The final part in this four-part ‘BRIGHTER TOMORROW’ series continues with two of the UK’s most captivating jazz vocalists and composers Zoe Gilby and Natasha Seale. Zoe has composed her own material with bassist husband Andy Champion and has self-released five albums and an EP since 2007. As well as song writing, Zoe loves to perform with her quartet, mostly performing songs with a story and interpretations of quirky, contemporary composers such as Kate Bush, Nick Cave and Pink Floyd. Natasha has found her musical ‘home’ in the jazz music that inspired her as a teenager growing up on the South Coast. Whether performing much-loved vintage tunes with a contemporary twist, cool soul classics or skipping breezily over Latin rhythms, Natasha possesses a timeless vocal quality, enticing her listeners on an all-encompassing fun-loving journey of discovery. Her brand-new show ‘Universal Ellington’ is a compelling weave of narrative with song (arrangements by Pete Long) paying homage to the great pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington.   

Part three of the 'Brighter Tomorrow' series sees Kim Cypher talk to the well-known, respected jazz pianist and educator Alex Steele and highly experienced guitarist, band leader, composer and producer Edison Herbert. Alex Steele is well known and respected both as a performer and jazz educator. He is a man who plays and lives the philosophy of jazz music being a reflection of the nature of what it means to be a great human being, through collaboration, trust and collective creativity. A player of intense energy, Alex is a highly original interpreter of songs, and a prolific composer in his own right. He also leads the international programme, Improwise, which has given him the privilege of working with an incredible range of inspirational musicians in the UK, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the USA. Whether he is performing or leading the Improwise programme, Alex brings his own unique energy to audiences, exploring the beauty of improvisation, curiosity, innovation, zest, passion and creativity in music. Edison Herbert is a widely respected guitarist, band leader, composer and producer. His sensitive and melodic musicianship clearly identify him as a guitarist who plays from the heart. Having participated in the Sky Arts ‘Guitar Star’ series in 2016, guitar legend George Benson commented “I really enjoyed your playing. You’re one of the few cats who can make that thing sound good”.  

Zoe Francis delivers a cool take on some of Blue Note classics.

Following on from PART ONE with jazz musicians Tori Freestone and Alcyona Mick, the discussion highlighted many factors associated with being a full-time jazz musician including the vast workload associated with creating music together with tighter funding opportunities for musicians, venues being stretched financially, a lack of respect for musicians in society, fewer work opportunities for musicians to work abroad, yet there is an overriding sense of ‘family’ and community within the jazz world which keeps musicians going through mutual respect, support and a feeling of great honour to be part of collaborative music projects. The conversation now continues with award-winning Mexican drummer Migdalia van der Hoven and jazz pianist and composer Terence Collie. Drummer Migdalia van der Hoven studied at Berklee College of Music and is currently touring with SIX the Musical across the UK and internationally as well as being bandleader of The Migdalia van der Hoven Quartet. Jazz pianist and composer Terence Collie is very active on the London Jazz scene. He is also the director of Mood Indigo Events that has been putting on high-quality concerts along with workshops and jam-sessions for over 11 years. Both have newly-released albums: Migdalia’s ‘Point of Departure’, recorded at Abbey Road Studios was released in April this year and Terence released a solo piano album ‘Reminiscent’ in March.