr where he quickly became highly regarded, winning competitions across the UK, culminating in his becoming 5th in the world championships under 14s category. Coupled with this was his love for kit drumming, especially Jazz, Funk and R’nB. He has been the drummer for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland (NYJOS) for 3 years, playing with such musicians as Chris Batchelor, Mike Walker and Iain Dixon. At 16 he performed on the Glade Stage at the legendary Glastonbury Festival with Simon Aitkinson and the Ben Marcato tro. Currently Stephen plays and records with a variety of groups, including the Jazz Futures run by Paul Towndrow and Colia, one of the finest ceilidh bands in Scotland comprised of award winning musicians and led by the amazing Alistair McCulloch. Stephen simply hopes to continue loving, enjoying and playing good music, wherever that may take him.
Feargus Hetherington - Violin
Feargus has developed a wide ranging and varied career as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestral musician and leader. Feargus studied at the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and the Cleveland Institute of Music, USA, and has worked with some of today’s great performers such as Joseph Swensen, James Buswell, Elizabeth Layton, Ilya Kaler, David Russell, Donnie Deacon and the Endellion and Cleveland Quartet violinists Andrew Watkinson and Peter Salaff, as well as violists Catharine Marwood and Michael Beeston. As a young artist, he benefited from the inspiration of some great artist/teachers – Angela Gray, Angus Ramsay and Jerre Gibson. Feargus has performed in renowned concert halls in the UK such as St John’s, Smith Square and Blackheath Halls, London, The Sage, Newcastle / Gateshead, Glasgow’s City Halls and the Harty Rooms, Belfast. Abroad he has given concerts in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Ireland and North America, giving his New York recital debut in June 2010 with American pianist Steven Beck. (http://www.timeout.com)
He enjoys a successful collaboration with US based, Belarusian-born pianist Olga Gorelik. Feargus has been guest leader of orchestras and chamber ensembles in Scotland and the USA and has participated in performances by leading orchestras including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. More at www.feargushetherington.com.
David Bowden - Bass
David is an exciting up-and-coming musician originally hailing from London, now studying in at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. Specialising in upright and electric bass, he has played in various bands and ensembles including Ivory Heroes, dBass Collective and various Jazz groups. He also runs a Jazz night on Wednesdays at the Butterfly and the Pig in Glasgow. He cites his main bass influences as being James Jamerson, Paul Chambers and Christian McBride and his all time favourite musician is Stevie Wonder.
Matt Quest - Vocals
Quest is a UK based producer / arranger currently releasing under various independent labels around the world with original, sampled and remix based works. Having started his career as a DJ / MC and Human-Beatboxer, collaborating with such outfits as the dBass Collective, the Martyazz project now represents a rare venture from behind the boards to once again take to the mic, in the studio and for a few key live performances. More at soundcloud.com/17thletter
Anja Ritterbusch - Vocals
Born in 1985, Anja discovered her passion for music and dance very early, at the age of 5 she started both ballet and piano lessons and acted in various musical theatre productions. Between 2005 and 2010 she studied jazz singing at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media with Romy Camerun and Professor Ute Becker. She currently continues her education in musical theatre at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and also with Prof. Noelle Turner and Fay Claassen. She was taught in workshops and masterclasses by Norma Winstone, Laurie Antonioli, Theo Bleckmann, Maria João, Kate McGarry, Richie Beirach amonst others. Anja Ritterbusch was soloist award winner at Winning Jazz both 2005 and 2007 (singing/composition).
She can be heard in versatile casts and genres, she was broadcasted on the NDRKultur, Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio Kultur, and has given concerts in India, Denmark, Poland, England, Ireland and all around Germany. More at www.anjaritterbusch.de
Graham McGeoch - Fiddle
Graham graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a first class honours degree. He studied violin, composition and Jazz. Since then he has gained a good reputation as a session musician, most noted for his innovative and improvisatory skills on the violin.
Martin Fell - Alto Sax
Hailing from Edinburgh, Martin Fell aka Martyazz, is an active jazz / session saxophonist based in Glasgow, Scotland. Through his studies of music both formal and otherwise, he has gradually formulated his own sound and approach to playing Alto Sax and composition. Martin first cut his teeth on the UK jazz scene in the late 90’s, guesting at Birmingham’s Ronnie Scott’s jazz club with Big Man Clayton. Since then he has, played and collaborated with or sessioned for a number of musical projects, including the highly successful Mungo’s Hifi Raggae Sound System, Future Pilot AKA, Steve Lindsey, Paddy Flaherty, Tom Gibbs, Stuart Brown and other Scottish jazz luminaries. He has played at various venues across Europe and further afield, most notably in Czech Republic as well as Berlin, Croatia and Granada. In 2009 and 2010 Martin went to India where he played in Delhi, Mombai and Varanassi. A recent expidition to New York led him to forming strong musical relations with Kyoko Oyobe a regular collaborator with Roy Hargrove, as well as giving him the opportunity to sit in with Roy Hargrove himself and members of the Roy Hargrove big band. He went on to appear at a number of dates with Kyoko in Paris.
Richard Winter - Guitar
Richard loves guitars and all music. He is influenced by guitarists from Stochello and Jimmy Rosenberg to Hendrix and Shawn Lane and all the other usual suspects. He's at his happiest playing straight ahead swing/bop, funk, rock, pop or fusion...anything really...even country occassionally...accompanied by a pint or two...and all loud if the soundman and the rest of the band will let him get away with it!
Eike Wulfmeier
Eike Wulfmeier is a freelance pianist, composer and lecturer. Since the age of four he has been a committed player of both the guitar and the piano. He studied jazz piano at the Hanover University of Music, Theatre and Media. Above that, he received lessons and masterclasses from Fred Hersch, Horace Parlan, Marc Copeland and John Taylor a.o.. Eike Wulfmeier currently lives in Hanover where he teaches jazz piano and applied theory on piano (TbK) at the Hanover University of Music, Theatre and Media since 2008.