5th January
Sax Appeal

This multi-award winning ensemble, with their five saxophonists provide a formidable front line, headlined the 2011 Brecon Jazz Festival. Expect a myriad of saxophone styles, with a mixture of swing, blues, funk and Latin music selected from their five successful CD recordings on the Jazzizit Record label, featuring many compositions and arrangements by leader Derek Nash. Derek, son of Pat Nash who for over 30 years was arranger for the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, is himself a well-respected arranger, session musician and recording engineer. He can often be seen on television, on BBC2’s flagship music show Later…with Jools Holland, as one of the featured soloists in the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, with whom Derek tours extensively.
www.dereknash.com
Derek Nash – alto sax, Scott Garland – alto sax, Simon Allen – tenor sax, Brandon Allen – tenor sax, Bob McKay – baritone sax, flute & woodwind, Pete Adams – piano, Phil Scragg – bass guitar, Mike Bradley – drums.

12th January
The Cloudmakers Trio

Vibraphonist Jim Hart has established himself as one of the premier creative jazz musicians of his generation in the UK. He is first call as a multi-instrumentalist, playing drums, vibraphone and piano. His creative output has been heralded in the international jazz press as being unique and forward thinking, whilst holding a firm foot in many of jazz’s great traditions, from both the American and European schools. Jim presents a new project featuring his regular sparring partner Dave Smith and US born, London resident Michael Janisch. Together these three have played in many different outfits and projects most notably collaborating with New York trumpeter Ralph Alessi for a highly acclaimed UK tour last year. They explore some well known repertoire from across the jazz spectrum and weave in some highly imaginative original material.
www.jimhart.co.uk
Jim Hart – vibes, Michael Janisch – double bass, Dave Smith – drums.

19th January
Zoe Rahman Quartet

In the opening date of a UK tour to mark the release of her fifth album “Kindred Spirits” Mercury- nominated jazz pianist and composer Zoe Rahman returns to Watermill Jazz, following on from a memorable solo performance in May 2009 and last September in an appearance with Courtney Pine’s EUROPA. The album’s music is a powerful and fresh portrait of her combined English, Irish and Bengali heritage, featuring her brother Idris on clarinet alongside her jazz trio partners Gene Calderazzo and Alec Dankworth. As well as touring internationally with her own band, Zoe has toured extensively with Courtney Pine (special guest on Zoe’s album), Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Orchestra and “Way to Blue: the songs of Nick Drake” among many other projects. Her own music reflects the diversity of her musical interests and influences. In Zoe’s own words: “We recorded this album after touring Ireland in 2011, a year that happened to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Bengali writer, musician, artist and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. These two events account, in part, for my choice of music. Mostly though, it’s a collection of my own compositions from the past couple of years and tunes that I love playing.”
www.zoerahman.com
Idris Rahman – clarinet, Zoe Rahman – piano, Alec Dankworth – double bass, Gene Calderazzo – drums.