Blending Scandinavian and Appalachian folk music with elements of free jazz, the Quartet also play arrangements of old wartime songs and hymns, played with a sense of humour, and with respect to the tradition.
Playing alto-sax since the age of twelve, Norman Willmore has been performing in jazz clubs across the UK and beyond. After being awarded a grant from Awards for Young People in 2009 and 2010, Norman went on to study jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, where he appeared alongside Josh Heaton’s Mouth of Words and Ramnastax and Mouth of Words, amongst others. Since returning to Shetland, he continues to take inspiration from the monumental cliffs, swilling ebb and rural village politics of the Islands. When not playing with the Quartet, Norman also plays with synth pop band, Big Time Quell and Glasgow based ambient soul band Kubitaru.
Christos Stylianides (trumpet) whose passion for jazz was first discovered by chance within his primary school’s music programme. Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, he is currently studying for a master’s degree at Trinity Laban. In addition to playing with the Norman Willmore Quartet, Christos Stylianides has established a successful Quintet, and is currently working with Mark Hurrell and the Motuz Ensemble to document experiments in music and dance. Christos is also set to appear in the 2020 feature film, How To Make A Living in Jazz.
A fellow graduate of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sam Ingvorsen (double bass) has been playing since the age of thirteen. In addition to his master’s degree at Trinity Laban, Sam also spent some time studying at the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense, Denmark, where he worked alongside Danish bass legend, Bo Stief (Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon). Sam has recently been collaborating with The Olly Chalk Trio and Vittoria Muro Trio for new music and gigs in London’s jazz clubs, in addition to recording with Mark Hurrell and the Motuz Ensemble.
Last but not least, Felix Ambach (drums) has played and recorded with notable groups in the jazz scenes of Germany through to London. Following studies at the Cologne University of Music alongside fellow drummer Jonas Burgwinkel, Felix has gone on to play and record with German jazz group BuJazzO and prolific British multi-instrumentalist, Django Bates. Felix has also worked with the Subway Jazz Orchestra (Cologne), saxophonist Loren Stillman and the Sean Payne Quartet (London).
