WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko

View From Above is Tristan Banks debut album and draws on over 30 years of experience as a sideman for many Grammy award winning and platinum selling artists.

Mixing influences from Jazz, Latin Jazz and Fusion Idioms, the music is a unique combination of high-octane virtuosic performance and sublimely melodic composition. Banks unifies his long-standing musical friends Paul Booth, John Crawford and Davide Mantovani to articulate his musical vision. Tristan’s debut album is due to be released on the Ubuntu Music record label on March 31st, 2023.

Tristan on his debut album:
“The idea was to push the acoustic jazz quartet format to the limit, being able to re-image the possibilities that the classic saxophone, piano, bass, drums line-up can manifest, and by being conscious of the sonic traditions that are typically replayed to confirm the listeners tastes while avoiding the genres timbral cliches.

 I have always had an interest in music that makes you move as well as simulating the mind with musical interplay and deeper compositional concepts, so the idea was to select tunes that I had written over the last 15 years and record them in a live performance setting with no click track or isolation recording techniques. This created a perfect environment to generate and capture the musical energy of the performance.

“Ubuntu feels like the perfect fit for me, with many of my musical friends releasing their music through the label, and as the UK jazz scene goes from strength to strength, I’m really happy to be working with Martin to bring my music into the world.”

Tristan Banks Biography
During his 30-year career as a recording artist and session musician building a reputation as a knowledgeable, versatile and authentic world-class drummer and percussionist.

Tristan Banks has worked with many artists covering a wide field of musical genres including Roy Ayers, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, Beverley Knight, Hexagonal, David Gilmour, Peter King, Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Liane Carroll, Snowboy, Terry Callier, Da Lata, Jim Mullen, Carleen Anderson, Mayra Andrade, Ben  Hillier (U2, Depeche Mode, Blur) Mike Lindup (Level 42) Hamish Stuart (AWB), Steve Howe (Yes), The Lion King (UK tour), Thriller Live (European, Brazilian tours) MC Conrad, Alexander O’Neal, Ive Mendes, Chico Cesar and Joe Lee Wilson (Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins).

As a touring artist he has performed in many of the world’s top venues including Royal Festival Hall, Central Park NYC, Royal Albert Hall, Joes Pub NYC, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hammersmith Odeon, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, North Sea Jazz Festivals, Shepherds Bush Empire, Blue Note Tokyo, V festival, Reading Festival, Womad Festivals, Glastonbury Festival.

Since March 25th 2022 he has also been curator and venue manager at The Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton, restarting the venue after its closure due to the global pandemic of 2020, already receiving a nomination for Parliamentary Jazz Award Venue of the Year 2022,  bringing many top UK and International Jazz artists to the club including Larry Goldings, Sarah Jane Morris, Ari Hoenig, Jim Mullen, Tony Kofi, David Binney, Claire Martin, Tony Remy, Liane Carroll, Laurence Cottle, B D Lenz, Yolanda Charles, Ivo Neame, Tom Ollendorff, Simon Spillett, Hexagonal, Ant Law, Emma Rawicz, Jackson Mathod as well as Ubuntu recording Artists, Quentin Collins, Matt Ridley, Paul Booth, Alina Bzhezhinska, Brandon Allen, Nigel Price, Trypl, Qow Trio, Andrew McCormack and Dave O’Higgins.

Support Act – Katie Bradley, Diane Dunn and Lorraine Lucas
Three respected local singer-songwriters share individual original compositions and pay tribute to female world icons of Jazz & Blues. 

Katie Bradley

Katie has the voice of Big Mama Thornton and the heart of Memphis”. Joseph Woby – The Sunday Times

Songwriter and harmonica player Katie Bradley is renowned as a huge talent in the international Blues scene after receiving worldwide airplay and acclaim for her debut album in 2012 which was nominated for a British Blues award for her original song ‘I hear the river’ .

World-famous harmonica maker Anthony Dannecker endorsed Katie Bradley with her own customised harps, uniquely hand crafted in response to her own unique playing style.
Katie has been recognised  with numerous Blues Awards and nominations both in the UK and Europe and performed with some of the Best Blues musicians in the UK and worldwide.  Her music has been played on the BBC Blues program and Jazz FM.

Katie has recorded 4 studio albums and was invited to BBC Maidavale to sing with US Blues artist Kirk Fletcher with whom she toured the UK. Katie has shared the stage with Blues royalty such as Mud Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters) the late great Luther Allison and has supported artists such as Suzanne Vega, Lucky Peterson, Georgie Fame, Paul Jones, Taildragger. Katie’s appeal translates perfectly to concert and festival audiences. From London’s Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club to  International festivals and Clubs.

“Katie leaves you in no doubt that she is a 21st century Blues woman” – Blues in Britain
“Katie’s roots lie deep in the essence of the Blues, a huge rich voice that gives praise to the legacy of Big mama Thornton and huge respect to Etta James”.  Broadstairs Blues Bash

Diane Dunn
Diane Dunn is a singer songwriter from Folkestone.  Her live performances across the Southeast and Europe, are renowned for their energy and emotion, Diane has become a popular figure in the local music scene. Her dynamic voice, combined with her skilled guitar playing, have created a unique and captivating sound that has earned her a growing fanbase.

Diane Dunn music draws inspiration from a wide range of genres, including Folk, Blues, Jazz, and Rock, and is characterised by its powerful, soulful delivery and personal lyrics.
Diane has released several EPs, with her music being well received by critics and fans alike, receiving recognition for her song writing and vocal skills.

Lorraine Lucas
Lorraine is a singer songwriter, a musician and composer who draws inspiration from her observations of the world and the human condition in all it’s magnificence and frailty.
Her songs tell tales from her life on the road as a teenage runaway, a journey  that has earned the singer a place as a country and  blues troubadour.
Lucas has studied under the tutelage of Boo Hewerdine, Darden Smith, Findlay Napier, Dr Dave Hook. She has established her own songwriting workshops and founded the  Folkestone’s Songwriting Festival.

Lorraine Lucas launched her debut album ‘Loves’ Executioner’ with her backing band The Troubled Family in 2011. Followed with a second album ‘Messenger’ ( released in May 2018)
For both albums, she toured successfully performing at music festivals, concert venues and intimate lounges across the UK and Europe.  Amongst others, Lorraine shared stage with Paul Clifford ( Be Good Tanyas), Michael Ward-Bergeman ( Groanbox, St Louis Symphony Orchestra) Dean Owens, Michael Messer, Robbie McIntosh ( Sir Paul McCartney/The Pretenders) Bruce MacGregor ( Blazing Fiddles) Paul Fitzgerald ( The Coal Porters)

Lorraine is currently working on her third studio album which was conceived during the height of the pandemic with Hampshire producer Neil Carter.

Tickets £15
Doors from 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre