Euan Stevenson, piano
"...an inspired and brilliantly constructive improviser...a technically superb musician and gifted composer” The Herald Euan Stevenson is an award winning Scottish pianist and composer whose work challenges received boundaries between classical and jazz styles. He has performed in concerts and masterclasses throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, as well as broadcasts on BBC radio and television. Winner of “Emerging Artist” at the 2013 Scottish Jazz Awards, Stevenson first gained wider critical recognition with “New Focus”, collaborating with saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski to create a unique soundscape of original compositions for jazz quartet, string quartet and harp. Released on Whirlwind Recordings, the album launched at the 2012 London Jazz Festival to widespread critical acclaim. New Focus On Song is the 2016 sequel album. A highly sought after vocal accompanist, Euan has performed and toured with countless jazz singers, notably Matthew Ford, Nikki King, Anita Wardell and U.S. singer Carla Cook. He also writes, arranges and performs with emerging vocalist Georgia Cécile. As a sideman he has worked with some of the finest instrumentalists on the UK Jazz scene including trumpeter Enrico Tomasso, drummer Tom Gordon (BBC Big Band) and guitarist Jim Mullen. He has also performed with Oscar Peterson’s former guitarist Ulf Wakenius and Danish guitarist Jacob Fischer. He regularly performs in duo with highly acclaimed UK pianist Dave Newton. Konrad Wiszniewski, saxophone "Ravishingly beautiful tone….firmly in the International Class” The Herald Konrad Wiszniewski studied music at Strathclyde University, then Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has worked extensively with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra since 2001, working with a host of performers such as Joe Lovano, Gary Burton and John Scofield. He has been part of the renowned Scottish Jazz Outfit Brass Jaw since 2006, touring throughout the UK, USA and Europe, receiving the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Ensemble of the year 2011, Best Group and Best Album at the Scottish Jazz Awards. The Album NEW FOCUS by Konrad and Euan Stevenson was released on WHIRLWIND RECORDINGS to widespread critical acclaim, garnering 4 and 5 star reviews from some of the UK’s leading publications. Konrad received the prestigious award of Best Instrumentalist at both the 2013 and 2017 Scottish Jazz Awards. Douglas Whates, bass Douglas Whates is a Scottish/English bassist and composer living in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied contemporary classical composition with Dr. Gordon McPherson at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD), graduating in 2004 with first class honours. He has had major works performed by the London Sinfonietta, Hebrides Ensemble, Paragon Ensemble; and cites the theme music for Nemesis Inferno, one of the UK’s most advanced roller coasters, as one of his more unusual commissions. Equally active as a performer, Whates began formal music education aged nine on trumpet and piano; picking up guitar in his teens (his principal instrument while at the Conservatoire); making way for electric bass in his early twenties; focus ultimately migrating and settling on double bass in his mid-twenties. As a bassist, his approach reflects a broad range of influences, with roots in jazz/improv, post-rock, and the avant-garde. He is frequently engaged as a producer and audio engineer and recently founded the uniquely constituted Elsewhere Co. project; a manifestation of his passion for recorded sound. Wesley White, curator Dr Wesley White teaches at the Nazarene Theological College (Glasgow Learning Centre) where he is the programme leader for the MA Theology for Ministry in an Urban World and director of Biblical Studies. He also supervises PhD students at the University of Glasgow. Wesley received his PhD at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, and a DMin from Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado. |