Special debut for new 5-piece Band to celebrate Lilico's anniversary
Rural Jazz Alliance, Lilico's Barnstaple - Friday 16th October
An exciting new band will be making their debut as a five-piece at Lilico’s this Friday.
The Rural Jazz Alliance play a unique and vibrant mix of original tunes and their own interpretations of Latin-jazz based compositions. Their music draws inspiration from Latin and soul jazz movements fused with elements of flamenco, folk, rock, afrobeat, oriental music and funk. Their distinct sound is firmly grounded by tight arrangements, a strong groove-driven rhythm section and fluid melodic interplay between the lead instruments.
The line up includes Jules Moberly on flamenco and jazz guitar, Malcolm MacDonald on soprano sax, Naomi Chunilal on flute, Jamie Adam on bass and Frank Rawle on Drums.
The band came together through various collaborations locally and in London, and each musician brings a rich and diverse background of experience to this new project:
Jules Moberly has performed as a guitarist in various outfits in his musical career, including a 12-piece ska band, in musicals (such as Kurt Weill’s Thru’penny Opera), in latin and jazz/funk projects, collaborations with dj’s and hip-hop artists and as a solo performer. It is whilst living in Spain that Jules became immersed in flamenco guitar playing, with its distinctly rhythmic approach and intricate style of playing, and it remains the dominant force in his performance.
Malcolm MacDonald is the Jazz veteran of the band. Having joined the Bristol Musician’s co-op in 1975, he has put his reed to just about any genre in all manner of locations around the globe. Malcolm has performed in jazz and rock outfits in Bristol; sega (a local dance), folk, rock ‘n’ roll and country music in the Seychelles; jazz in Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia – and latterly – Glasgow. He has played in The Ambling Band, and alongside Brian Irvine, John Langley of the Blue Aeroplanes, Helen O’Hara (Dexy’s Midnight Runners) and Viv Stanshall (Bonzo Dog Dooda Band) to name a few. In Devon he has performed with Jules as a duo and in sessions with the Breaks Collective.
Naomi Chunilal has a solid foundation in classical music at professional level in both piano and flute. After a long stint performing on both instruments in the classical field, her ancestral links to India led her to explore the nuances of Indian classical music, in particular the soaring raga scales of the bansuri flute and the subtle, meditative vocal tradition of Dhrupad singing. In a musical encounter with Jules in London they collaborated on a latin-jazz project with musicians from New York, London and Venezuela.
Jamie Adam on bass is a stalwart of the local music scene, having played in almost every club and pub in North Devon. His effortless ability to lock in to a groove in seemingly any time signature makes him a highly regarded bassist (he plays in a number of local bands), and his performances to date make for an impressive cv: Playing at national venues such as the Jazz café and Notting Hill Arts Centre in London, and receiving critical acclaim for his album with Bluprint from the likes of LTJ Bukem, Andy Cato (Groove Armada) and Mr.Scruff. As Long-time bassist for The Breaks Collective, Jamie has supported Courtney Pine, Soweto Kinch, Toots and the Maytals, Ed Motta, The Pharcyde, Ursula Rucker, Giles Peterson, DJ format and many more.
Frank Rawle may be more familiar to many as the drummer of Severe Zero. Like Jamie, he is a highly regarded musician on the scene, having played in Hollow Point, The Andy Russell Band, The Devil Delta Blues Band and others as a session drummer. Frank continues to collaborate with the Breaks Collective alongside Jamie Adam. As well as being a tour de force as a rock drummer (Frank played with the National Rock Orchestra, performing at the Festival Hall, London), anyone who has heard him perform with the Breaks will testify that he also knows a thing or two about funk, hip-hop and Latin rhythms as well: Having studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music and the L.A Music Academy, he can put his hand (or sticks, or brushes) to most styles with apparent ease.
The band will play from 9.00p.m. DJ Weztax from The Breaks Collective will be on board setting the vibe before, between sets, and after and tapas will be served until 9.30p.m. Admission is free. To book a table call 01271 372933.
