Oreos String Quartet

Last night I heard the Oreos String Quartet. They were performing for a gala dinner at Lincoln Inn London. Its been five years since I heard Martha, Holly, Cathryn and Rebecca. Their sound has matured but the performance remained exciting as when they first started performing five years ago. The Oreos today have continued to be invited for corporate events and carry or receiving repeat bookings. They have been and continue to be Music for Londons most requested String Quartet.

Steel band removed from flight on new years eve

 After performing for new years eve in Sardinia. A Steel Band received great reviews.  ut that satisfaction evaporated rapidly shortly after the British musicians took their seats for the two-hour journey to Stansted airport. They found themselves being escorted off the plane by armed police on suspicion of being terrorists, seemingly for the offence of reading out the football scores to a blind colleague.

Now the group is suing the budget airline for compensation after its crew members allegedly refused to let them back on to the flight after they had proved their innocence, forcing the men to miss their planned New Year’s Eve celebrations with their families on 31 December 2006. They did not arrive home until 2 January, after a circuitous and costly journey that involved taking the only available flight on New Year’s Day, to Liverpool, and paying their train fare to London.

The five men are claiming £800 from Ryanair to cover the cost of their tickets and the inconvenience they suffered. Their county court case to be heard at the Mayor’s and City of London court on 28 November.

The incident, at Sardinia’s Alghero Airport, happened after another passenger claimed the musicians were acting “suspiciously” as one member of the band read aloud some football scores to Michael Toussaint, a leading steel band musician and the only blind professional tenor drum player in the world, as the plane waited for take off. Italian airport police were called and they asked all five men to leave. Mr Toussaint produced his disability card and removed his glasses to prove his blindness.

The group were told by the Italian authorities that they were free to continue their journey, but it is claimed Ryanair refused to allow the men to rejoin the flight.

One of the musicians, Jason Constantine, 43, from Norwood, south London, told the Evening Standard: “It’s a disgrace. This stemmed from one man who created a situation that led to five people being wrongly accused and stranded when we should have been with our families on New Year’s Eve. There was a lot of confusion when the Italian police came on. They were holding guns and didn’t speak English. It was very distressing. Even after Michael proved he was blind, they still wouldn’t let us fly. We were the only black people on the plane and I see no other reason than racism.”

Ryanair offered the men compensation of £100 each and flight vouchers. But Mr Constantine said: “I’m appalled by the way Ryanair has acted. It is not really about the money. It is the principle.” Ryanair declined to comment yesterday, saying the matter was sub judice.

Read More about Steel Bands Here

coco sw5 london

Dear Member

Here is your personal invitation for our Launch of Coco SW5 this Thursday 13th September.

If you would like to attend please send me the names of your guests and arrival times and I will confirm your place on the Member’s guest list.

The guest list is now reaching capacity so please do send your requests to me promptly to avoid dissappointment.

I look forward to another fantastic evening

Kindest Regards
Louise

Director
The Events Agency
www.theeventsagency.com

Abram Wilson & The Delta Blues Project

Press Release Sat 20 Oct 2007, 8pmDune music presents

Ride! Ferris Wheel To The Modern Day Delta Renowned trumpeter and vocalist Abram Wilson, raised in Louisiana and now a

London resident, brings a 10-strong band to artsdepot for his new show Ride!

 Ride! tells the story of a young man’s journey of self discovery along a road that leads from a backwater hometown in

Mississippi to the fast action and thrills of big city life.

Albert Jenkins, a talented young trumpeter is set to take over the running of a jazz club that has been in his family for several generations. Everyone is counting on him. But Albert has other ideas. He opts for a life of touring with a hip hop band and leaves his family behind. His new life brings excitement, temptation and tragedy in equal measures. Ride! is a parable that can be read on many levels: a cautionary tale on the one hand and on the other, it presents the age-old dilemma of tradition in conflict with modernity, family ties against personal freedom.  The show features a 10-piece explosive line-up comprising of three bands in one: the Delta Blues Trio, the Londorleans Brass Band and the Abrams Wilson Sextet. They perform music and dramatisations that borrow from the traditions of the Delta Blues, straightahead jazz and acoustic hip hop, creating one of the most exciting rides in jazz today.  The story is delivered through music, songs, spoken word and the musicians taking on the various characters. The performance kicks off with a prologue specially recorded by Rhythm & Blues giant, Dr John, setting the scene for the ride of your life! 

Abram Wilson has been nominated for a Mobo ‘Best Jazz’ Award, this year.

Notes to the Editor

• In April 2006, Wilson was judged the winner in the jazz category of the International Songwriting Competition.

Ride! Ferris Wheel To The Modern Day Delta is out now on Dune Records

Motor City Party Band

Motor City has truly been the epitome of the ‘ultimate party band’ that so many bands are happy to brand themselves but are really put together only to perform for functions. Consisting of actual recording artistes and live concert musicians this band tops them all. The lead singer was once signed to Motown. The band perform all over Europe for festivals as the original blues band that the really are. As a function band performing for wedding and parties, they have yet to fail to dazzle the crowd and leave the guests talking about the party long after the event. For more details please log on to http://www.musicforlondon.co.uk/Blues_Soul_Party_Band.htm

Motor City Band another brilliant evening

Dear Marcus,
 
I had to write and say on behalf of all of us how fantastic you, Chantelle and the band were at Melissa and Ben’s wedding on Sunday 26th August. The dance floor was packed all evening and it was definitely because of you and your music.  All of our guests praised you and said how much they enjoyed your performance. What was especially nice was that we chose you because you are so different from the usual wedding bands and our guests thoroughly enjoyed hearing you perform.
 
I would also like to personally thank you for allowing my father-in-law Sid to join your band for the evening.  It was very special for all of us to hear him play at such an important event.
 
Please pass on my thanks and praise to the rest of the crew.  
 
I wish you continued success for the future.
 
With kind regards
 
 
Adrienne Susman

London’s Live Music Diary

Press Release

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ignite - Free lunchtime music series at the Royal Albert Hall

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The Royal Albert Hall proudly presents the next ignite season of 2007. ignite is a free lunchtime music series taking place most Fridays from July to September. The series takes place from 12 noon until 1.30pm and features talented young ensembles in the relaxed atmosphere of the Café Consort. You can come and hear some fantastic music for free whilst enjoying great food and drink.

Once again this series is crammed full of fantastic music from flamenco to Latin jazz. It features some exciting new groups including TG Collective and Zig as well as some ignite favourites including The Huckleberries and Plastic Chairs. What better way to start your weekend!

Zig

Friday 20 July 2007 - 12 noon

German-born violinist Gundula Gruen, plays using the true soul of Gypsy music - bursting with colour and passion and in an explosion of energy. Gundula started ŽiG in 2004 and drives the group with her spirit and motivation. She is joined by accordion virtuoso Živorad Nikolic, Oliver Baldwin with his Balkan Bass and Serbian darbuka player Rastko Rasic. Join them on a journey through Eastern Europe and the Balkans - zigduo.com

Caratinga

Friday 27 July, 12 noon

Samba’s roots lie in a history of fabulous acoustic music stretching back well over a century. With a fabulous Anglo-Brazilian line-up featuring Anselmo Netto on mandolin and percussion, Leandra Varanda on vocals, Felipe Karam on cavaquinho and violin and Jonathan Preiss on 7-stringed guitar, Caratinga bring the irresistible rhythms and beautiful melodies of this great tradition to life in wonderful acoustic music and song. caratinga-music.co.uk