The Hot Jazz Vagabonds

THE HOT JAZZ VAGABONDS Airlie Scott- vocals, Shirley Smart- cello, Peter Michaels- guitar, David Ahmed- guitar Established London-based vagabond jazz musicians present a hot jazz sandwich of french chanson, gypsy jazz tunes, early vintage swing, Latin tunes and exciting originals. Led by engaging Jazz Vocalist Airlie this is a new exciting crossover gypsy jazz band with a unique selling point! A gypsy jazz style quartet with an improvising cellist who plays the cello both like a double bass and as a soloing instrument. Add to that two fantastic collaborative guitarists both with their own unique sound, some beautiful French chanson, swinging hot gypsy jazz standards, exciting originals and you have a recipe for something rather wonderful! Versatile Singer and Actress Airlie plays regularly with her bands Pronto Swing and Pronto Jazz. They recently had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe with their show "Swing from the Movies". She sings regularly with various London based jazz and blues combos including Minnie and the Moochers, the Mardi Gras Jazz Band, the Julian Cowie Quartet and others. Cellist and composer, Shirley Smart is a jazz/world music specialist and has been described as "one of the best improvising cellists in the UK" (The JazzMann). She performs regularly with her own jazz trio, with her critically acclaimed world music band "Melange", runs the "Beyond Cello" course for the London Cello Society and works in many other projects and as a session musician. Peter Michaels has a unique performance style influenced by his classical and flamenco guitar training combined with contemporary and jazz influences. He is involved in a number of long-term projects featuring his compositions and arrangements, including London’s Brazilian Balkan band Pocket Caravan, North African/mediterranean band Melange, Bis-bas, the Matzoh Boys and Bhavini. Guitarist David Ahmed plays in the Hotclub style of Django Reinhardt and the Gypsies,fiery and melodic. Emotionalism is the essence of his style; it is acoustic, aural and non-academic. A Londoner, David plays the Gypsy Jazz circuit, jazz clubs, swing dances and vintage festivals.