Jamie Brownfield interview
You’re performing at Smalls in Brighton on Thursday 13th April with Liam Byrne. What can the audience expect to hear?
“When Liam and I play together you can expect to hear anything from 1930's/40's swing through to 1950's Bebop, numbers by Ellington, Charlie Parker and Lester Young to name a few. People have commented that they hear influences of Charlie Shavers, Clark Terry & Clifford Brown in my playing!”
Last year you released your latest album, Go Down to New Orleans. Do you have plans for your next album?
“There was one original on my last album, Tender, by the Quartet's bass player Ken Marley. This track has gone down very well so I hope to include more original material on our next CD. I would also really love to record a Chet Baker style album with strings…one day!”
What other projects are you involved with?
“The Jamie Brownfield Quartet (myself on trumpet, Tom Kincaid on piano, Ken Marley on bass and Jack Cotterill on drums) a fresh and exciting quartet, have a vast range of experience in different styles of music and have come together to play our own mix of New Orleans street beat, swing & reggae. We are heavily influenced by the likes of Harry Connick Jr, Leroy Jones, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson & Christian McBride. The band has a residency and plays once a month at Matt & Phreds Jazz Club in Manchester.”
“The Brownfield Byrne Quintet (BBQ) was conceived in 2009 by myself and saxophonist Liam Byrne, both based in rural North Wales. Embracing the trumpet & tenor tradition of 1950's bebop, the groups repertoire has expended over the past few years to incorporate much earlier forms of jazz, reflecting the ever expanding influences that inform it's style. By placing an emphasis on a high standard of musicianship and a challenging repertoire, and staying true to their original jazz influences, we have succeeded in achieving a broad appeal with young and old alike, breaking down the boundaries that traditionally exist between the repective jazz genres!”
“The Brownfield Byrne Hot Six, another band co-lead by myself and Liam Byrne, performs the kind of jazz that has an infectious swing feeling and doesn't give you a headache. Playing classic jazz, as in everything from New Orleans through to the great American song book to Mainstream, inspired by the classic small groups and swing era stylists of the late 1930's and early 1940's. The rhythm section combination of Jim Swinnerton, guitarist Andy Hulme and Jack Cotterill on drums creates a really authentic swing feel. This band has proved popular at both jazz clubs and festivals across the country.”
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
“To keep on playing as much as possible, find new clubs and festivals to perform at and, hopefully, return to New Orleans! I was very lucky to win a competition earlier this year to 'busk' on a British Airways VIP chartered flight to NOLA, I had an amazing time and even got to play with Leroy Jones while I was there.”
Jamie Brownfield performs with Liam Byrne and Imogen Ryall at Smalls at The Verdict, Brighton on Thursday 13th April, 2017.
For more information on Jamie Brownfield, visit his website: www.jamiebrownfield.com