Artie Zaitz & Mark Kavuma
Biography Artie Zaitz & Mark Kavuma
Artie Zaitz
is swiftly emerging as the Uks top young guitarist. Coming from a family of musicians he was exposed to the sounds of jazz from an early age. He studied classical guitar with Prof. David Parsons, and later went on to study jazz piano with Andrea Vicari as well as jazz guitar with David Okumu. He developed a particular interest in recordings from the Blue Note label which had a profound influence on the current material he performs with his quartet and trio. Artie is inspired by artists such as Grachan Moncur III, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Wayne Shorter along with Miles Davis, John Scofield and John Coltrane (to name but a few). Artie also has recording experience, starting with the release of Earl Green’s “One Way” (Snakestone Records 2008), which features tenor giant, former James Brown MD “Pee Wee” Ellis and Queen Bee’s “Stranger” (Snakestone Records 2008), where he arranged the horn section and strings.He is part of the trendy “Banger factory “scene who have released their debut disc on the acclaimed Ubuntu music label.
Mark Kavuma
Born and partly raised in Uganda, Mark Kavuma is a prominent young Trumpet player on the British jazz scene. Leading his own Quartet, the 'Floor Rippers' house band and his main outfit 'The Banger Factory'. As well as, playing with Jean Toussaint's Young Lions, Jazz Jamaica, Nu Civilisation Orchestra and also one of the brass leaders at London based carnival band Kinetika Bloco.
In 2012 Mark was featured as Guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra having been voted best soloist at the very first 'Essentially Ellington' competition in the UK. 2013 saw Mark involved in the national theatre's production of the Amen Corner, got the opportunity to play with the great Mulatu Astatke, played a support slot for Wayne Shorter at the Barbican (London jazz festival) with A quintet Mark co-leads with Ruben Fox(sax) and also featured on trumpet in the 'El Train', Hoxton Hall (directed by Sam Yates and Ruth Wilson).
In 2014 Mark toured the world featuring in Peter Brooke's production of 'The Suit' and in 2015 he went on the road with the legendary Salif Keita and Les Ambassaduers.
In 2016 Mark got another opportunity to play as guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra performing the Gershwin songbook at the Barbican, before resuming his studies at Trinity College of music. He Featured in Hoagy B Carmichael's production of 'This Joint Is Jumpin' at the Other Palace Theatre (2017) before starting to work on his debut album which was released on Ubuntu Music, in summer 2018.
Will Cleasby
is a jazz drummer and a backbone to the two of the most revered outfits on London’s Jazz Scene today. The Banger Factory and Kansas Smitty’s House Band. Recipient of the highest honours from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, where he received his bettering from the likes of Gene Calderazzo and Dave Wickens. You can often bump into Will at premier London venues, Ronnie Scott’s, Vortex and Jazz Cafe, where he may be performing with Judy Jackson or the Grammy-winning and legendary Kurt Elling.
