THE FRANK GRIFFITH NONET PRESENTS THE SONGS OF MEL TORME Sunday 15th April

THE FRANK GRIFFITH NONET PRESENTS THE SONGS OF MEL TORME

FEATURING MARK JENNETT (VOCALS)

 “In demand British jazz singer” – Evening Standard

 'Soulful and exuberant' (Time Out) vocalist Mark Jennett has been a regular on the London jazz scene for the last five years with appearances at the Vortex (“regulars lapped it up” – Evening Standard), Smollensky’s, the Spice of Life, Octave, Pizza on the Park, Hugo’s, the Bull’s Head, the City Pipe and other leading venues. 

Mark’s debut recording, The Way I Am, was released last year to great acclaim. The album is produced by BBC Jazz Award Winner Anita Wardell and features some of Britain's finest instrumentalists including Robin Aspland, Barry Green, Jeremy Brown, Steve Brown and Tristan Mailliot.

He is currently working with Trudy Kerr, Georgia Mancio and several other vocalists to recreate the Miles Davis ‘Birth of the Cool’ album as a vocal project.  The group have already performed at a number of venues in London and the project is expected to tour in 2012.  He appears regularly with legendary jazz and blues vocalist, Carol Grimes has guested with many big bands including the London Swingfonia and the Jazz Knights Orchestra which specialises in recreating the music of Woody Herman.

For more info, please see www.markjennett.com

“Blessed with a warm sound, perfect intonation and a great feel, Mark Jennett really knows how to communicate a lyric – you want to keep coming back for another listen.”  -  Anita Wardell

PERSONNEL-

Frank Griffith- tenor sax

Sam Mayne- alto sax

Mick Foster- baritone sax

Adrian Fry- trombone

Henry Lowther- trumpet

Robbie Robson- trumpet

Mike Gorman- piano

Mark Hodgson- bass

Paul Clarvis- drums

Marl Jennett- vocals

The Frank Griffith Nonet will be presenting the music and songs of Mel Torme and arranger Marty Paich, two musical giants, collaborated on the classic 1960 album Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley arranged by Paich featuring his "Dektette". Shubert Alley refers to a location in New York City's "Great White Way", the home of many Broadway Theatres from which many great songs were premiered. Included in these will be Too Close for Comfort, Just in Time, and Too Darn Hot. Singer, Mark Jennett, has appeared with UK Jazz stars, like Kate Williams, Dave Green and Steve Brown among others. Ian Shaw has said about him “Mark Jennett is a welcome addition to the small roster of that rare beast, the male jazz singer” - “The Frank Griffith Nonet boasts many luminaries of UK jazz including Henry Lowther, Sam Mayne, Robbie Robson, Paul Clarvis,and Adrian Fry. The leader, an American saxophonist and composer/arranger has written for and/or played with Mel Lewis, Ron Carter, Sir John Dankworth, Dame Cleo Laine, Tony Coe, Joe Temperley and the great Mel Torme himself.