Ross Hughes – Reeds & Bass
A multi-instrumentalist, Ross Hughes, plays woodwinds, keyboards, and bass/guitars. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Ross is an experienced jazz workshop tutor and has taught for Jazz Factory for many years. Ross also teaches in his studio and is the saxophone tutor for Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, and has taught for the performance workshops at LCCM.
Ross has worked with the following either live or in the studio: BBC Concert Orchestra, Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow, Brains & Hunch, Bristol Old Vic, The British Paraorchestra, Celloman, Charles Hazlewood, Charlie Winston, Chartwell Dutiro, Cibelle, Davide Mantovani, Defective Comet, Esben Tjalve, Filter Theatre, Gas Giants, Goldfrapp, Guida da Palma, Iain Ballamy, In Tune BBC Radio 3, Ishmael Ensemble, Jim Fortune, Kneehigh Theatre, The London Snorkelling Team, The Lost & Wandering Jazz & Blues Band, Lucinda Belle, Muntu Valdo, National Theatre, Perfume Genius, Portishead, Roland Perrin, RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe/Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Spymonkey Comedy & The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble.
Joe Bradford – Trombone
Having studied with greats such as Steve Davis, Elliot Mason, Steve Turre, Rene Mclean, Paul Nedzella, and Dennis Rollins; Joe Bradford has grasped a broad but deep knowledge of our music. Having studied at the Jackie Mclean Institute of Jazz, his feet are firmly rooted in the bebop/hard bop tradition. Joe currently runs and tutors for the Bristol Jazz Workshop and has a wealth of knowledge teaching jazz and improvisation to all instruments, in a mixed ensemble setting. With a large pool of experience in Big Bands, Small Groups, and Large Ensembles, in addition to composing, arranging, and teaching all of the above; he is as adept a teacher as he is a musician.
Andy Nowak – Piano
Bristol-based Jazz pianist Andy Nowak has played with Jocelyn Brown, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Art Themen, Simon Spillet, Andy Clyndert, Tony Remi, Clare Teal, and Claire Martin to name a few. For 20 years, he has held jazz piano teaching positions at Wells Cathedral School and Clifton College in Bristol and has taught jazz piano helping students through the ABRSM exam system. Andy also runs JumpStartJazz, a series of jazz workshop courses based around the South West. He composes for his own jazz piano trio, ANt, who have released two albums and toured nationally.
Liz Exell – Drums
Liz has been playing drums for over 20 years and has taught for over 15 years. Starting out in rock and roll bands and quickly becoming hypnotised by jazz, Liz studied at Trinity Laban with Dave Wickins and Gene Calderazzo. After graduating, Liz toured the UK, EU, and US, performed on numerous BBC Radio and TV broadcasts with swing, trad, nu-jazz, bebop, and modern jazz bands, as well as playing in improvisation orchestras and composing. Now Liz’s main focus is interlocking groove music with the new band Sallix. Liz currently tutors at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is a community musician and trainee music therapist.