NORTH Wales Jazz will be welcoming a group of outstanding young jazz musicians from the Manchester area, when the Grant Russell Quartet comes to the Royal British Legion, Llay, near Wrexham on Tuesday, April 30.

Formed in 2014, the double bass-led Grant Russell Quartet showcases four unique talents, each with an uncompromising commitment to jazz and improvisation.

Born in Kent in 1987, double bassist Grant Russell was mentored by his father, the renowned Dixieland bass player and bandleader Ron Russell. He excelled in piano and double bass from a young age and went on to study the latter at the Royal Northern College of Music under both Jiri Hudec, the principal bassist of the Czech Philharmonic, and Steve Berry of Loose Tubes.

A virtuoso performer, he has worked extensively across all styles of music, and recently won an award for best jazz interpretation at the Johnny Raducanu International Jazz Competition in Romania.

Grant was also a founder member of the Mercury Award-nominated band Gogo Penguin and has worked with artists such as Chris Potter, Norma Winstone and Digby Fairweather.

Tenor saxophonist Jeff Guntren was born in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, where he studied jazz at William Paterson University and the University of Northern Iowa. He moved to Manchester in 2015 and has has been involved with numerous jazz projects including The Manchester Jazz Collective, Polygon Saxophone Quartet and was the winner of the 2017 Manchester Jazz Festival originals commission, Cottonoppolis.

On keyboards, George King has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Wigmore Hall, The Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, The Purcell Room and many more, and has won numerous international awards for his classical compositions including the Günter Bialas prize (Germany) in 2012, the Barto Prize (USA) in 2010 and the Ibla Grand Prize (Italy) in 2009. A popular musician in the North West, George can be heard playing with many small ensembles throughout the area, as well as with the Andy Prior and Syd Lawrence big bands.

Equally popular is the quartet's drummer, Luke Flowers, who has also played at many renowned venues around the world including the Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, The Greek Theatre and the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Luke has performed and recorded with artists such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Cinematic Orchestra, James Yorkston, Roots Manuva, Jim Mullen and Don Weller during his extensive and varied career, and he continues to be a valued addition to numerous bands.