Jim Mullen

Event information

Jim Mullen has been a major figure on the European jazz scene for many years. Born in Glasgow, he plays with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum. Having played with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, appearing on the band's first three albums together with future Average White Band drummer Robbie MacIntosh, Mullen then joined Kokomo and later toured with the Average White Band. It was while both musicians were touring the U.S. with Average White Band in the mid-70s that Mullen met up with tenor saxophone player Dick Morrissey, and throughout the 1980s, he found considerable critical acclaim as joint leader of the pioneering British jazz funk band Morrissey-Mullen.
Mullen has also played and recorded with, among others, Pete Brown & Piblokto!, Mose Allison, Hamish Stuart, Jonna Eden, Tam White, Claire Martin, Mike Carr, Jimmy Whitherspoon and Georgie Fame. He has won many British music awards including "Best Guitar" in the British Jazz Awards (1994, 1996, 2000 & 2002).Most recently, Jim Mullen has recorded as part of The Allstars, a collective of session musicians on their Paul McCartney produced album All About the Music, alongside special guests Jocelyn Brown, Hamish Stuart and Angelo Starr. His own current quartet includes Gareth Williams, Mick Hutton and Gary Husband, and he is also part of The Organ Trio with Mike Gorman and Matt Skelton.

“one of the great Jazz guitarists working today” Jazzwise

Mike Gorman has established himself as one of the UK's leading jazz pianists and organists, working with UK musicians such as Don Weller, Bobby Wellins, Alan Skidmore, Georgie Fame, Peter King, Alan Barnes, Dave Cliff, Stacey Kent, Guy Barker and Danny Moss, amongst others. He has also worked with many US artists, including Jimmy Witherspoon, Ken Peplowski, Bill Watrous, Lanny Morgan, Gwen McCrae and Marlena Shaw, as well as touring and recording with major international acts Incognito and Us3.