Sunday Jazz – Emerald Jazz Presents American Songbook Jazz – Sun 4th Jun

Doors 11.30am. Start 12.00pm. Adv ticket £11. OTD ticket £14.

Emerald Jazz are an exceptional local jazz trio led by Kelly Dale’s rich, smooth vocals, accompanied by big band leader Paul Chousmer on piano and award-winning double bassist Pete Maxfield. Emerald Jazz perform a wide range of American Songbook standards made famous by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Billie Holiday, to more modern classics by Crystal Gale and Nina Simone.

Pete Maxfield became a professional double-bass player in 1976. His first album Sphere went to No.1 in the Melody Maker jazz charts in 1981, the same time as winning Young Jazz Musician of the Year. Pete has had three award-winning albums for Island Records, with countless appearances at major festivals (North Sea, Toronto, Houston, Saalfelden, Moers, Voss) and venues (‘New Morning’: Paris; The Royal Festival Hall (main stage), Roundhouse, Astoria, Town & Country, Hammersmith Odeon: London; Bimhuis: Amsterdam), on international T.V. and Radio, in Theatres, Clubs, Pubs and even Outer Mongolia! (Ulan Bator and Erdenet for the British Council in 1989)… he sure is one experienced bassist!

Pianist and Multi-instrumentalist Paul Chousmer has a background touring with rock bands including Fields of the Nephilim, Ozric Tentacles and Astralasia, also with the radical Circus Archaos. Since moving to the Southwest, Paul has run Sherborne jazz club for many years, and is currently musical director for Wessex big band. Paul regularly performs on various instruments in an array of genres & also teaches music from his home.

Vocalist Kelly Dale has been involved in music since a very young age. She was one of the first girl choristers at Salisbury Cathedral & then moved onto the prestigious Sherborne School for Girls as top music scholar. Kelly discovered Ella Fitzgerald in her teens & was besotted, but it wasn’t until leaving school that she had her first opportunity to lead a jazz band. After having her children, Kelly emerged on the local music scene again in 2016 as lead vocalist for Wessex Big Band. She now also sings with Deane Big Band, Emerald Jazz & gigs as a solo singer across the Southwest.