Magic Hat Ensemble bring a touch of jazz to Anglesey

Nov 18 2009

THE brilliant young Magic Hat Ensemble stops off at the Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge on Thursday November 26 during the UK-wide launch tour of their latest CD, This Conversation is Over, for their first ever appearance at the venue.

The band members, who all hail from the North West, love playing bop but with a different edge and a lot of fire.

Taking jazz standards and their own tunes and turning them into breathtaking arrangements, full of twists and turns, humour, and great swinging solos, the energy and spontaneity of their live performances are what make this band special.

Front line player Steve Chadwick grew up playing brass band music and in his late teens discovered jazz. Since then it has taken over his life! His banding beginnings though are still evident in his technique and his choice of cornet over trumpet for most of his work, but not in his sound or style.

A graduate of the University of Salford, Steve now plays very diverse styles of music, including jazz, salsa and, with the group Skokiaan, South African music.

He has appeared at UK festivals including Edinburgh, Glastonbury, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and more and has recorded for radio and theatre and been featured on many albums. Steve has composed music for his own groups but has also written for larger ensembles, brass bands and big bands.

Following a brief stint in Washington DC, and now living and working in London, Steve spent April of this year in Japan, followed by a tour of France, with street theatre company La Machine and a production by the creators of Liverpool’s Giant Spider.

Andrzej Baranek (keyboards), a member of the Stuart Riley Octet and leader of his own trio, ABT, has performed at numerous North West jazz venues and at Manchester Jazz Festival, Wigan International Jazz Festival and Manchester's Worldport Festival, whilst Anthony Ormesher (guitar) has twice been runner-up in the Young Jazz Musician of the Year regional finals and is recognised as one of the UK’s finest young musicians. Completing the line-up of the Magic Hat Ensemble are Nick Blacka (double bass) and Rob Turner (drums).

The concert commences at 8.30pm and admission is £6, concessions £5, with a special rate of £3 for Students’ Union members and school children. Further information is available on 01745 812260 and at www.northwalesjazz.org.uk