Alto saxophonist Perico Sambeat is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians to emerge from Spain. It has earned enormous prestige for his extraordinary career both inside and outside Spain, with over twenty albums as a leader and more than a hundred as a sideman, including work with jazz greats like Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Dave Douglas, Greg Osby, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tete Montoliu, Michael Brecker, Mark Turner, Jorge Rossy and many others.

These are major league jazz artists that put him well into the premier bracket of world jazz. He also conducts orchestras and composes for groups from duo to big band; trio to 30+ ensembles. With over 20 years of professional experience, Perico is an internationally renowned saxophonist. With a strong classical base, he began his studies of modern music in the Taller de Musics in Barcelona.

In 1991 he moved to New York where he joined the New School. There he played with masters such as Lee Konitz, Joe Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. It was with Bruce Barth and Guy Barker that Perico last shared a stage in Bristol on two occasions at The Albert Inn, back in the late 1990’s. They proved to be very special gigs, with Bruce going on to become Musical Director for Tony Bennett. His prolific career has led him to participate in many festivals and programs worldwide, and recording prestigious albums such as Uptown Dance with Mike Mossman & David Kikoski and Friendship with Brad Meldhau, Kurt Rosenwinkel & Jeff Ballard. Perico is a player of beautiful tone and quality; on an instrument that can sometimes seem off-key due to its pitch. To master the alto sax is a mark of his musicianship.....to play with such lyricism and clarity is genius.

Arnie Somogyi began playing jazz bass seriously when he lived in Bristol during the 1980’s while studying English at Bristol Uni. He was a part of the burgeoning Bristol jazz scene that spawned Andy Sheppard, Adrian Utley (Portishead), Jerry Underwood, Andy Hague, Ben Waghorn and Jim Blomfield. Gaining a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music in London (1990) he soon became absorbed into the London scene playing with GB greats Stan Tracey and Johnny Dankworth. This led to providing his bass services to many touring US musicians such as Steve Grossman, James Moody, Bobby Hutcherson, Art Farmer, Joey Calderazzo and Bud Shank. Arnie has featured on over 40 albums with leading talents including Eddie Henderson, Eric Alexander, Omar, Chris Botti, and the Verve’s Richard Ashcroft. He’s also appeared on film soundtracks including The Talented Mr Ripley and on-screen in the Oscar-nominated An Education (2009).

Ambulance is an ongoing project as band leader – a highly original five-piece band launched at Ronnie Scott’s in 2005. The band’s subsequent performances at Ronnie Scott’s in September 2006 with legendary guest trumpeter Eddie Henderson won extensive plaudits across the national press. The band was cover feature in Jazz UK and Jazzwise magazines and nominated for Ensemble of the Year at the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The CD was nominated as BBC Jazz CD of the Year 2008. He works frequently at Ronnie Scott’s club as a member of the club's house band, the Ronnie Scott’s All-Stars. His latest group has been the well received Scenes in the City - The Music of Charles Mingus made up of top UK musicians playing the Mingus charts.

Irishman Stephen Keogh followed his studies in Ireland with private lessons in London and New York. He played as percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, contemporary music ensembles and many visiting jazz artists including Sonny Fortune, Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pat La Barbera, Louis Stewart and James Moody. A move to London in 1988 led to tours and recordings with many British and American jazz artists including Stan Tracey, Charles McPherson, Art Farmer, Jason Rebello, Jean Toussaint and Benny Carter.

Since moving to Barcelona in 1990, Stephen has worked all over the world with many great musicians including Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Harrold Land, Peter King Quartet, Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Herb Ellis, Benny Golson and Steve Grossman. He is a member of the European Jazz Piano Trio led by Bill Charlap, the Peter King Quartet and co-leads the Urban Jazz Quintet and Urban Jazz Ensemble. In Spain, he is artistic director of the Seminario de Jazz y Otros Musicas de Benicasim 2003, artistic programmer/consultant of the Avui Jazz Concert Series, Spain, drum/percussion tutor at the Louis Stewart Jazz School West Clare in Ireland 1999 - 2003, principal tutor at the Percussion Summer School Leeds University 2004. Stephen was appointed as an overseas expert lecturer at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2009.

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