| Biography | La Vie en Rose is a group of musicians with wide-ranging backgrounds in classical, traditional jazz, rock, Western swing, blues and roots but brought together by a shared love of gypsy jazz. The band features David Jones (gtr), Laurie Light (gtr), Rebecca Willson (vln), Nick White (clt) and Mitch Humphrys (d/b).
David Jones has been playing gypsy jazz from a young age, has performed alongside the likes of Lollo Meier and Bertrand Le Guillou and is an endorsee of JWC Guitars. Nick White is currently playing 1st saxophone with the Chris Barber Big Band but is an equally accomplished clarinet player. Rebecca Willson holds several music degrees in both violin and piano, has studied with Tim Kliphuis, and regularly performs solo and ensemble work from Django to Dvorak. The rhythm section of Laurie Light and Mitch Humphrys have played roots, blues, ragtime, jazz and swing in bands and solo for too many years to count.
Formed as a band at the end of 2014, they have since played a wide variety of venues and events throughout the South West including Exeter's Vibraphonic Fesital, Acoustica Festival, Nourish Festival, Velo Vintage, The Picturehouse 'Sofa Sessions' and film previews, The Clifford Arms Jazz Club, Fanzone for the Rugby World Cup, as well as at extensive private functions. They currently have a monthly residency at Exeter's Cosy Club and amongst other things are just signed up for an 11-night functions' run in December, New Years' Eve at the huge Cosy Club in Bristol, and a short tour in London in February 2016, including the Verdi Italian Kitchen at The Royal Albert Hall on Valentine's Day.
They also host the regular 'monthly manouche' sessions at The Globe in Exeter which is the only event in the region to encourage players of all abilities and backgrounds to become involved in gypsy jazz. |