Gary Preston

Please note; during term times, Gary Preston is available for afternoon performances only, in the London area for Wednesdays/Thursdays. For Saturdays during term times, he is available from around 3.30 onwards in the London area. Please speak to your booking coordinator for more details.

Highlights
* Top class experienced musician
* Best rates in the south
* Flexible setlist and attire
* Music between sets for no extra charge
* Great for any classy event!

These days multi-talented pianist Gary Preston can usually be found playing at wedding receptions restaurants or corporate functions creating a welcoming vibrant atmosphere where guests can feel comfortable and relaxed. He is also to be seen accompanying jazz vocalist and fellow Alive Network artist Hazel Hannam. Recent venues include the BAFTA club London The Mayor of London's Official Living Room on the South Bank Nottingham University and the Jaguar Showroom Castle Bromwich.

However things have not always been like this...!

It all started at the age of 11 with piano lessons from a local teacher. He later went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music following this with a busy career of teaching and concert-giving around the country. Recital venues have included the Purcell Room on London's South Bank the Alhambra Theatre Bradford and a concerto appearance at the Harlequin Theatre Redhill performing Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Surrey County Youth Orchestra.

Finding the traditional classical piano recital increasingly formal, Gary began to branch out into other fields. After playing piano in a production of Lloyd Webber’s ‘Aspects of Love’ in Basingstoke in 1997, Gary went on to play keyboards in ‘Cats’ in the West End and also to conduct several shows himself, including ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, ‘Hot Mikado’ and ‘Oliver!’, sometimes appearing as both pianist and conductor!

Your Event
Now working as a solo pianist again, with an emphasis on jazz standards (think Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra), Gary will usually vary the programme with a mixture of Songs from the shows, great pop tunes, classical favourites and Scott Joplin Ragtime. Requests are gladly catered for and he is more than happy to discuss the playlist with the client beforehand. In particular, Gary likes to start playing as guests arrive, in order to give the event that extra touch of class right from the start. Music between sets is provided, for no extra charge, in keeping with Gary's music (mainstream jazz).

Gary is happy to adapt his look to your needs; if you require smart or casual, Gary is happy to arrange his attire with prior notice.


The Jazz Mix Band (Please see options)

Julie Walkington : Bass

Julie graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in 1993.
She has worked with many of London’s jazz musicians such as Claire Martin, Anita Wardell, Huw Warren, Martin Speake and has recorded with Tina May, Tony Coe and Barb Jungr with whom she has also toured extensively. Currently she is working with Georgia Mancio, Shireen Francis, Loz Speyer, Chris Biscoe and plays regularly at some of London’s major jazz venues, such as the Pizza Express Jazz Club on Dean Street.

Andrea Trillo: Drums

Born in Rome Andrea has played with such accomplished Jazz musicians such as Dave O'Higgins, Jon Toussaint, Simon Purcell and Tim Richards. He also played with the Jerry Dammers Band at Glastonbury Music Festival 1992. He has featured on many albums, played in a West End Theatre and currently freelances as well as playing regularly with several Jazz combos all over Britain and Europe.

Gabriel Keen: Alto and tenor saxophones

Gabriel studied music at Dartington College of Arts and the London College of Music. He has performed with many top jazz musicians including Don Randall, Gail Thompson and Julian Stiegel. In the pop/caberet field he has performed with the Tiger Lillies and with Gary howard of the Flying Pickets. London venues include Ronnie Scott’s, the 606, and Pizza On The Park. Gabriel is member of the Alive Network soul band The Fabulations.

Hazel Hannam : Vocals

Hazel Hannam is a very popular jazz solo artist with Alive Network. She has played at jazz venues such as Pizza on the Park, Cafe Consort at the Albert Hall and has had air-play on Campbell Burnap's jazz show on Smooth FM. Musicians love her natural phrasing and easy sense of rhythm. There is warmth and depth in her singing, bringing a fresh approach to the standard repertoire. Hazel's artistry, musicianship and improvisation make her jazz performances an unforgettable experience.

