Fried Bananas Jazz Events

Mark Laurence started out on trumpet under the tuition of Robin Whitbread, then began playing the drums seriously at age 16, receiving tuition from teacher and composer Pat Brandon and the great drummer Kenny Clare. From the early eighties he played with numerous accomplished musicians. Recent projects have included the band of South London sax player, Dan O’Callaghan, the Hackney based jazz trio Trilateral and the Marquee Club veteran Andy Goble's trio. Described by Eric Rupert as the ‘selfless drummer’,  Mark shows off only occasionally.

Eric Rupert from Ohio, via NY and LA, has been a touring musician for over twenty years, playing with some of the most prominent names in the business including Dr John. He plays West End shows and does session work, as well as regular jazz engagements. He plays with the Duke Ellington Orchestra of London and is a member of the Denmark Street Big Band. Eric is a seasoned and complete musician whose presence is unmissable.

Andy Garrett is a working musician, providing guitar in pop situations, as well as having a particular love of jazz. Andy works in big venues, clubs, hotels and cruise ships. He was previously signed to Atlantic records and had airplay on MTV and Radio One with "No Hope in New Jersey", as well as appearing on the main stage at V Festival.  Audiences really respond to Andy's blues inflected style.

Tobias Rupp grew up in a musical family and holds a Masters degree in jazz guitar. He is a performer, composer and teacher. He has studied with Ben Molder and Wolfgang Muthspiel (NY) and Dirk Bell and Bernhard Spernfechter (Germany). He has been involved in many jazz and fusion collaborations in Germany and in London, where he now lives. In recent years, he has played with Mark Laurence  and Jose Gomez in the jazz trio Trilateral: ‘Tobias is a musician who really builds a solo; he knows how to take the music somewhere.’

José Gomez is from Valencia. He played in rock and pop settings in Spain before moving to London, since when he has played in the White House Community Association Big Band and the jazz trio, Trilateral.  José's unshowy playing is exactly suited to the low volume situation of Trilateral.

Dan O'Callaghan, the South London saxophonist, is a long standing presence on the jazz scene. He has a special interest in bebop and pre-modern repertoire. His mellow tone is especially appropriate to swing era standards, for which he has particular affection. Dan has played with a number of accomplished groups including members of Empirical. People warm to Dan, he establishes an immediate rapport with the audience. 

Dimitri Scarlato's first ambition was to play professional football. Later, he settled on the scarcely less difficult path of music. He is a noted composer of classical and jazz music, but his highest profile activity is as a composer of film music. He has written the music for City in the Sky (Cimini),  Gutbai Charlie (Cassinello), Per Sofia  (Paganelli) and others.  He also worked on pre-production for the film Sweeney Todd, for Tim Burton. Dimitri is also a gifted jazz pianist, whose improvisations can be both beautiful and thrilling. His jazz album Voci was released in 2007. Those wishing to know more can view Dimitri's stylish new website: www.dimitriscarlato.com and can find videos of his film and conducting activities on Youtube.

Azelina Flint studied as a chorister and choral scholar at Bristol Cathedral under Paul Walton. Her teacher was Robert Latham who founded the choir. The choir has sung with such notable singers as Hayley Westernra and Emma Kirkby, as well before  the Queen. Azelina  is now studying at Cambridge University under Felicity Cook. Whilst she is fully conversant with the choral repertoire, her favourite music is the great jazz songs performed by such figures as Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.

Azelina is accompanied by Kit Wilson, piano. He is a music graduate from York, and his specialism being  Jazz Composition. He has been accepted to do a Masters in Composition at Trinity College, London next year.

Steve Laws