December Billy Thompson Gypsy Style Live

Performing in the Gypsy Jazz or ‘Hot Club’ style, Billy has performed with international guitarists Gary Potter, John Etheridge, Lollo Meier, Andreas Oberg, Martyn Taylor and Howard Alden amongst others…

Though performing with Mike Westbrook's Glad Day, Billy has had the chance to perform with the fantastic accordion player Karen Street.

More about Billy in general:

Billy is an integral member of seminal English Jazz/Rock outfit Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia with Jon Hiseman on drums. Billy has headlined twice at Ronnie Scott’s with Paraphernalia and toured Europe extensively featuring on 5 albums. 2008 also saw a tour of Japan.

Recently Billy also performed with guitarist Albert Lee on S4C's Cyngerdd Gorau Gwlad.

Billy is probably best known in Wales for his work with Meic Stevens and also with The Amigos performing regularly on record and live with both outfits since 1997. Billy also appears on albums by Welsh artists Mim Twm Llai, Sian James, Alun Tan Lan, Delwyn Sion and others.

Billy co-wrote, produced, engineered and performed on his original band project Amledd with singer and now wife Rhian Thompson (formerly Rhian Williams). Amledd's album 'Cyfnod Cyntaf' was released in 2006 and the band appeared on Noson Lawen in December 2010.

After graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1995 Billy chose to concentrate more on Jazz becoming finalist in the Young Jazz Musician of the Year competitions of both ‘96 & ‘98, Billy has also played with many other artists in many different fields of music from performing with Jools Holland at St David’s Hall to featuring on a new concept album by Manfred Mann.

Billy has taught Jazz & Improvisation on the violin at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and in March 2002 was invited to give a ‘Masterclass in Jazz and Improvisation on the Violin' at the Royal College of Music, London.

Through his continued work with Mike Westbrook's 'Glad Day', Billy also recently co-ran a course in 'The Art of Improvisation' at Dame Hannah's at Seale Hayne in Devon.

Billy now lives and works out of Bala, North Wales where along with performing and running his own recording studio, Thompsound Music, he also teaches violin and guitar in the area.

For further information about Billy visit www.billythompson.co.uk

Eryl Jones - Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals
Multi instrumentalist Eryl has always had an ecclectic taste in music which has led him to be involved in many musical projects in the past, embracing such styles as Rock, Blues, Bluegrass and most recently Gypsy jazz.. With TV commissions performances, and festival appearances to his credit, Eryl can bring variety to any performance, with his Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin and Vocal skills.

Karen Street - Accordion
Studied in both the classical and jazz traditions, her passion has always been to challenge people’s preconceptions of the much maligned accordion. To this end she performs as a soloist, in a duo with saxophonist Andy Tweed, and with her own jazz quartet and various line ups as well as working as a freelance accordionist. The music she plays displays her formidable talents as a performer, composer and arranger.

Phil Gardiner - Guitar
Originally a blues guitarist, Phil's love of the incredible rhythm of 1930s hot jazz has led to work with great UK players including Gary Potter and Billy Thompson.

Greg Robley - Bass
Professional musician for 26 years, session musician performing at wide variety of venues in both the UK and abroad. Pianist, guitarist and bass player. Performed at the Cork Jazz Festival and Chateauneuf du Faou with Andy Mackenzie.

The 'Billy Thompson Gypsy Style Live' album is available throughout Wales and from all major download sites. The CD is also available at the gigs

For more information visit http://www.hannahssealehayne.com/