** Please note: If there is a piano at the event, Gary will play it. If not – no problem; Gary has a high quality PA system and Yamaha p80 digital piano, for no extra charge.**

Previous clients include:
BAFTA Club, London West End
Bar 5152, Suffolk
Christ’s Hospital School, Sussex
Park Inn Hotel, York
Jaguar Showroom, Castle Bromwich
Army Defense Academy, Shrivenham, Wiltshire
Pizza Express, South Croydon
Mayor of London’s Living Room, South Bank
Rembrandt Hotel, South Kensington
Monneypenny’s Wine Bar, Epsom
Sugar Reef Restaurant, Soho
Nottingham University
Oxford University Press
Silvermere Golf Club, Surrey
Trafalger Tavern, Greenwich
Pelham House, Lewes
Hemswell Court, Lincolnshire
Chiswick House, London
Braithwaite Hall, Croydon
Soho Thames Club, Hounslow
Foxhills Golf and Country Club, Ottershaw
Ghyll Manor, Sussex
Cranford Hall, Northampton
Northcote House, Ascot
Thistle Hotel, Brands Hatch
Thistle Hotel, Haydock
Kingswood Golf Club, Surrey
The Vine Public House, North London
St. Mary’s Church Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
The Bridge at Pierre Pont Restaurant, Guildford
Gildings Barn, Newdigate, Surrey
Lauderdale Road Synagogue, London

"Dear Gary, Many thanks for your music on Saturday our guests all enjoyed it very much. ...your playing was very much appreciated, it provided a lovely background to the day and created the right ambience. So many thanks again. Brenda Bleach"

"Dear Gary, I should have written before to say thank you for your part in making our 50th Anniversary Party go so well. We both really enjoyed your music and it certainly contributed to the success of the evening. We had a " Ball ". At our age it's not often one can get family and friends together for a happy occasion so often they are the sad ones. It seems to have taken me a week to recover, I'm not as young as I once was!!! Best wishes, Geraldine."

"Hi Gary, Thanks again for last night- you were really wonderful and everyone said so! You’re piano playing really made the evening truly superb! Thank you so much for all your effort! Ally."

"Thank you so much for playing at my 50th! It made the party go with a swing - everyone enjoyed it - all generations! Best wishes, Julie"

The Jazz Mix

As a solo pianist, Gary can guarantee to create a warm relaxed ambience at your special event. However, if you want to have that extra special touch, or wish to round off the evening with some dancing, why not add some more musicians to the line-up.

The Jazz Mix is a flexible band of top class musicians from London's thriving jazz scene, available to team up with Gary to form anything from piano and sax duo up to singer and 4-piece band.

Some sample combinations:

Duos:
Piano and sax,
Piano and double bass
Piano and Vocals

Trios:
Piano, sax and double bass
Piano, double bass and drums

Quartet:
Piano, sax, double bass and drums
Piano, sax, double bass and vocals

Quintet:
Piano, sax, double bass, vocals and drums

Please note: to be effective, drums need to work alongside a double bass. However a double bass will compliment any combination.

* If you book Gary for the evening, here is a suggestion: Get him playing solo for a couple of hours to set up a welcoming atmosphere as the guests arrive. Then for the second half of the evening, Gary could be joined by some more instrumentalists, according to your taste or budget, to get the dancing underway.

* Another possibility, for example for a wedding: book Gary to play solo for the reception and wedding breakfast, and then have
The Jazz Mix in part or full to get your evening going with a swing! A live band of top musicians will really add that 'wow!' factor to the whole day!

Musicians:
Julie Walkington, bass
Andrea Trillo, drums
Hazel Hannam, vocals [Alive Network artist]
Gabriel Keen, tenor and alto saxophones
Occasionally other top-flight players will appear in the line-up if the regular musicians are already booked out.

Please note: Gary Preston is available to perform on New Years Eve (please see booking options for more details).