Blue Jar
Blue Jar combines the panache of Grappelli with Gypsy flamboyance, yet balances this passion with a dreamy, atmospheric classical sound. The group has played throughout Europe and Africa and continue to play in festivals throughout England and Ireland. With Ducks and Geese to their credit, their second album Pelican Crossing is currently on general release.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The members of Blue Jar come from a mix of backgrounds. After over twenty years each on the music circuit, they have combined their specialties, arrange, compose and entertain. Since their first gig-a Garden Party for H.R.H The Prince of Wales they have specialised in corporate work - They are now doing the live gig and festival circuit, following the success of their album, and recent festival performances at the Cork Jazz Festival, Bray Jazz Festival, Enniskillen Arts Festival, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, and Balbriggan Arts Festival. They have recently signed a 3 year management deal with W.O.A International for India, the Middle East and Asia, and are currently negotiating a licensing deal in the same territories. They will be on tour in India Jan 08.
TOMMY LOCKE has been one of the busiest and most sought after guitarists in Ireland for the last thirty years. After studying at the Ulster College of Music, he has been heavily involved in a wide range of music with country, rock and jazz bands. He has toured extensively throughout Ireland, Britain, France, America and Canada with Roly Daniels. Tommy has made many recordings for television and radio and made six albums.
LESLEY DENNISON studied at Trinity College of Music, London, and has since free-lanced with many major orchestras throughout the UK and Ireland. With the Dennison String Quartet, she has performed and for film, TV and radio, and toured throughout the UK and Ireland with Music Network and Live Music Now!
She has made many recordings including the theme music for Fatal Extraction and Field of Bones and is included in the Wildlife Album.
SCOTT HERON studied cello at the Royal Academy of Music, London and has a Master of Performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He has played with many orchestras including the Ulster Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Camerata, Ireland. He has toured and recorded extensively with the Brian Irvine Ensemble, Leya and the Dennison String Quartet.
With special guest IVAN BLACK, a world renowned musician, composer, arranger, teacher, adjudicator and multi-instrumentalist. He has played piano with the Ulster Orchestra, saxophone with Humphrey Littleton, P J Proby, Amici and Norman Wisdom, and accordion with Daniel ODonnell. He has made over 20 albums and his work has taken him to Canada, USA, France, Germany, Holland and throughout Africa.
http://www.myspace.com/bluejarbelfast
http://www.reverbnation.com/bluejar
http://www.bluejar.co.uk
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bluejar
contact: ldennison01@qub.ac.uk
Your musical influences
Grappelli, Django, manouche, Jamie Cullem, Nora Jones, Eva Cassidy,Tchavolo Schmitt, Dorado Schmitt, Fapy Lafertin, Biréli Lagrène, Jimmy Rosenberg, Jon Larsen, Stochelo Rosenberg,The Rosenberg Trio, Angelo Debarre, Babik Reinhardt, Moreno, Patrick Saussois, Dario Pinelli, Ritary Gaguenetti, Robin Nolan, Samson Schmitt, Mandino Reinhardt, Stephane Wrembel
