Ali and the Swing Cats

Featuring Ali Foyle on vocals and jazz violin, the songs are given a new lease of life by the band, some with sounds reminiscent of the Django Reinhardt / Stephane Grappelli "Hot Club de Paris" era, while others are given a more gentle 'smooth jazz' treatment.

You'll also hear the odd Bossa Nova as the band extends its musical adventure into the 1950s world of Jobim.

With pulsating rhythms, swinging bass lines, soaring solos, and polished performances, the band will have your feet tapping along with these old favourites (the songs that is!)

The band was initially formed as a quartet in early 2020 and managed one gig before lockdown! Over the summer of 2021 the revised trio line up emerged and the band is now playing again at private parties, weddings and village halls across the South West.

 

ALI FOYLE

Violin and Vocals

Ali Foyle trained as a classical musician and has many years experience locally, both teaching and performing.

She is also a qualified Music Therapist working in a variety of settings.

Prompted by the need to improvise in her therapy work, she moved into the world of jazz and has never looked back. She loves the freedom it gives her as a musician!

She has studied gypsy jazz violin with the well-known Dutch violinist, Tim Kliphuis and performed throughout the South West with The Night Owls and Trio/Quartet Anglais. The Swing Cats was formed in 2021 to bring together her love of songs from The Great American Songbook with her Parisian swinging violin.

She takes the vocal lead on most songs, occasionally duetting with Al.

NICK STRONG

Piano and Bass

Nick Strong studied music technology at university during which time he also received a Diploma of the ABRSM (Royal School of Music) in classical piano.

His versatile playing style means he can perform just about every type of music at a very high level.

He has performed a wide range of music from pop, blues, soul, Motown and jazz.

In the Swingcats he often plays the double bass part with his left hand, whilst simultaneously using his right hand to produce wonderfully smooth and complex jazz piano chords.

AL FALKINGHAM

Guitar and Vocals

Al has played guitar for over 50 years: a journey taking him through many musical genres from pop to blues, soul to rock, stage musicals to jazz.

He has performed on radio, TV, and featured on studio recordings and discovered his joy of jazz in his 30s.

>With countless appearances in hundreds of venues from small private parties to mainstream Night Clubs and Ballrooms. he is usually found on backing vocals, but will occasionally take the lead.

Al plays a number of stringed instruments including bass and ukulele.

Performing for - and engaging with - audiences is a constant source of pleasure and enjoyment for him.