LOUISE BALKWILL QUINTET
Award-winning jazz vocalist Louise Balkwill makes her debut at Guildford Jazz with a show that boasts both burning, vocalese-infused bebop and sultry, swinging blues.
Louise has become renowned for her heartfelt, daring, and often tongue-in-cheek renditions of much-loved jazz classics and hidden gems from the Great American Songbook. Her appearance at Guildford Jazz follows a significant year for her in 2022 with the release of her debut album 'First Class', two international tours with the Puppini Sisters, plus winning the Riga Jazz Stage international jazz voice competition!
“Her voice and everything else that comes with the package of a master vocalist is pure soul, swing and fire!” – Leroy Jones
Expect original vocalese, scat singing reminiscent of the bebop era, and repertoire made famous by the great jazz vocalists of the 20th century, such as Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Anita O'Day.
with Lewis Taylor (trumpet), Chris Eldred (piano), Josh Walker-Martin (drums), Marianne Windham (bass)
Follow the link to buy your tickets now, or use the tabs below to read about the event in more detail, including food options and ticket prices:
EVENT INFO
The performance is upstairs in Guildford Pavilion, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
Please note there are no physical tickets, just give your name on the door when you arrive. There’ll be seating reserved for you.
Doors open from 7pm, supper served from 7.15pm, and the performance starts at 8pm. There will be an interval and there is a licensed bar. Seating is cabaret style and there is a lift for disabled access.
Pre-gig Biryani Boogie Menu from Mandira’s Kitchen! Just book your preference of chicken or vegetarian and we’ll confirm with your ticket booking:
“Biryani Boogie” Menu:
Vegetable Samosas (crispy handmade pastry filled with spiced potatoes)
Chicken or Vegetable Biriyani (fragrant basmati rice, chicken or fresh vegetables cooked in traditional Dum style with whole spices)
Raita (spiced yoghurt)
Chutney
Tickets: Full Price £20 (Guildford Jazz members £18), Students £7 (Student Members £5). Meals £13
If you have any questions please contact us by emailing info@guildfordjazz.org.uk
TICKETS
Full Price £20 /Guildford Jazz members £18
Students £7 / Student Members £5
Meals £13
WHO'S PLAYING?
LOUISE BALKWILL - VOCALS
Louise has been hailed by many as one of the UK’s finest vocal improvisers and storytellers both at home and overseas, with fans including jazz cream-of-the-crop such as Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Claire Martin and Leroy Jones. The quartet will be performing songs from her debut album “First Class”, along with her celebrated original vocalese.
“Her voice and everything else that comes with the package of a master vocalist is pure soul, swing and fire!” – Leroy Jones
Over the past decade, Louise Balkwill has been making a name for herself on the global jazz scene as one of the UK’s most exciting new jazz exports. Strongly influenced not only by the jazz vocal greats but by their instrumentalist counterparts too, she has honed her own bebop-esque improvisational style that exudes both language and lyricism.
In 2022, Louise released her debut album ‘FIRST CLASS’, a celebration of musical unity both in sentiment and execution. The album features 12 musicians playing off-the-cuff arrangements of the Great American Songbook repertoire with a New Orleans-inspired approach and spirit. Following the release of her album, Louise went on to win Riga Jazz Stage international jazz voice competition 2022 with two original vocaleses over the solos of Sonny Stitt and Avishai Cohen, and a raw and heartfelt rendition of the much loved ballad ‘Guess Who I Saw Today‘.
Praised for her virtuosity and gripping authenticity, she has been invited back to Riga to perform at Rigas Ritmi Festival 2023, and made her debut on the Ronnie Scott’s mainstage in September 2022 following her international successes. Louise has also recently joined The Puppini Sisters, as both the soprano and tenor deputy, and has joined them on multiple tours both in the UK and across Europe. Louise’s band features the talents of Lewis Taylor on trumpet, Chris Eldred on piano, and Joshua Walker-Martin on drums (with Marianne guesting on bass). The group has an undeniable synergy, and breathes new life into repertoire from the golden age of jazz and beyond.
“A true new talent, shining right here…” – Ian Shaw
“Louise’s happiness on stage is contagious!” – Brigitte Beraha Named by Liane Carroll as a singer to listen out for.
