Neil Yates' LYRO
An old friend of the Club it’s with great pleasure that we welcome back one of the UK’s finest trumpet players, the brilliant Neil Yates. Tonight he is appearing with his quartet which features a mix of leading lights and impressive upcoming young musicians, performing an exciting and varied repertoire of jazz standards and melodic originals. Neil first came to prominence through the 1990’s with work alongside the likes of Johnny Dankworth, The Brand New Heavies, Supergrass, Lighthouse Family, Alison Moyet, Will Young, Matt Bianco and Robbie Williams. In the early 2000’s Neil moved out of London to a North Wales beauty spot to write and record his award-winning first solo jazz album "New Origins" followed by his second award-winning album "Five Countries". He also became much involved in Celtic music, performing, writing and arranging for traditional music legends Michael McGoldrick and Kate Rusby. At the same time he established himself as an educator of note, teaching at among others, Salford University, Leeds College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. More recently Neil has returned to performing alongside the likes of Elbow, Katie Melua and Rumer. And if all that wasn’t enough he has just completed a four year PHD in Musical Artistry, is the winner of Arts Council Wales' Creative Wales Award and is Artistic Director of Llandudno Jazz Festival! Also featured tonight will be upcoming guitarist Tom Remon (Soweto Kinch, Jim Mullen), bass player James Owston (finalist BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year) and highly regarded MOBO-nominated drummer David Lyttle (Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joe Lovano, Dave Leibman, Seamus Blake).
“Yates…jazz with intelligence and a quiet passion” The Jazz Mann; “[Yates]…graced his own pieces with a succession of beautifully varied improvisations” UK Jazz News; “Remon…a beautifully executed set full of sincerity and satisfying playing” Jazzwise