Dunoon Jazz Festival 2018 - Luca Manning and Alan Benzie quartet

This Exciting Concert with Luca Manning & Alan Benzie (Piano) opens our revitalised Dunoon Jazz Festival weekend they will be accompanied by bass and drums making up an exquisite quartet.

Luca Manning made his debut at the 2015 Glasgow Jazz Festival and is inspired by a wide range of artists from singers such as: Betty Carter and Mark Murphy to instrumental players like Brad Mehldau and Kenny Wheeler. Luca began his jazz training with the Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra, under the tuition of Stephen Duffy and Alan Benzie. He then began working closely with pianist, Alan Benzie who was his mentor for many years. Luca recently became a member of the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz orchestra and is currently a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. He performed with NYJOS at the Royal Albert Hall BBC PROMS in 2016 alongside ECM recording artist Iain Ballamy and award-winning vocalist Liane Carroll. Luca's current projects include his duo project with Alan Benzie (featured at the 2017 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, 2017 Islay Jazz Festival and 2017 Dundee Jazz Festival where they opened for Becca Stevens). He has formed London-based Quintet and Sextet line-ups which he has taken to perform at the Pheasantry, Soho and Holborn Pizza Express live venues. He has also taken part in numerous Guildhall School of music student concerts and had the honour of being invited to perform by Liane Carroll at her 2017 Christmas show at Ronnie Scott's.

"With Luca, you get such a complete musical experience. He is so honest and true when he sings. He has a very old soul for someone so young and I look forward to listening to a lot more of his music." - Liane Carroll
"...and – sure enough – among tonight’s highlights was the gorgeous bittersweet Maxine, in which the bridge featured an impressive solo from singer Luca Manning.” - London Jazz News
"Youthful, gorgeous, comforting sound..." - Seonaid Aitken, Jazz on BBC Radio Scotland.
"Luca Manning is a young man with an extraordinary natural aptitude for vocal performance and a natural flair for vocal improvisation in the jazz idiom." -
Stephen Duffy, Presenter of Jazz House, BBC Radio Scotland.

www.lucamanningmusic.com

Concession pricing available to those 65 years and over, those in receipt of benefits, and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Under 18's are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult, but ticket must be booked online in advance.