Graeme Stephen
“Stephen’s music speaks loudly of ambition, imagination, nous, and harmonic adventure yet teemed with the sort of tuneful realisation that swells the heart”...Rob Adams .. The Herald

Graeme Stephen was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Now residing in Edinburgh, he performs with numerous projects playing a wide array of styles from free improvisation to folk music. Having recorded with various groups Graeme released his first CD with his trio in 2006, featuring New York based musician Eivind Opsvik on bass and London based drummer Stuart Ritchie.
The “Graeme Stephen Sextet” was selected for the Jazz Services Promoters Choice Award 2006. The sextet of Violin, Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Guitar, Double bass and drums was formed in early 2005 and has performed throughout the country including dates at Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Celidh Culture, as well as the London and Manchester Jazz Festivals and featured broadcasts on Radio Scotland. Graemes compositions for this group take influence from the different styles of players involved, which include folk, jazz and classical disciplines. In 2007 Graeme was chosen to be one of the eight musicians from Britain to be part of Jerwood and Serious Music’s “Take Five“ initiative.
In 2008 Graeme composed the suite Vantage-Points for his sextet featuring guest musician Ben Davis on Cello. The music was released in February 2010 on the Fabrikant Records Label and is available on iTunes. Current Projects: Graeme is currently involved with many varied projects with musicians/bands including Fraser Fifield, Newt, Breach, and Phil Bancroft's Home Small as The World Group.

Recent reviews Sunrise: Favourite Film, The Guardian, Nov.2011
“...hypnotic guitar work that gave way to a veritable harvest of beautifully written vignettes for his superb group.” 4 stars, The Herald
“...the combined effect was spell-binding.” 4 Stars, The Scotsman

Graeme was awarded “Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2011 Scottish Jazz Awards.

Graeme Stephen - Leven

Graeme Stephen - Shut

 

Julian Arguelles
"One is left almost speechless with admiration" THE INDEPENDENT 2004

Julian Argüelles is one of the most expressive jazz saxophonists the UK and has produced in the last quarter of a century. He is ranked as one of today's jazz masters by his critics. As a composer, Julian's individualistic, stylish and highly original compositions have earned him commissions by ensembles such as the NDR in Hamburg, HR in Frankfurt, Apollo Saxophone quartet, BBC Radio 3, Royal Academy of Music, Birmingham, Wigan, Fenland, Scottish and English National Youth Jazz Orchestras, Bath International Festival, Fontanella Recorder Consort and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Having worked shoulder to shoulder with many of the jazz world's top musicians including Dave Holland, Steve Swallow, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Carla Bley, Dave Liebman, John Scofield and Django Bates, Julian's prowess as a performer, composer, arranger and bandleader is now in great demand internationally.

Thick-Skinned Productions seek opportunities, on Julian's behalf, for his existing projects as well as new commissions for big band, orchestra,Youth bands, in the UK and Internationally. For details and sound bites click here.

Visit Julian's website for further information including discography, current and past projects, latest news, reviews and sound bites - www.julianarguelles.com

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Cathie Rae - Singer/composer
Cathie Rae's recent CD, Back to the Mother, has been described by her contemporaries as "Beautiful", "Really cool", "moving" and having "layers of thoughful musical detail" as well as receiving critical acclaim through the media.

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Her recordings to date include;
Back to the Mother (2011), Flow (2005), Time Out (2002), Tribute to Chet Baker with Colin Steele (1999).

Cathie has toured extensively around the UK and most recently opposite the Brian Kellock Trio in early in 2011 and is gaining wide recognition for being a singer of quality and originality. Her new band will tour in 2012 and she'll be back in the recording studio soon to record more of her compositions and arrangements for her next album.

Recent Reviews:
Scotland on Sunday, Sept 11, 2011 by Alison Kerr
Back to the Mother, Cathie Rae vocal & Graeme Stephen guitar
Rating: 4 stars

"An album intimately sounding and elegantly thought-through. Excellent reworking of Eurhythmics "Here comes the rain again" ...lovely originals... "Dancing through the Light" surely inspired by Chet Baker, with whom Rae shares an appealingly vulnerable vocal quality."

The Musician, Autumn 2011
Back to the Mother, Cathie Rae vocal & Graeme Stephen guitar

"Superlative Scottish jazz collaboration. Very special indeed." 

John Rae
Since finishing the Creative New Zealand / Jack C. Richards Composer in residence at the NZ School of Music in July 2010 John continues to live and work in Wellington. His most recent project is "The Troubles" with Kiwi saxophone legend Lucien Johnson. The group run one of the best jazz gigs in the Pacific every Sunday at Club Happy, Wellington and are already known as a significant voice on the NZ music scene.

John Rae is planning a tour with the Brian Kellock Trio for November 2012. If you’d like to book the band email contact@johnrae.biz and get in touch with John direct.




Eastern Promise by TheTroubles (Live)

TOUR HISTORY

2011
Graeme Stephen, Sunrise - A song of two humans
Silent movie with live accompaniment, commissioned by Creative Scotland.
Scottish Tour

Brian Kellock Trio and Cathie Rae / Graeme Stephen duo
Scottish Tour

2010
Ryan Quigley Big Band with Justin Currie
Tune Up tour (funded by Scottish Arts Council)
Scottish tour

Brian Kellock / Julian Arguelles
UK Tour

2009
Julian Arguelles / John Abercrombie
Tune Up tour (funded by Scottish Arts Council)
UK Tour

Ryan Quigley Sextet
UK Tour

2008
Martin Kershaw, Hero as a Riddle
New Music fund commission Scottish Arts Council
Scottish Tour

Brian Kellock / Liane Carroll
Scottish Tour

2005
Cathie Rae's Flow Experience
Jazz Services Touring Support
UK Tour

2002
Cathie Rae, Time Out Tour
Pilot for Tune Up Touring Support, Scottish Arts Council
Scottish Tour