Saturday 21. May 2022 at 7.30pm
Parkgate & Neston United Reformed Church.
Violin virtuoso, and Neston-born, Billy Thompson is again bringing his immensely popular Gypsy Jazz style to the Neston Music Festival promising an entertaining performance of high energy, soulful musicianship and panache.
The music will be a mixture of Hot Club classics, fiery Hungarian tunes, some unusual covers, original tunes and even some tasteful free improvisation.
Tickets £10 (plus 78p booking fee) from Ticket Source by clicking on the button below, or without booking fee from the Blue Bicycle, Neston High Street or Mozkitos Coffee House, Parkgate.
After reaching the final of the Young Jazz Musician of the Year competitions in both ‘96 & ’98, Billy Thompson became an integral member of seminal English Jazz/Rock outfit Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia with Jon Hiseman on drums. Billy has headlined twice at Ronnie Scott’s with Paraphernalia and toured Europe extensively featuring on 5 albums. 2008 also saw a tour of Japan. In 2021 Billy played an integral part in the launch of ‘Bulletproof’ by Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra at Ronnie Scott’s.
Performing in the Gypsy Jazz or ‘Hot Club’ style, Billy has performed with international guitarists Gary Potter, John Etheridge, Lollo Meier, Andreas Oberg, Martyn Taylor and Howard Alden amongst others…
Eryl Jones, multi instrumentalist, has always had an eclectic taste in music which has led him to be involved in many musical projects in the past, embracing such styles as Rock, Blues, Bluegrass and most recently Gypsy jazz… With TV commissions performances, and festival appearances to his credit, Eryl brings variety to any performance, with his Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin and Vocal skills.
The Eryl Jones Band performs a variety of music from Tom Waits to his own original material. Eryl has also been an integral member of Billy Thompson Gypsy Style since its inception.
Andy Mackenzie has been a leading freelance guitarist for over 30 years. His love of Django Reinhardt’s music has led him to become one of the early leaders of the recent gypsy jazz revival. Widely respected as both performer and teacher of this style, Andy has headlined the Samois festival as a member of John Jorgenson’s band in addition to recreating this unique music for film and TV. Andy has been an integral member of Billy Thompson Gypsy Style since the start performing throughout the UK and playing on both the live album and the latest Billy Thompson Gypsy Style studio album.
Neil Browning has always been a multi instrumentalist, interested in a wide variety of musical genres. He has composed television music for S4C, and played in touring drama productions for several theatre companies. Professional performing engagements have included: lute, recorders and crumhorn in medieval quartet Dragonsfire; electric guitar in folk-rock band Bluehorses; traditional button accordion, bouzouki, and tenor banjo in Band Y Braichmelyn; trumpet and piano accordion in Afro-Latin grooves outfit Banda Bacana; and keyboards/guitar in covers band Big Mirror. Neil can now also be found playing piano accordion and guitar with Billy Thompson Gypsy Style.
After securing a First Class (Hons) Degree from The Birmingham Conservatoire Mike Green found himself greatly in demand playing Double and Electric Bass. He gained vast experience from performing at small intimate Jazz Clubs with award-winning groups to appearing on Prime Time National TV with household names such as Jamie Cullum and Dame Shirley Bassey for the BBC.
Mike started performing with Billy Thompson Gypsy Style at the Birmingham, Sandwell and Westside Jazz Festival in 2021
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