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In no particular order . . 

Music Bios

Ash Mandrake

Ash Mandrake travelling minstrel, 1st Bard of Bath, was born in Manchester, the son of immigrants. He's half Polish, a quarter Indian, and a quarter Irish. He holds post graduate degrees in the Biological Sciences and Applied Linguistics. At 40, he stopped drinking and became a self-taught professional musician and milliner, living on the road and touring the UK with his show.

 

The Ash Mandrake Act incorporates music, loop machines, stories and comedy. He designed the double necked guitar, hats and costumes. This is folk rock, but many styles are used. He has been described as imaginative; an incredibly skilled musician and songwriter; unique, brave, and completely naturalistic.

Jacob Brathwaite

Jacob Brathwaite is a singer songwriter from the East Midlands. A lover of all things musical with a breath-taking voice and heart-felt lyrics to move you to your core. Jacob encompasses various styles into his music

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Airmail Special 

A new, HOT 10-piece swing-dance orchestra has arrived. Formed by drummer John Watson (Pasadena Roof Orchestra and Chris Barber Band), featuring players skilled in the specialised swing style of the late 1930s and 1940s. With original arrangements from the period, and performing all the dance favourites from the repertoire of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Gene Krupa. Airmail Special has accurately recreated the sound of an era with infectious enthusiasm.  

Airmail Special features national Jazz stars

Alan Barnes (Saxophone) and Bruce Adams (Trumpet)

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Geoff Tooley

Geoff is a freelance session guitarist, vocalist, electric bass, double bass & banjo player, performer, entertainer, both as a soloist and band leader, composer & arranger. . . . teacher of individuals and small groups, providing lessons in all styles. . . 

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NMPAT Jazz Matters

"Jazz Matters" is a group of young and talented musicians studying at the Northampton Music and Performing Arts Trust. They specialise in extended improvisation techniques and tight ensemble work. They are led by professional Jazz musicians Richard Baker and Sam Round.

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Pat Reyford is a one - off. He's a prolific recorder of a huge range of tunes - just check out the www. Pat heads up his Symphony 5 which includes our own Richard Exall and Mark Adams following a 2023 summer season of European gigs and studio recordings. The band also features East Anglia top Trumpeter Simon Nelson and a thumping back line who will get your toes tapping and feet a dancin'. Get ready now!  

 

"Over the past years, Pat has simply studied and trained himself to be one of the top artists of today becoming enormously respected and regarded as one of the very best. Pat can play almost any instrument you put in front of him. His singing, well, Pat can sing across the board from big time jazz ballads to reggae and pop. Talented and inspirational, Pat's love for music and life has never waned. He continues to this day to produce some of the best recordings around, playing in some of the best bands and still leading his own outfit (Pat Reyford's Symphony 5) If you are either involved in the UK music scene or a music lover, it is virtually impossible not to have heard of Pat Reyford. This self-taught, multi-disciplined musician and vocalist has been fronting bands since the 1980's. From the rockin' sounds of Sunny 56 and Sugar Ray Ford And His Hotshots, to fronting a Big Band orchestra (One of his dreams) and also touring the world with The Big Six a very successful Neo Swing band who were featured in the Soundtrack for The Truman Show with their energetic cover of Marc Bolan's "20th Century Boy" Pat has always been incessantly and passionately involved in music. While his heart is always set on vintage sounds from the 30's to the 70's and his voice is reminiscent of the great singers of the Golden Era, he is versatile enough to go for pinch of 60's and 70s funk and make it totally his. It is the intensity of his voice and his ease on stage that makes him an absolute and refreshing sensation. Pat lives, dreams and breathes music and it is his passion, endless creativity and a humorous take to his art are what sets him apart from his peers while the sounds embrace the nostalgia and romanticism of times past, his approach to music is totally modern thus making it appealing to both older and younger generations who enjoy the simple yet rare pleasure of listening to and or watching pure talent”

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Lincoln Noel

Lincoln Noel was born at the Barratt Maternity Hospital in Northampton on Christmas Eve Night in1965 and started playing the Piano with his late father at the age of three. Formal lessons began a year later with the late Mollie Tomalin on the same day he started his compulsory education at St James Infants School in Northampton. With the aid of a Northants Music School Scholarship, he studied at the age of 16 in London with the celebrated Broadcaster and Concert Pianist David Owen Norris; during this period he made his Concerto Debut performing 2 Piano Concertos by Dimitri Shostakovich and Richard Rodney Bennett in 7 days; whilst taking his 'A' level Examinations! He also studied the violin and was a member of the Northamptonshire Youth Orchestra under the late Malcolm Tyler. As a child, he attained a Grade 8 Distinction on both the Piano and Violin.

After his 'A' levels, Lincoln spent four years studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Narine Arutiunian and the late Alexander Kelly on Piano, and Jean Harvey and David Angel on Violin. Highlights included performances in the presence of HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edindurgh, Charles, the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Whilst still a student, Lincoln started Piano Teaching back at home in Duston and made his Professional debut at the Young Vic Theatre, London in 'Robeson-Song of Freedom'.

Since graduating, Lincoln has worked, on Tour, in Repertory Theatre and in London's West End, as Musical Director on numerous shows as diverse as on 'Ain't Misbehavin,' 'Robeson - Song of Freedom,' 'The Adventures of Mr Toad', 'Choo Choo Ch'Boogie', 'The Old Tyme Music Hall,' 'The Gingerbread Man,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' and 'Tappin' Harlem.'

Having also performed at Weddings since age 12, with his vast repertoire of music of many styles, Lincoln is in huge demand as an Event Specialist, whether as a soloist, accompanist or leading his Jazz trio. He has performed locally at virtually every major wedding venue in Northants and has also worked extensively at many venues throughout Britain. Since 1994, he has been the Wedding Co-ordinator for Civil Ceremonies at the Prestigious Whittlebury Park Complex in Northants. Additionally he has a very comprehensive Corporate Client list and is a member of the Northants Business Club and the Federation for Small Businesses.

For over 15 years, Lincoln has also been a principal concert performer for 'The Council For Music In Hospitals,' working nation-wide in Hospices, Residential Homes and Hospital wards with many of the country's leading Singers and Instrumentalists. As an ambassador for the organisation, he has appeared numerous times in the print and broadcast media. Additionally, he has performed for both Anne, The Princess Royal and the Duke of Gloucester. Lincoln is featuring in the current drama series of 'Hotel Babylon' on BBC Television (Carnival Films).

To celebrate 25 years in music performance, Lincoln has been giving numerous concerts with his trio and also as a soloist and accompanist. Highlights have so far included callaborations with the Northampton Male Voice Choir, the Northampton Philharmonic Choir and live broadcasts for both local and national radio.

Since the Summer of 1983, he has continued to enjoyed his role as Organist and later Director of Music at Victoria Road Congregational Church in Northampton.

Football-mad Lincoln is married with 3 daughters (one is in heaven)

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