Band

Saxophonist and composer Nick Willsher studied at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. Nick is comfortable in a variety of musical settings; from session work, jazz ensembles, big bands to theatre shows. Nick received an honourable mention from Julian Joseph and Wynton Marsalis at Essentially Ellington at the Barbican and is a former BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year semi-finalist. Currently he is collaborating with a number of up and coming London artists across an array of genres and looks forward to performing and releasing more of his own material.

Luke Montgomery is a saxophonist, teacher and composer from South East London. He fell in love with jazz through playing the charts of Charles Mingus, inspiring him to study on the Junior Jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2021, he graduated from the University of Southampton with a degree in Maths and Music, where he directed the University Jazz Orchestra. As a freelance musician, Luke has plays original jazz compositions with his quintet, his function band ‘Hartley Groove’ and with Nile Rodgers tribute band ‘Chic to Chic’.

From Southampton, Joe Lodge played saxophone in SYJO for 5 years as lead alto. Joe studied Physics at the University of Edinburgh whilst continuing to play in Scotland outside of his degree. After this, Joe completed a masters jazz course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and was mentored by Martin Speake and Mark Lockheart playing with various groups (including his own quartet) and performed at venues including Ronnie Scott’s jazz club and the Royal Festival Hall. He is now currently based in Southampton, working as a data analyst whilst still playing. Joe is also studying a Computer Science masters part-time: he has enjoyed being part of this project, not least to learn how the jazz transformer has been programmed using a machine learning classifier.

Caitlin Jeffery is a multi-instrumentalist based in London. She graduated from her MMUS at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and Dance in 2016 and has since taught and gigged all round Europe and USA. She specialised in performing for musical theatre shows, on and off West End. Recent performances include ‘Camelot’ (London Palladium), ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ (Hackney Empire), ‘A Christmas Carol’ (Lyceum Theatre). Caitlin started teaching classical saxophone at The University of Southampton during the pandemic.

Neil Doherty is a freelance trumpet player, educator and arranger, originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, now residing in Southampton. As a sideman he has performed or recorded with numerous ensembles and artists such as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Omar, Band of Skulls, Shed7, The Glen Miller Tribute Orchestra UK, Gwilym Simcock and Gilad Atzmon. He also fronts his own ensemble, ‘Horns Up Front’, A 7-piece funk-jazz-fusion band playing his own compositions and arrangements.

Dave Smith grew up in Wiltshire, playing trumpet and piano from an early age. He studied at Birmingham Conservatoire then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, learning with Noel Langley and Gerard Presencer. Dave has performed widely including at the Barbican, Symphony Hall, National Indoor Arena, Ronnie Scott's, and the Jazz Cafe. He has also done live broadcasts for BBC Radio and TV. Currently Dave teaches in the area, at Southampton University and Hampshire County Jazz Centre among others. He performs regularly, playing in many jazz and function groups as well as the mighty Saints Brass!

Jamie Wall is a trumpet player from London. He has been busy performing and recording for artists including Tom Grennan, The Spitfires and Symphonica ft. Mr Switch amongst many others. He is musical director of the Southampton Uni Symphonic Wind Orchestra and lead brass teacher at Harrow Music Service. Jamie studied music at Southampton University with Julian Poore (COE) followed by a Masters in performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire under Andy Hendrie (BBCSO). At Trinity, Jamie was selected for multiple masterclasses with international soloists and was twice winner of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble prize. Instagram: @jwall505

Jo Downs first met Dan when they both played in the Hampshire Youth Jazz Orchestra in the mid 1990s! Jo returned to the area after studying at Nottingham University and Guildhall School of Music and Drama and now teaches brass and keyboard across the city. She is the resident songwriter for Southampton & IOW Music Hub, writing for events such as the Mayflower 400 celebrations and the Isle of Wight Mardi Gras. Jo co-directed the youth ensemble Southampton Jazz Workshop for 10 years with her husband Tim and is pleased to be playing alongside two alumni of SJW tonight.

Olli Martin is an award winning jazz trombonist working across the U.K. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2017, Olli has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists and ensembles such as the BBC Big Band, Cory Wong (U.S), Nikki Iles, Stan Sulzmann, Gareth Lockrane, James Taylor, The London Horns, Urban Soul Orchestra, Alex Mendham and the Gordon Campbell Big Band. Olli has performed at venues and festivals across the U.K and in Europe as well as recording in some of London’s famous recording studios such as Abbey Road. www.ollimartin.com

Harvey Tongs is a trombonist, composer, and arranger originally from Southampton, Hampshire. A student on the Royal Academy of Music’s jazz course, Harvey has had the opportunity to learn from some of the country’s most well-known figures in jazz. Outside of his education, Harvey enjoys a busy life as a freelance musician performing at events such as the 2021 Goodwood Revival. In March 2022, Harvey was added to Carnival UK’s portfolio of musicians.

From Southampton, Joe Evans is an up and coming trombonist on the London jazz scene. He is currently studying in his first year at the Royal Academy of music, where he has had the chance to work with industry forerunners such as Nathanial Facey, Stan Sulzmann and Jean Toussaint amongst others. Joe is excited for the future and has high hopes for what a career as a jazz musician might bring. Instagram: @joeevansmusic

Matt Rumble has been an active member of the Southampton music scene since school, playing tuba in the in many of the city’s youth bands including the Solent [Southampton] Youth Jazz Orchestra (of which he was in the original line-up!). After gaining a BMus (Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London, Matt returned to his home city. Enjoying a busy family life and a career in ICT service management, he still manages to find time to play with numerous groups ranging from Southampton Concert Wind Band to Saints Brass. He is also tubist and founding member of ‘The Brass Monkeys Quintet’, a classical brass ensemble.

Robert Johnston is a professional guitar and bass player from Southampton. He graduated from the University of Southampton with a degree in Music and Masters in Composition in 2013 and 2015 respectively, and has since been working as a freelance musician and instrumental tutor. He performs in multiple groups in many styles, including co-leading and composing for Vesen, a new electronic jazz project, various function bands, the Belgarum Big Band and the MetJam house band. As well as teaching privately, Robert is also the guitar tutor at Barton Peveril, Peter Symonds & Wyvern Colleges.

Benjamin Oliver is a composer, conductor and jazz pianist. His music has been performed internationally, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and his ‘Loop Concerto for jazz trio and large ensemble’ was nominated in the Contemporary Jazz category of the British Composer Awards 2017. Ben is Associate Professor in Composition and Head of Music at the University of Southampton.

James Ashdown is a drummer and musician based in the south of the UK. James’ busy gigging schedule has taken him all over the UK and Europe, performing at many prestigious venues, festivals and events spanning a wide variety of musical styles and settings and has had the great fortune of sharing the stage with many top names in the UK jazz scene. As well as his work as a freelance performer James also works as a composer, and arranger and is in high demand as an educator, currently teaching drum kit at the University of Southampton.