Wendy Kirkland Sextet – Latin Lockdown

One of the great unsung heroines of British jazz.

Restormel Arts
presents

Wendy Kirkland Sextet – ‘Latin Lockdown Live’

Wendy Kirkland piano/voice, Pat Sprakes guitar, Wayne Matthews bass, Steve Wyndham drums, Jon Richmond percussion and a special addition of Roger Beaujolais on vibraphone.

Pianist and singer Wendy Kirkland has been a mainstay of the UK Jazz scene since the late noughties, but it was her first album, Piano Divas, released in 2017 that began her ascent to wider recognition as a “Singing Pianist”, as dubbed by Jazz Journal. The ability to sing at the same time as comping and craft solos on the piano or unison piano/voice scat lines is her forte, with influences such as Diana Krall, Eliane Elias and Dena DeRose. Further accolades were given for her 2019 release The Music’s On Me, dubbed “a huge leap forward” by Jazz Views. Both albums prompted ACE funded tours all over the UK and constant radio airplay ever since.

During lockdown from March 2020, Wendy and guitarist/bassist husband Pat Sprakes entertained with a daily dose of Latin American music on Facebook which they entitled Latin Lockdowns. After 86 such performances they decided it was time to move on to other musical endeavours, but were amazed and pleased to receive daily messages from people who described the videos in such terms as “a ray of sunshine” in their lockdown situations.

The daily lockdown tune from Kirkland’s own home filled the music void of many, but “a live performance to a live audience…that is what I’m looking forward to,” she said. “Most musicians, if they couldn’t perform, might not play. Giving myself a purpose to play the piano kept me going until I could get out and perform again.”

“Terrific pianist, assured and full of surprises” ***** Dave Gelly, The Observer
“Mellow & Stylish” – Clive Davis, The Sunday Times

TICKETS – £15.00 / Under 21’s – £7.50
Box Office – CRBO 01726 879500 online – www.crbo.co.uk/jazz
Jazz Suppers – £15.00