Gareth Lockrane's "Grooveyard" featuring Alex Garnett

Over the last few years award-winning jazz flute player Gareth Lockrane has established himself as one of the finest flautists in Europe, with a string of high profile appearances alongside the likes of the James Taylor Quartet, Natalie Williams and Bheki Mseleku. His award-winning band “Grooveyard”, featured tonight, perform compositions by Gareth drawing on contemporary jazz, gospel, soul and funk influences and it is this band that won the “Best European Jazz Group” at the Granada Jazz Festival in 2003, on the back of their debut CD “Put The Cat Out”. It is a measure of Gareth’s growing international standing that he was named “Rising Star on Flute” in the prestigious 2008 Downbeat Critics Poll (USA). The rest of the band are Alex Garnett (tenor) Jim Watson (piano) Dave Whitford (bass) and Tim Giles (drums), who between them have worked with the likes of Katie Melua, Christine Tobin, Ray Gelato, Django Bates and Jim Mullen. Quite a band.

“Lockrane’s flute work is exceptional, combining a relaxed fluidity with an acute adventurousness…very special indeed” Jazzwise;
“…formidable” Guardian;
“...brilliant” Observer;
“Flute phenomenon” Evening Standard;
“...breathtaking…dazzling” AllAboutJazz