The David Rees-Williams Trio was formed in 1988 and features David Rees-Williams (piano), Neil Francis (bass guitar) and Phil Laslett (drums). Based in Canterbury, they have performed in an interesting variety of concerts and festivals over the years both in England and Spain, and now specialise in a programme that unites the best of classical and jazz. David's arrangement of Purcell's When I Am Laid In Earth from their CD Classically Minded was first played on Radio 3 during the summer of 2001 on Sean Rafferty’s programme In Tune. The response was extraordinary, resulting in the BBC being inundated with enquiries, and subsequently inviting them to record a commercial disc on their new Late Junction label.

 

Hidden Colours, released in May 2002, features arrangements of Purcell, Bach, Grieg, Fauré, Franck, Debussy and Ravel. It received excellent reviews in The Times and the Independent on Sunday and shortly after its release, was Editor's Choice in HMV Choice Magazine. It was then to become No.2 of HMV's 10 best Classical discs of 2002. It was also rated best of its genre by the Financial Times in its end of year disc review on world music of 2002.

 

In September 2004, Time Scape was released and includes arrangements of works by Ravel, Bach, Chopin, Stanford, Purcell, Buxtehude, Elgar, Warlock and Bossi. It received 4-star reviews in The Sunday Times, The Independent On Sunday and Jazzwise Magazine. It was also featured as one of the top ten CDs of 2004 by Clive Davis in the Sunday Times Culture magazine in December 2004.

 

The Trio's latest CD Thinking Allowed was released in February 2007. Featuring regularly on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM's new station, theJazz, it has been widely and unanimously acclaimed as one of the outstanding albums of its genre.  

 

‘The David Rees-Williams Trio have just got better and better …… their new recording of jazz forays into the classical repertoire is just magical.'

Guy Dammann, The Guardian

 

‘Rees-Williams can cast a Bach prelude in exotic colours, but he and his colleagues are equally at home with Scarlatti, Grieg and Cesar Franck.’

Clive Davis, Sunday Times

 

   

           

      

David Rees-Williams (piano) began his musical career as a chorister at New College Oxford, where the rich variety of musical styles performed by choir and organ made strong and lasting impressions. From here he won the top music scholarship to Cranleigh School where he studied piano, oboe and organ. He graduated from the Royal College of Music in 1981 with a B.Mus. While still a student, he held posts as organist at two London churches. Apart from his concert work with the trio, and as a soloist on piano and organ, he teaches piano in Canterbury, both privately, and at The King’s School, and Christ Church University College.

 

Until 2002, Neil Francis (electric bass) enjoyed a dual career as teacher and freelance bass guitarist. He now devotes his time entirely to his playing. His performance work has embraced disciplines as diverse as improvised trio jazz, blues, rock, studio sessions, and, most recently, the classically inspired cross-over style featured by the David Rees-Williams Trio.

 

Over the last three decades, Phil Laslett (drums) has built a solid reputation as a versatile  player backing a variety of international artists in his own right, and also as part of the David Rees-Williams Trio. He has also led his own quartet specialising in modern jazz arrangements. Recent reviews of the Trio have complimented his playing for its subtlety and musicianship.

 

 

Forthcoming events include:

 

  

Harrogate International Festival - 23 July 2008

        Tickets: 0845-1308840

 

Orange Street Club, Canterbury - 27 July 2008

      

Fishguard International Music Festival - 31 July 2008

        Tickets: 01348-875538

 

Worcester Three Choirs Festival - 6 August 2008

        Tickets: 0845-6521823  /  www.3choirs.org

 

Dorset Music House Concerts, Sherborne - 27 September 2008

        Tickets: 01935-816332

 

Marlowe Cafe Bar, Canterbury - 6 October 2008

        Tickets: 01227-787787

 

Pizza Express, Maidstone, lunchtime event - 2 November 2008 

 

Fleece Jazz at Kersey Mill - 7 November 2008

 

St Georges, Bristol - 16 December 2008

 

Horsham Music Festival -  13 June 2009

 

Previous events include:

 

  

 

Dillington House, Ilminster - June 2008

        Wellington College, Berkshire - June 2008

Brook Theatre, Chatham - June 2008

Newbury Spring Festival - May 2008

Pizza Express, Maidstone - April 2008

Holder's Season, Barbados -  March 2008

Winter Festival, Norway -  March 2008

Music at St Peter's, Canterbury -  March 2008

Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building, Oxford -  February 2008

The Norwich Forum - February 2008

Jazz at the Fleece, Boxford - January 2008

St Alban's Church , Frant , Kent - November 2007

Canterbury Festival - October 2007

Sutton Valence Music Society - September 2007

Marlborough College Concert Series - September 2007

Pizza Express, Maidstone - September 2007

Brighton College, Brighton -  September 2007

Charterhouse School, Godalming -  September 2007

Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford - August 2007

South Shropshire Arts Festival - July 2007

Petworth Festival - July 2007

HMS President, City of London Festival - July 2007

Marlowe Cafe Bar, Canterbury - July 2007

Chelsea Festival, London - June 2007

Fitzwilliam College , Cambridge - June 2007

         Brabourne Church, Kent -  June 2007

Tonbridge School , Kent -  April 2007

Brook Theatre, Chatham , March 2007

Pizza Express Music Room, Maidstone , Kent , January 2007

Champs Hill, Petworth , Sussex , December 2006

The Ship Theatre,  Sevenoaks,  November 2006

St Albans Church , Frant , Kent , November 2006

Ripon Cathedral, October 2006

Canterbury Festival at St.Gregory's Centre, October 2006

Pizza Express Music Room, Maidstone , September 2006

St.David's Cathedral Festival, June 2006

Tewkesbury Festival,  May  2006

Norwich Festival, May 2006

City Music Society, February 2006

Tonbridge School , November 2005

Dundee University , November 2005

Barbican, July 2005

Petworth Festival, July 2005

Deal Festival, July2005

Henley Festival, July 2005

Residency, Pizza On The Park, Knightsbridge, May 2005

Daneby Hall Arts & Music Centre, Fordcombe, Kent , March 2005

Sounds New Festival, Gulbenkian Theatre, February 2005

Gould Trust, Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. December 2004

Marlborough College Concert Series 2004/5, November 2004

Sherborne Concert Series 2004/5, October 2004

Pizza On The Park, Knightsbridge, October 2004

Ship Theatre, Sevenoaks, September 2004

Petworth Music Festival, July 2004

Chelsea Festival, June 2004

Brockenhurst Music Society, May 2004

Pizza Express, Maidstone , May 2004

Pizza On The Park, Knightsbridge, March 2004

Sounds New Festival, Gulbenkian Theatre Canterbury , March 2004

Pizza On The Park, Knightsbridge, January 2004

 

 

 

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