Partisans

Born in Derby, 1970, guitarist Phil Robson had already enjoyed an exciting career from the age of 14 onwards playing with such visiting musicians as John Etheridge and Bheki Mseleku as well as with his clarinettist father, Trevor Robson. Moving to London at the age of 18, he attended the Guildhall School of Music being one of the youngest students ever to do the post graduate jazz course at that time.

He has worked with Christine Tobin, “Rare Groove” stars Big Jon Patton and Charles Earland, Billy Hart, James Genus, Mark Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Mike Gibbs, Peter Herbert, Tim Garland, Django Bates, Tom Rainey, Stan Sulzmann, Mornington Locket, Gerard Precencer, Bobby Wellins, Drew Gress, Alec Dankworth, Iain Ballamy, Jean Toussaint, Wayne Krantz, Gary Husband, Julian & Steve Arguelles, Mike Figgis (film director).

JULIAN SIEGEL is one of the most in-demand saxophonists on the UK jazz scene. He has worked with many of the top figures in the music in the UK and on the European jazz circuit. In 2007 he was awarded the BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist. His current bands are Partisans, co-led for the last 10 years with guitarist Phil Robson, the Julian Siegel Trio with US improvising stars drummer Joey Baron and bassist Greg Cohen,and the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring pianist Liam Noble. He is also a member of Gary Husband's Quartet 'Drive'.

He played with the Anglo-American Big Band of the legendary US pianist and composer Andrew Hill, with the Mike Gibbs 70th Birthday Band alongside Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum, with Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band, Django Bates Delightful Precipice and Human Chain, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone trio, Gwilym Simcock, Byron Wallen's Octet featuring Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde's 'Acoutastic Bombastic', Colin Towns with the NDR Big Band, and Hans Koller New Memories Band, which recorded in December 2003 with soprano saxophone legend Steve Lacy. At the Ruhr Trenniale festival 2006 he worked with NYC performance artist/violinist Laurie Anderson and pianist/singer-songwriter Steve Nieve. The band also featured drummer Kenny Wollesen, cellist Vincent Segal and bassist Greg Cohen.

Gene Calderazzo, a native New Yorker, began his early studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, (1979-81), alongside classmates Branford Marsalis, Wallace Roney, Jeff Watts and Marvin “Smitty” Smith. Yeah, baby.

He then gained a scholarship to attend the Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. There he performed with Joe Henderson, Mike Brecker, Lionel Hampton and Reggie Workman.

Since 1995, when Gene made the UK his home base, he has become one of the most in-demand drummers on the European jazz scene today . The year 2000-01 brought tours with Steve Grossman, James Moody, Eddie Henderson, Joey Calderazzo, Bobby Watson, Partisans, Philip Catherine/Ming Doky, Phil Woods, Martin Taylor/ Eddie Gomez and Randy Brecker.

In 2000-01 Gene recorded with, Gordon Beck's November Song (JMS), the New Gary Husband Trio's From the Heart (Jazzizit), The Dave Green Trio's Time Will Tell (Jazz House), Guy Barker featuring Sting What Love Is, and appeared with Guy's band in the film The Talented Mr Ripley.

Gene is a visiting Professor at The Royal College of Music, Cambridge University, Guildhall School of Music, Birmingham Conservatiore Royal Northern College of Music, and the Leeds College of Music.

Thad Kelly turned down a proper job to become a bass player, “the instrument that likes to be talked over.” As one of the main double-bassists in the UK he has played with most of the leading jazz musicians in the UK... well bass players get around a bit.

He can often been seen ripping it up the with musical anarchist Billy Jenkins, who explores the urban blues pallet (of late night tescos and boarded up shopping malls etc.). He's a member of Orquestra Mahatma with multi-instrumentalist Stuart Hall and percussionist Paul Clarvis (”A little miracle of home grown jazz,” Independent), who has his own record label. OM explores the more ethnic side of contemporary music.

Thad is currently working with the UK's best male jazz vocalist, Ian Shaw. Ian and Thad performed at the Lincoln Center New York in January, 2004, and other jazz festivals in the USA. He has completed remixes (with Big Hair) for Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), released as Antidote (illy B Eats vol.2 remixes). This will be a limited edition compilation CD on Amulet Records. Recently Thad has been playing with Ashley Slater's Big Lounge (he of “Freak Power” fame).

Source: The Parisans