Chris Hodgkins and his Band
Chris Hodgkins and His Band have been described as a mature mainstream band drawing its inspiration from the 50´s but with up-to-date arrangements, original tunes, ideas and influences. The line-up: Max Brittain (guitar), Mike Nash (trombone), John Evans, (clarinet), Alison Rayner (double bass) Cheryl Alleyne (drums) and Chris Hodgkins (trumpet).
Chris, Mike, Max and John have worked together for over 30 years and are joined by Alison Rayner on bass and Cheryl Alleyne on drums.
The Ealing Jazz Festival 2012 is the first time for this line-up.
Cheryl Alleyne studied jazz and classical music at the College of Arts & Technology in Newcastle upon Tyne. On returning to London she worked with ‘Loose Tubes’, ‘The Jazz Warriors’, ‘The Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra’ and toured the world extensively with hip-hop/rap group ‘Us3’.
Cheryl won places to study music in the United States at Berklee College of Music, The Manhattan School of Music and the New School of Jazz and although unsuccessful in finding funding to take up any of those positions, she went on to live, teach and play music in the USA and was also the show band drummer for 9 months on the Renaissance Eight and Golden Princess cruise liners, which travelled to South America and the Bahamas respectively. More recently Cheryl worked with the Courtney Pine Quartet at the Mermaid Theatre in a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ‘Desert Island Discs’ with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Cheryl is a SONOR and SABIAN endorsee.
Alison Rayner toured the world in the 80s with the critically acclaimed Latin-jazz group the Guest Stars, and formed her own jazz quartet in the 90s. She has worked with such jazz luminaries as guitar legend Tal Farlow and New York jazz poet Jayne Cortez and works regularly with, amongst others, the Deirdre Cartwright Group. She co-runs Blow the Fuse jazz club and is currently writing for her new jazz quintet.
Max Brittain’s inventive and sensitive guitar playing has accompanied a diverse range of musical greats including the late Humphrey Lyttelton, Ronnie Scott, Cleo Laine, Georgie Fame, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessell, and Marion Montgomery, as well as the National Symphony Orchestra. In 1990 he was invited to establish the electric guitar faculty at Eton College, and is now senior visiting teacher of this department.
John Evans played with countless bands from the early days of Mick Mulligan, George Melly and Freddy Randall to backing top-line cabaret entertainers such as Clinton Ford. John is currently working with the Anglo Welsh All-stars and Dick William’s band Dick’s Six
Mike Nash first worked with the Ralph Watmough Band that accompanied Jimmy Rushing on his Northern dates in1957 then went on to work with Bob Wallis, Ed Corre Band, Alan Wickham’s Confederates, the Freddie Randall Band and Alan Elsdon’s band and many bands since. A versatile musician from jazz ensembles to brass ensembles.
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