Stevie Jennings-Adams - Vocals

Stevie Jennings-Adams was accepted into the Royal Nothern College of Music with a Levenshulme sholarship in 2006. Since then she has played the part of the Young Vixen in the RNCM's production of 'The Cunning Little Vixen' and was a member of the RNCM chorus in the opera, 'Eugene Onegin'. Earlier this year Stevie won the Onken Song prize at the RNCM and has recently secured a place as a finalist in the Keldwith Music Award. She has enjoyed continued success in competitions, including The Anne Hood Memorial Award and The Esther Crosscery Music Award and in 2006 won the Junior RNCM Singer's Prize. Having studied voice and piano for eight years at the junior RNCM Stevie has had a wide range of performance experience, performing on platforms accross Manchester, singing on the radio, as well as appearing on television. She has been invited to perform her first Messiah in Scotland later this year and has been engaged for several charity concerts in 2008 throughout the North West.

As a versatile singer Stevie has enjoyed being part of The Booth Street West Jazz Sextet and with them has performed at The Manchester International Festival, The Imperial War Museum's Shattered Sounds project and was featured in the ITV production of 'Enduring Love' . She has been tutored briefly by the successful jazz singer Jackie Dankworth, an encounter since which she has been inspired to perform the length and breadth of Britain, accepting engagements in Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and London, to mention a few. Stevie will study a further three years at the Royal Nothern College of Music, where she has already enjoyed performing in the Beethoven, Bartok and Bach Fests. Her near future engagements include productions of 'The Marriage of Figaro', by Mozart and Ravel's 'L'enfant et Sortieges'.

Jack Davies - Trumpet

Jack’s background encompasses both classical and jazz music. He is currently studying classical trumpet with John Miller at the Royal Northern College of Music, and has previously studied with Robert Farley (at Trinity College of Music) and Paul Archibald.

Jack has studied jazz trumpet with Steve Waterman, Noel Langley and Simon DaSilva. A permanent fixture in the RNCM Big Band, (with who he has played with such figures as Stan Sulzmann, Victor Mendoza, Tim Garland, Digby Fairweather, Dennis Rollins, Matthew Herbert, Jacqui Dankworth and, most recently, Alex Wilson) Jack has also played with various other jazz ensembles such as NYJO, the Trinity Big Band and the Northern Swing Orchestra. Jack is also a founding member, and arranger for The Big Little Band.

He has recently been asked to join a new big band run by Andy Schofield that brings together some of the most well-respected musicians on the Manchester jazz scene.

Jack is the latest winner of the RNCM’s solo brass competition, the Goronwy Evans Brass Prize.

 

James Cummings - Saxophone

Through being educated in primarily the saxophone and clarinet, James has had the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of ensembles and styles of music, from Classical to Jazz, and from Big Bands to Orchestras. This versatility has provided many solo and ensemble performance opportunities, and has been a large factor in shaping his own compositions. Recent works have included an orchestral work, and a piece for 'The Booth Street West Jazz Sextet' (of which James is a member) which was premiered in the Manchester International Festival on Saturday 30th of June 2007.

After attending the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department for just over a year, James was accepted into the Senior Department of the RNCM to begin his Undergraduate course. Now entering his third year at the college, James studies with tutors Rob Buckland, Andy Scott, and Mike Hall. In his time spent at college so far, James has had the opportunity to work with and be educated by many distinguished musicians, such as Tim Garlands regularly with 'The Booth Street West Jazz Sextet' and 'The Big Little Band' all over the country, both of which he is a founder
member.

Thomas Taylor - Piano

Although classically trained, Thomas' musical background lies mainly in jazz. Growing up in the Wirral he had the oppurtunity to play with a couple of minor big bands and jazz ensembles until he left school and got a place at the Royal Northern College of Music. It is here where he studies classically with Paul Janes but has the opportunity to learn and perform with many distinguished jazz musicians such as Tim Garland, Dennis Rollins, Alex Wison, Victor Mendoza and Digby Fairweather. He studies jazz and jazz piano with Mike Hall and Dan Whieldon and has recently won the RNCM Bruntwood improvisation prize.

As part of the Booth Street West Jazz Sextet and the Big Little Band he performs widely all round the country in an eclectic array of styles ranging from jazz standards to funk and even dixieland. He also pays with the Northern Dixielanders and the RNCM Big Band, as well as performing as part of two duos with a trumpet player and a singer.

Sarah Buckley - Bass

Sarah has spent most of her musical life studying both classical and jazz bass. After graduating from the University of Southampton in 2005, where she studied with Bastien Terraz, Dave Marchant and David Heyes, she successfully completed postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. During the past two years she has appeared with a variety of different musicians and ensembles, including the Hallé Orchestra; and as part of the RNCM Big Band rhythm section has performed with wide ranging artists such as Matthew Herbert, Dennis Rollins, Tim Garland, Victor Mendoza, Alex Wilson, and Digby Fairweather.

In recent years Sarah has played a part in giving classical and jazz workshops for the British and International Bass Forum, assisting David Heyes; and has developed an exciting partnership with up and coming saxophonist Ryan Searle, forming the jazz and folk influenced duo Urban Spiral, who perform regularly around the North West.

Forming part of the rhythm section for the Booth Street West Jazz Sextet and The Big Little Band has given Sarah the chance to perform in a variety of different settings across the country, including the Manchester International Festival, not to mention valuable white van driving experience…!

Jon Ormston - Drums

Jon is currently studying percussion at the Royal Northern College Of Music under the instruction of Ian Wright, Paul Patrick and Liz Gilliver, as well as Dave Hassell for drums/latin percussion. He has played with the RNCM Big Band with such names as Victor Mendoza, Alex Wilson, Jacqui Dankworth, Tim Garland and Digby Fairweather. Jon plays the drums for The Big Little Band, as well as the Booth Street West Jazz Sextet.