Will Rees-Jones + Friends, Ralph Porrett Quintet, Drift

Part of a three-day Guildhall School of Music & Drama Jazz Department showcase featuring current students, alumni and staff members, showcasing emerging talent and new and established voices from Guildhall's thriving and eclectic jazz department.

Drift

Amy Hollingsworth : Vocals, Vibraphone/Percussion 

Will Hobson : Piano and Percussion

Lucy Clarke : Double Bass

‘Drift’ is an ensemble with collaboration at its core. It’s music (formed by Amy Hollingsworth, Will Hobson and Lucy Clarke) is constantly evolving and drifting between jazz, folk, contemporary and minimalist stylings to name a few.

Will Rees-Jones + Friends

Will Rees-Jones saxes

Harry Toulson sax

Immy Churchill vocals

Sol Grimshaw guitar

Will Hobson piano

Toby Yapp bass

Anmol Mohara drums

Chloe Dickens violin/vocals

Nicole Petrus-Barracks violin

Benedict Baily viola

TBC cello

Ralph Porrett Quintet

Eliana Sanda vocals

Ruta Sipola fute

Harry Toulson alto sax

Rory Hudson double bass

Ralph Porrett guitar

Will Rees-Jones + Friends is a collaborative band playing Will's original folk inspired jazz. Originally conceived during lockdown in 2021, the band released their debut EP in late May to great success, and has evolved into a full band incorporating singers, strings as well as a jazz sextet being the beating heart of the group. Drawing on influences from Julian Lage, Peter Knight, Joe Lovano and Phony Ppl, “Will Rees-Jones + Friends” is a band that does not shy away from experimentation but is firmly grounded in the jazz tradition, creating a warm, lush sound that grooves like hell.

In 2020, Ralph was the first ever guitarist to perform in the BBC Young Jazz Musician Final. He has also performed at the Barbican, 02 Arena, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium and Birmingham Town Hall. Memorable moments include performing at the Proms, playing with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hearing the orchestral arrangements CBSO commissioned him to write, performed at Symphony Hall in 2019 by ‘Project Remix’.

The quintet has built up an impressive resume over the last 8 months, including performances across the UK - most notably at Pizza Express (Dean Street). Unconventional frontline instrumentation paired with a drummer-less rhythm section creates a unique sound world and a canvas for musical interaction. Their set will include a mixture of original compositions and pieces by jazz composers as diverse as Bill Frisell to Gwilym Simcock, which have been arranged especially for Ralph Porrett’s Quintet.