Lorraine And The Flames

Lorraine and the Flames is a remarkable ensemble, comprising a 5-piece jazz band. It is known for its smooth and soulful blend of jazz with a distinct Celtic flavour. Some reviews liken exceptional vocalist, Lorraine Heavey, to the legendary Barbra Streisand and say that she brings a unique touch to every performance, balancing technical mastery with raw emotion. Her Flames, deliver smooth instrumentation including Rob Webb’s tasteful harmonies on piano, Pete Roth’s impressive licks and riffs on guitar, Mike Pratt’s lively double bass grooves, and John E Martin’s energetic percussion. Each band member is a virtuoso in their own right, with impressive lists of collaborations with renowned artists, yet their chemistry as a unit is what truly sets them apart. They seamlessly transition from upbeat swing numbers to sultry ballads, keeping the audience engaged with a delightful exploration of The Great American Songbook’s timeless classics from legendary composers such as Gershwin, Porter, Rogers and Hart, Arlen etc, and some contemporary numbers. Together, Lorraine and the Flames create a captivating musical experience. What makes Lorraine and the Flames particularly special is their ability to connect with the crowd. Their performances are not just concerts, they are experiences filled with a genuine love for jazz. Whether performing in an intimate jazz club or at a larger festival, their energy is infectious, and their artistry is undeniable. Lorraine Heavey – Lead Vocalist Lorraine has star quality. She has honed her sound into a smooth and soulful blend of jazz with a distinct Celtic flavour - a nod to her Irish roots, where she performed on stage and national television. A chance meeting with her idol Barbra Streisand in Italy a couple of years ago was the spark that rekindled Lorraine's drive to reconnect and focus once again on her own passion for music after raising three children. Rob Webb – MD Keyboards Robert, originally, trained classically, but in his teens, he grew a passion for Pop, Soul, and Jazz music. He has played and recorded for many artists such as Cliff Richard, The Supremes, Kim Wilde and Rietta Austin. Pete Roth – Guitar Pete is a signed artist to MGP records. He has performed with prestigious international artists like Alec Dankworth, Vasilis Xenopolis, Laurance Cottle, Rob Fowler, Steve Vintner, Brian Dee, Rosemary Squires (Sammy Davis Junior, Les Paul) The London Gala Orchestra, Teatro, Maria Friedmann (Stephen Sondheim, Michael Legrand), Nick Meier (Jeff Beck group), Giorgio Serci (Naim, Antonio Fortione), Bill Bruford, Tim Sanders (Eric Clapton, The Who), Sam Flynn (Roachford, Eurythmics, Steve Wonder), Terl Bryant (John Paul Jones) among many others. He has participated in many festivals and lectured guitar at several universities, recently opened Roth Academy for high-end guitar performance sessions in a modern blended learning environment and he has written the Q&A section for total Guitar Magazine (2000) Mike Platt – Bass, Double Bass, composer, and producer Mike is based in London. He has recently written and performed with country artist and TV presenter Laura Evans, West End musical star Oliver Tompsett, and 90's soul band Curiosity Killed the Cat. He is the musical director for the live theatre rockumentary Seven Decades which recently ran at the V&A. Mike is currently producing songs for Jamie Johnson, semi-finalist of The Voice. On the London jazz scene, Mike has performed with Acantha Lang, Dave O'Higgins and Liane Carroll, and at venues including Ronnie Scott's, The Jazz Cafe, the Royal Albert Hall and the Cape Town Jazz Festival. John Martin – Drums John studied for four years at the National Academy of Rudimentary Drummers of Australia, under the highly renowned tutor Harry Lebler. He is also an accomplished player of a range of percussion instruments. Over a period extending more than five decades John has performed internationally with numerous jazz, fusion, soul and rock groups in some thirty countries around the world. He recently completed a six-year stint with Asian band Graveyard Shift based in Singapore.