LEWIS TAYLOR - TRUMPET
One of the UK's premier bebop stylists, Lewis Taylor was born and raised in a family of trumpet players. Growing up on a diet of British dance band sounds playing in his father's band, Taylor fell under the spell of the great instrumentalists of the swing and bop eras, developing a style that deftly fuses the influence of players such as Fats Navarro, Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie to name but a few.
Honing his skills through studies with the great Dr. Barry Harris and at the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague, today he can be seen playing with various combinations throughout the London scene, and has recently commenced his career as a bandleader and composer firmly within the great Jazz tradition, while showing verve, originality and wit galore.
CHRIS ELDRED - PIANO
We’re delighted to welcome Chris back to Guildord! A London based pianist and musician, he has performed in many world famous venues such as Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the 606, the Royal Albert Hall, the Bull’s Head, Pizza Express Jazz Club and Oliver’s Jazz and Piano Bar (Greenwich). Chris has been involved with projects with Django Bates, Mark Lockheart, John Dankworth and others, and has performed alongside leading musicians such as Jean Toussaint (Art Blakey), Malcolm Earle-Smith, Bobby Wellins (Stan Tracey) and many others.
Chris held the piano chair with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra from 2008-2014, playing high profile performances such as the BBC Proms, broadcast on BBC radio and television and many of England’s finest jazz festivals and concert halls. He still plays regularly with NYJO’s small group counterpart, the NYJO Nonet.
JOSHUA WALKER-MARTIN - DRUMS
Josh first performed in Ronnie Scott’s aged 15 with a Ronnie Scott’s Big Band project. He has since had the opportunity to work with inspirational players, such as Simon Spillett, The Andrew Linham Jazz orchestra, Jakub Klimiuk, Louise Balkwill, Andrea Rinciari, Harry Brunt, Sean Fyfe, Sam Dunn, Huw v Williams, Will James and many more. He has also worked with international artists such as Gregory Hutchinson and Ella Rosa. He has had the chance to support timeless artists such as Kenny Garrett and Roy Ayers. Josh has also had the opportunity to compose for film and game with the composer Dan Ward
MARIANNE WINDHAM - BASS
The founder and driving force behind Guildford Jazz, Marianne started her musical life playing cello, taking up playing bass more recently. In 2011 she left a successful career in software consultancy to pursue learning bass full time and has since become well established on the scene and has performed with many of the UK’s leading jazz musicians including Alan Barnes, Steve Waterman, Mark Nightingale, Sara Dowling, Derek Nash, Dave O’Higgins and many others. She also chairs Fleet Jazz Club, and has a busy schedule performing both locally and at clubs and festivals around the country
DIRECTIONS
The performance is upstairs in the Pavilion building at the Guildford County Cricket Club, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
For sat navs please check the postcode takes you to Wharf Road. There’s a car park alongside, entry from Wharf Road. If you’re approaching from Guildford town centre, Wharf Road is on the left just before the Sports Ground. If you’re approaching from the A3/Ladymead there’s no right turn into Wharf Road, but continue to the next roundabout to double back.
If the car park’s full (please also park down the middle once the bays are full), there are a few parking bays along Wharf Road which you can use after 7pm, also along the Woodbridge Road on the left as you come from the Town centre. You can also park at the far end of the sports ground: turn left as you come out of Wharf Road and carry on along Woodbridge Road towards the railway bridge, and the entrance to the ground is just before the end of the green fence that runs along the perimeter of the ground, next to the Woodbridge Café.
There’s also a larger public car park at Bedford Road Car Park (GU1 4SJ), which is about 10 minutes walk away.
SEATING
Seating is either in front row settees/armchairs, central round tables, or rear high chairs/tables. Seats will be reserved for you when you book. If you’re a Guildford Jazz member, please let us know if you have a seating preference in on the booking form. Notes on the layout:
Front row: Seats 1, 3 and 4 are 3-seater settees, and seats 2 and 5 are pairs of armchairs.
Middle tables: Tables 6 to 23 and 32 are small tables , each seating 4 (for bookings of 1 or 2 seats, we’ll seat you at a table with others, please let us know if you have friends coming who you’d like to sit with!).
Rear tables: Tables 24 to 29 are tall tables suitable for 2 people, with high stools.
Tables 30 and 31 are lower square tables seating 3 or can be put togther for a group of 8
Groups: Table 33 is suitable for a large group of 8 (or a cozy 10!)