Autumn Leaves

Gypsy Jazz meets the American Songbook

Gypsy Jazz is.... A fusion of American jazz standards and gypsy music, created when Django Rheinhardt met Stephane Grappelli and began jamming on American swing tunes. At that moment a new epoch in European jazz dawned - the famous "Quintet du Hot Club de France". Formed in late 1934, the lead instruments of Django on guitar and Grappelli on violin were an inspired pair, and with a pulsating rhythm section of guitar and upright bass they created stunning instrumental music.

Now, Autumn Leaves have added the superb jazzy vocals of Cate Cody to this music to create a wonderful mix of acoustic jazz suitable for weddings, parties, festivals and concerts.

Cate Cody - Vocals Despite her youthful looks Cate has been singing live jazz for over a decade. A successful perfomer in her own right with a critically acclaimed album, appearances at festivals including Upton and Whitley Bay, theatre shows, and has recently performed for the Spencer family at Althorp.

Heulwen Thomas - Violin A classically trained violinist and music teacher who has turned her passions to the art of jazz violin and improvisation. She is a regular performer of gypsy jazz, appearing at many festivals including Brecon, Pontypool, Brecon, Rhondda, Treorchy and the Kinsale Jazz Festival in Ireland. She has even had the honour of jamming with the great French gypsy guitarist Moreno.

Steve Laming - Guitar Professional guitarist Steve Laming has been playing and teaching guitar, writing and arranging for over 30 years appearing at many Jazz Festivals including Birmingham, Marlborough, Swindon, Teignmouth, Malmesbury, Babbacombe and the International Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival at Gossington. He also plays a mean double bass.

John Vickers - Upright Bass has been performing jazz & bluegrass for over thirty years. An experienced luthier, he is the proprietor of "Vintage Strings" in Cheltenham and is a director of Manouche guitars - makers of the most authentic-sounding Maccaferri style guitars in the world. He also runs his own home-based recording studio in Cheltenham.