Charlie Hearnshaw alto sax
Born in Birmingham in 1956. Began playing piano at the age of 9 and clarinet at 14, with alto sax following a couple of years later. Studied classical clarinet, composition and conducting at Dartingron College of Arts during the seventies followed by further clarinet studies in Paris 1977 - '79

On returning to the UK he formed the Charlie Hearnshaw Quartet as a vehicle for composition and improvisation in the modern jazz field. In 1990 the Quartet's debut album "So Slam It!" received considerable acclaim, including a place in the Guardian's critics' poll for that year.

His strongest musical influences include Tony Coe, Sonny Criss, Joe Henderson and the astounding Polish saxophonist Zbigniev Namyslowski.

Hearnshaw has recorded and broadcast with many of the country's top players including Don Weller, Pete Jacobson, Andy Sheppard, Don Rendell, ex-coltrane drummer Clifford Jarvis, Kathy Stobart, Alan Barnes and the late great Slim Gaillard.

More recently he has been involved in extensive and regular studio collaboration with the Deep House dance collective "The Rurals" and has featured on many releases of Deep House and Soul on the Peng label over the past five or six years, as well as on Peng remixes for other artists including .

He now lives in southwest England on the Devon/Somerset border and works mostly in the UK and France.

Loves cats, old wooden sailing boats and British motorbikes and is a slave to one of each.

Coach York drums
Previously a long-time collaborator with Portishead's Adrian Utley, Coach's career has spanned reggae, funk and bebop and many styles in-between.

What the press say about Charlie's previous recordings and gigs................
"Virile and reflective chamber jazz".      The Times

"Hearnshaw combines the focus and purity of classical clarinet tone with the freedom of expression of jazz improvisation".        France MP3

"Widely regarded as a leading exponent of jazz clarinet in the UK".     Torbay Herald

"Promoters like it because it is modern and audiences like it because
it is accessible".       Andy Morley, director, Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre

"There is a kind of joy which communicates itself to the listener...this is the kind of music which gives me
the most pleasure."    Alun Morgan, jazz critic

"Quietly ferocious alto sax".       Somerset County Gazette

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