04/13/10

Esther Miller - Vocals

Steve Waterman - Trumpet

Steve Melling - Piano/Keyboard

Zoltan Dekany - Bass

John Perry - Drums

Esther  takes her influence from Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Shirley Horn and Blossom Dearie as well as the jazz/pop of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. During her earlier career in South Africa she was he was the vocalist with Gerry Spencer’s “Jazz Cyclone”  and worked with among others guitarists Herb Ellis, Johnny Fourie, Errol and Alvin Dyers - saxophonists Winston Mankunku and Ezra Ngkukana,  and Bassist Basil Moses, .

She has played in numerous UK Jazz festivals and in the 2005, 2004, 2002 & 2001 Birmingham International Jazz festivals she won universal critical acclaim with sell-out performances.

Recorded works include her 2006 album “Dream Dancing” - “Invitation” in 2002 Say Hello to Esther” in 1999 - and numerous television appearances in South Africa. The latest addition to her discography is the album “Into the Sunlight” in collaboration with Pianist/Composer, Steve Melling who . The album also features Trumpeter, Steve Waterman; Bassist, Zoltan Dekany and Drummer, John Perry. Peter King performs a guest spot on alto saxophone.

Extracted the Esther Miller  website www.esthermillersings.co.uk

Steve Melling was last here with Pete King in last year’s season. A graduate of NYJO, Steve has also played with musicians such as Elvin Jones, Benny Golson, James Moody, Alan Skidmore and Colin Towns. Zoltan Dekany and John Perry were here with Dave Graham in March.