Jay Wallis : Trumpet, Flugelhorn
and Vocals
Born in London in 1960 Jay began his proffessional career as
an army bandsman at the age of 16. After studying at the Royal Military
School of Music (Kneller Hall) and deciding that this was'nt really for
him he eventually left the delights of a military career to study for
a degree in music and English Lit at Middlesex polytechnic. A step in the
right direction! After three years he left with an honours degree (second
class) and went on to further his sudies for a year at the Guildhall school
of music in London by attending the jazz and studio music course. During
this time he worked & collaborated with musicians such as Kenny wheeler,
Scott Stroman, Simon Purcell, Alan Barnes, Ian Carr, Peter Ind, David Newman
& Fergus Read.
In 1992 after several years travelling
and working mainly in Europe he eventually settled in Barcelona to
form part of the reggae/ska group Inspector Tuppence. With the disbanding
of this group he decided to stay and continue working as a freelance musician
whilst using the opportunity to further his career as a Jazz vocalist.
He helped to form
the Django based group Swing Guitars and later joined the Faratoas Jazz
Band where he met the guitarist David Mitchell with whom he formed the
Jay Wallis Trio.
His influences
range from Red Allen, Ruby Braff and Clark Terry through to Miles Davis,
Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard & Woody Shaw. He also cites vocalists such
as Bille Holiday, Johnny Hartman, Frank Sinatra, his father Bob Wallis &
Carmen McRae as principal influences on his voice.
David Mitchell : Guitar
Born in Kansas city (USA) in 1958 David was given his first
guitar and first lesson by his father at the age of 11. After studying
for some years with some of the best teachers in the area it was'nt long
before he had formed his own group and had started to work in local
jazz clubs.
In 1986 he
moved to New York where he formed part of the group led by the Hammond organist
Jack McDuff. (This group had been the starting point for guitarists
such as George Benson and Pat Martino)
With them he toured extensivly throughout the United States.
By 1989 he was feeling it was time for a change and
so moved to the warmer climate of Spain. He eventually settled in Barcelona
and started to work and tour with musicians such as Tete Montoliu, Louis Stewart,
Tom Harrell, Jimmy Owens, Lou Bennett, Idris Muhammed, Lou Donaldson. Lonnie
Smith and Louie Bellson. In the 90s he formed the jazz-funk & hip hop
group the Princes of Time with whom he recorded two discs and toured with
throughout Spain. Later with musicians from the same group he formed part
of the Boogaloo quartet Shamtime that also recorded a disc on the satchmo
label and who weekly filled the Jamboree jazz club in Barcelona.
He recently joined the Big Band Jazz Terrassa to work with the saxophonist Frank Wess,
and names Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and Django Rheinhart as primary influences.
Nono Fernandez : Double Bass
Nono was born in the southern city of Cadiz in the Andalucian region of
Spain. He moved to Barcelona in 1984 to complete his musical studies at
the Taller de Musics. Principaly influenced by the great bass player Ray
Brown his talent was noticed by musicians from Barcelona such as Tete Montoliu
and Perico Sambeat. Soon he was working with visiting players such as Horace
Parlan, Alvin Queen, Peter King. Alan Skidmore, Don Braden, Red Richards,
Deborah Brown, Richie Cole, Scott Hamilton, Mark Nightingale and Donald Harrison.
In 1999 he formed part of the Big Band Jazz Terrassa wth whom he has supported
Randy Brecker, Mike Mossman. Maria Schneider. John Mosca and Frank Wess.
Nono is currently one of the buisiest bass players
on the Barcelona circuit and greatly in demand by players from both Spain
and abroad.
