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The Tim Amann xTet is based in the West Midlands and plays melodic and soulful contemporary jazz. With various additions over time, the original quartet comprises Tim Amann (piano, composer and arranger), Sam Rogers (saxes), Adam Gilchrist (bass) and Carl Hemmingsley (drums). The group plays a wide variety of lyrical original jazz compositions with influences ranging from folk to soul and gospel. The four core members of the group are also part of the award winning Walsall Jazz Orchestra.
A first album, "xTet", was released in 1999 and includes some live recording from the band's appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. For its second album "The Scarecrows" recorded during a tour of Germany in 2000, the quartet features several contributions from vocalist Sheila MacRory. One track from this album, Dreams of Leaving, was featured on an album of Cheltenham Jazz Festival performers in 2003. The present xTet often features Ray Butcher on trumpet and has recently been joined by Oleg Kireyev on saxes during his regular visits to the UK. Following a successful collaboration in the summer of 2005 which included performances to large audiences at Symphony Hall and the University of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a Midland tour was arranged for March and April 2006 featuring virtuoso Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev. As well as regular band members, trumpeter Dick Pierce joined the band for their appearance in Shrewsbury. In return the Tim Amann xTet was given the fantastic opportunity to play at the Union of Composers Club in Moscow for three nights in August 2007.
Collectively or in various projects members of the band have played with many established stars including Wynton Marsalis, Art Farmer, Victor Mendoza, John Dankworth, Dave O'Higgins, Guy Barker, Gerard Presenser, Soweto Kinch, Tim Whitehead, Martin Shaw, Bobby Shew, Don Rendell, Julian and Steve Arguelles, and Tim Garland among others.
Regular gigs include the excellent K2 restaurant in Moseley every other Wednesday (The next couple are July 16th and July 30th).
Page last updated 5 July, 2008