The Casimir Connection explores the boundaries between classical, folk and jazz. Featuring brand new compositions for a forthcoming album, the ensemble is led by saxophonist Diane McLoughlin, with Kit Massey on violin, Tim Fairhall on bass and acclaimed pianist Alcyona Mick. The ensemble released their first album Cause and Effect to critical acclaim.
Nick Lea of Jazz Views described it as: A stunning album that deserves to be widely heard, and lauded, not just for the outstanding playing of all concerned, but also the outstanding compositions by Diane McLoughlin that mark this album out as something very special indeed.

plus
Deirdre Cartwright guitar /Alison Rayner double bass
perform regularly at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in Soho and play a set of Latin and swinging Jazz.

If there is a more complete guitarist in contemporary music than Deirdre Cartwright – I’d like to know who it is
Dave Gelly The Observer

With influences ranging from Pat Metheny to Horace Silver, Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery.

Deirdre presented BBC TV’s groundbreaking 1983 series ‘Rockschool’. She was also a member of the internationally acclaimed 1980s women’s jazz group, the Guest Stars. A hard swinging, melodic and funky guitarist, it is Deirdre’s clear enjoyment of the sheer variety of sounds her instrument can produce that is so infectious, and which makes her playing so listenable.

Cartwright’s coolly undulating Grant Green shuffle groove is one of the understated pleasure of UK’s contemporary fusion.
John Fordham Guardian

Alison Rayner is the leader of the award winning group ARQ/ Alison Rayner Quintet and won the prestigious Ivor’s award for small band composition in 2019 and 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards ‘Ensemble of the Year’

She has played with a myriad of jazz artists such as US jazz guitar legend Tal Farlow, New York jazz poet Jayne Cortez and drummer Denardo Coleman, Ian Shaw and John Etheridge.
In the 80s she spent five years with the critically acclaimed jazz-Latin group The Guest Stars touring all the major international jazz venues and festivals and recording three albums.

‘A big, beautiful bass sound that comes from the heart.
Highly intelligible music, characterized by individuality, spirit and a sense of freedom.’
Val Wilmer, author, As Serious As Your Life: the Story of the New Jazz

Sponsorship by local independent financial advisers Ruth Whitehead Associates, celebrating their 30th birthday