19 January: Gallery Bar Special- Jazz Shed

Formed in 2022, Jazz Shed is a 4-piece band based in the Looe area of Cornwall. They play a wide range of Jazz standards and lively Latin rhythms, adding some of their own compositions into the mix – all guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get those toes tapping! They have performed at numerous venues throughout south east Cornwall, including more recently the Old Library at Bodmin, Polperro music festival and Looe Weekender festival, gaining a loyal following as they go.

Both Helen and Judy are classically trained musicians and were Heads of Music at Looe Academy and Liskeard Community College respectively, inspiring numerous generations of students to play music.  Having not seen each other for a while, they met a few years ago when they had both decided to leave teaching and become freelance musicians. A chance meeting at a jazz gig ended up with them on stage together, and an idea was born!

As well as playing double bass, piano and flute, Judy has built a reputation as a composer in a wide range of genres. Her orchestral piece ‘Eclipse’, commissioned by the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra for the 1999 Total Eclipse, will be performed again by the PSO at the Tavistock Festival in April.

During the pandemic,  Helen decided to pursue a long held dream of unravelling the mysteries of jazz. Making the most of lockdown, she studied with Nora Germain (jazz violin) from Los Angeles, Helen Porter (vocals) from Calstock, Trudy Kerr (vocals) from London and Anita Wardell (vocals) from Perth, Australia. As well as Jazz Shed, she leads the Helen White Quartet. She is also a composer, and is currently working on her first jazz album, due to be recorded in early 2024.

Jethro just happens to live 3 doors down from Helen and made a similar decision as an already accomplished guitarist and bass player to follow the jazz trail! After impressing the ladies with his astonishing guitar playing he was invited to join the quartet.

Bunny, the rhythm man of the quartet, is well known in these parts as an experienced drummer and percussionist, playing in various ensembles in and around Cornwall

Jethro Pooley – Guitar

Bunny Warren- Cajon/Percussion

Judy Whitlock – Vocals/Double Bass

Helen White – Vocals/Soprano Saxophone/Violin