As well as performing repertoire in the more traditional song
format the quintet likes to work with Noelle's outstanding talents
for non verbal and scatting styles such as those of
Flora Purim and Norma Winstone. Their set includes ECM style jazz
by Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor a pinch of Chick Corea and Freddie
Hubbard as well as standard tunes by composers such as Clifford
Brown and Billy Stayhorn and Dizzy Gillespie. They also perform
some of their own compositions. Styles include swing, samba, Afro
Cuban jazz and jazz funk.
Noelle Rollings studied music in Israel at the Rimon School
of Jazz and Contemporary Music, performing on Israeli radio and
television. Back in the UK Noelle studied music at Dartington College
of Arts gaining a first class honours degree. She currently is very
busy with both performing throughout the region and beyond and also
teaches singing both privately and at Dartington college of Arts
Neil Maya originally trained as a classical clarinettist
studying at the Royal College of Music as a teenager. He took up
the sax when he was fifteen and got the jazz bug soon after. He
has since studied jazz sax with a number of players including Jean
Toussainte and Richard Ingham. As well as the quintet Neil also
leads his own quartet; plays in Alkasalsa (ten piece salsa band),
Lush Life (jazz function band) and Solar (Funk).
Tom Unwin is a highly accomplished pianist, composer and
bandleader who is much sought after in the South West where he has
based himself since the early 90's. He has played with players such
as Mark Nightingale, Scott Stroman, Jacqueline Dankworth and Pee
Wee Ellis. Tom has also become heavily involved in composing and
recording over the last few years including works for TV and film.
Marcus Vergette on double bass has been a professional bass
player for the past twenty years playing with names such as Brian
Spring, Courtney Pine, Scott Hamilton and Mornington Locket. He
has been featured composer for radio 3’s jazz program as well as
composing commissions for contemporary dance.
Nick Carter on drums studied at the prestigious Leeds College
of Music until 1995. He then went on to work mainly on cruise ships
until 5 years ago when he decided to move to Cornwall to spend more
time with his family. Since then he has become one of Cornwall’s
best kept secrets now playing regularly with both the Quintet and
Neil's bands.