Press Release – Award Winning Jazz Star, Amy Roberts and ex Chris Barber Clarinettist, Richard Exall return to the Arc, Old Harlow
Saturday 28th September @ 3pm
The ARC, St John’s Arts Centre, St John’s Walk, Market St Old Harlow, CM17 0AJ
Adm: £12 – Details 01406 365 731
Voted winner of the 2009, 2011 & 2015 British Jazz Awards, young, Cornish Multi-instrumentalist, Amy Roberts, along with former Chris Barber clarinettist Richard Exall return to the ARC, (St John’s Arts Centre, St John’s Walk, Market St Old Harlow, CM17 0AJ) on Saturday 28th September @ 3pm as guests of the John Petters Swing Band.
The couple were recently married, having met whilst touring with the famous Chris Barber Band.
Amy has played all over the UK and throughout Europe at prestigious clubs and festivals, and is well known on the jazz circuit as a charismatic performer on flute, clarinet and saxophones. Amy currently leads her own bands featuring some of the most exciting musicians on the jazz scene, as well as making guest appearances with other highly acclaimed ensembles.
She was the first female instrumentalist to join the famous Big Chris Barber Band, with whom she toured both the UK and Europe.
Richard studied clarinet at the Royal College of Music with international soloist Michael Collins. Self-taught on saxophone, he formed his own jazz quartet and big band while still at college and quickly became a familiar figure on the London jazz scene, playing with a wide range of bands and artists from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra to the Ink Spots.
After leaving college Richard juggled a career in the classical and jazz worlds, playing with the London Symphonietta among others, and finding regular work in the West End.
.Richard has worked with most of the established big bands, such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra (UK), The Ross Mitchell Band and Singers, The Memphis Belle Orchestra, Freddie Staff’s Manhattan Big Band, the London Swing Orchestra and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra (UK). In the late 1990’s Richard became a more regular name in the vintage jazz fraternity playing regularly with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra and the Charleston Chasers. Richard became a regular member of the Big Chris Barber Band in 2004, leaving at the end of 2014 to focus on his own career.
Joining Richard and Amy will be veteran guitarist and author, Jim Douglas, who rose to fame during the Trad Jazz Boom with the famed Scottish Band the Clyde Valley Stompers.
Moving south, Jim was snapped up by the Alex Welsh band – the leading Chicago and swing style band of the period. During his tenure with Welsh, Jim performed and recorded with such legendary American jazz stars as Bud Freeman, Ruby Braff, Wild Bill Davison, and as immortalised on a BBC 2 Jazz 625 broadcast, with New Orleans trumpeter, Henry Red Allen. A much watched video of this performance can be found on Youtube.
Harlow bass ace, Keith Donald and ex Harlow drummin’ man, John Petters complete the exciting opening night of the new jazz season.
The session starts at 3pm and admission is £12. Details from John Petters on 01406 365 731
See a video of this great line-up recorded at Hemsby in 2017. Click here
tjpost@ traditional-jazz.com
Jpeg photo / interview available upon request.