Emerald Jazz
Emerald Jazz are an exceptional local jazz trio led by Kelly Dale’s rich, smooth vocals, accompanied by award-winning double bassist Pete Maxfield & jazz club leader Paul Chousmer on piano. The band perform a wide range of American Songbook standards made famous by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James & Billie Holiday & delight audiences with their unique take on more modern classics by Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone & many more.
Vocalist Kelly Dale has been involved in music since a very young age. She was one of the first girl choristers at Salisbury Cathedral & then moved onto the prestigious Sherborne School for Girls as top music scholar. Kelly discovered Ella Fitzgerald in her teens & was besotted, but it wasn’t until leaving school that she had her first opportunity to lead a jazz band. After having her children, Kelly emerged on the local music scene again in 2016 as lead vocalist for Wessex Big Band. She now also sings with Deane Big Band, Emerald Jazz & gigs as a solo singer across the Southwest.
Pete Maxfield became a professional double-bass player in 1976. His first album Sphere went to No.1 in the Melody Maker jazz charts in 1981, the same time as winning Young Jazz Musician of the Year. Pete has had three award-winning albums for Island Records, with countless appearances at major festivals & venues around the world (Toronto, Amsterdam, Paris, Outer Mongolia & Houston to name a few!) He has appeared on international T.V. and radio, & performs theatres, clubs, restaurants & pubs across the country. He sure is one experienced bassist!
Pianist and multi-instrumentalist Paul Chousmer has a background touring with rock bands including Fields of the Nephilim, Ozric Tentacles and Astralasia, also with the radical Circus Archaos.
Since moving to the Southwest, Paul has run Sherborne jazz club for many years & regularly performs on various instruments in an array of genres as well as teaching music from his home.
