
Gareth
Roberts Quintet
The Gareth Roberts Quintet have been playing together for many years now
but since the release of their debut album "The Attack of the Killer Penguins"
in 2006 their popularity has gone from strength to strength. This year they
were one of three bands in the UK chosen to receive a Jazz Services Promoter's
Choice Award and so far in 2008 they have played successful gigs at (amongst
others) London, Cheltenham, Manchester, Brecon and Scarborough jazz festivals.
Bandleader Gareth writes nearly all of the music and describes his main
influences as the compositions of Charles Mingus and Blue Note Jazz of the
60's. All of the quintet are acclaimed band leaders in their own right but
here they get together under Gareth's leadership to play their own unique
style of original, exciting but accessible jazz. Apart from Gareth on trombone,
the band consist of Gethin Liddington on trumpet, Paul Jones on piano, Chris
O'Connor on bass and Mark O'Connor on Drums
"Gareth Roberts' lusty quintet got the first weekend of the London Jazz
Festival off to a flying start with a Mingus- like ferocity and even a nod
to Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer" :- Jazz UK
"Gareth plays trombone with a strong sense of the trombone tradition...able
to move effortlessly from the past to present, and definitely one to watch
for the future" :- Dennis Rollins
"Gareth Roberts' writing, and the band's playing are tremendous fun.
Play most of this album loud and torture yourself by trying not to move
a muscle. It's impossible! Your eyelid will start twitching, your leg will
kick - and you're away…" :- Malcolm Lewis - Planet Magazine