SOLD OUT - BLUE HARLEM

BLUE HARLEM led by saxophonist AL NICHOLS & featuring vocalist SOPHIE SHAW

Sophie Shaw - vocals, Al Nicholls - tenor sax, Gethin Liddington - trumpet, Horace Cardew - baritone & alto sax, Paul Eldridge - piano, Manuel Alvarez - double bass, Sam Brown - drums

Blue Harlem hit the bandstand running.  Formed by Al Nicholls in '97 (he served his time with Big Town Playboys, Mike Sanchez King Pleasure and Ray Gelato's Giants), the members kept meeting in other groups so it seemed natural to get together - for good.

Their love of the music of the golden swing era, and particularly the jump blues of the 40s/50s means that stylistically they are all hip to the same muse. With the likes of Nat “King” Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Dinah Washington, Ray Charles and Count Basie as their heroes, you can be sure the band will get you jumping.

Festivals played by Blue Harlem include Molde (Norway) International Jazz Festival, The Tower of London Festival, The Brecon International Jazz Festival, Cornbury, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Soho (London) Jazz Festival, West Wales International Jazz Festival at Aberystwyth, the Bath Fringe Festival, Ghentbrugge (Belgium) International Jazz Festival, the European Film Festival in Dresden, and The Walldorf (Germany) International Rock’n’roll Weekender; As well as festivals at Bures, Chichester, Colne, Coventry, Gloucester, Guisborough and Salisbury.

The Band are now regular favourites at the world-famous 100 Club, as well as playing many other London venues including the Pigalle Club and ‘Jitterbugs’, and they also appear regularly at venues across the UK from ‘The Sands’ Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, to Burgh Island, Devon. They have an enviable reputation as a party band, having played for society soirees all over the UK from Annabel’s to Meikleour Castle, Perthshire. They number amongst their corporate clients Cannon, BT, Bulgari, Deisel Jeans and the TUC. During 2001 they were invited on 2 separate occasions to perform at Highgrove House charity balls for the ‘Prince’s Trust’; and then again in 2002.

“Blue Harlem – the group I’m currently raving about. It’s happy music – it makes you want to dance – Highly recommended!”

Michael Parkinson BBC Radio 2

“Blue Harlem have a devastating reputation on the live circuit and a number of high profile admirers….they are one of the best party bands around”

Nico Mead TNT Magazine

“This band just keep sounding better and better! Led by sax supreme Al Nicholls and with great vocals”

‘Where to Dance in London’  website

"Solid swing and great arrangements from this stylish up-town band - they kept the dance floor packed and we will definitely want them back" 

Simon Selmon, London Swing Dance Society

"...are guaranteed to get your adrenaline flowing with their brand of high energy big band swing and R&B that would have been equally at home at the Apollo or the Savoy in the 40's as it is today."

Tony Watson ‘Blues and Rhythm’ magazin