Eclectica

Lizzie Ball violin & voice

Bernard Gregor-Smith ‘cello

Peter Oxley guitar

Nicolas Meieir guitar

In the short time since formation in 2007, Eclectica have performed live and sold out at Ronnie Scotts, Dartington International Arts Series, Oxford Jazz Festival, Holywell Music Room, Plymouth Arts Series, and live on BBC Radio 3 (In Tune) and BBC Radio Oxford. Described by John Etheridge as a “a marvellous re-invigoration of the string quartet” Eclectica are a refreshing and exciting ensemble, comprising of some of the UK’s leading jazz and classical artists. Eclectica perform a unique programme that can be best described as chamber jazz, of music that ranges from classical and folk to jazz and latin. To live up to their name, Eclectica are scheduled to perform at the Wigmore Hall in Dec 2010. Watch this space!

Lizzie Ball
Born in 1981 Lizzie’s career is a uniquely diverse one based on her ability to be able to play and sing equally well music from the classical, jazz, latin and pop genres. Her credentials in all these fields include regular work with Nigel Kennedy, New York Polyphony, Bernard Gregor-Smith, Sir John Dankworth, James Pearson, Soloists of the ROH, Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club), Michael Nyman, Kanye West and Meatloaf to name but a few, in all the major venues in the UK and throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Bernard Gregor-Smith
As a founder member of the Lindsay Quartet, Bernard performed for 40 years to world wide acclaim in all the major concert venues across the UK, Europe and the US. His recording legacy with them numbers more than 80, many of which are considered to be classics in the canon. Bernard now plays with the award winning Dante Quartet.

Pete Oxley
Peter began his musical career in Paris, playing in literally scores of venues with various bands and musicians. It was there that he recorded his first three albums under his own name before relocating to the UK in 1997. Shortly afterwards – in partnership with Mark Doffman-he opened The Spin jazz club in Oxford which in May ‘06 was nominated by a Parliamentary group as ‘The Best Jazz Venue In The UK’. Pete regularly performs with some of the world’s leading jazz artists including Chris Garrick, Gilad Atzmon and his own band Curious Paradise. Pete is also extremely well known to the string instrument world for his renowned and prize-winning skills as a bowmaker.

Nicolas Meier
With his unique style that is a blend of Metheny-esque jazz and Turkish and world music, he has toured extensively around the world with his band the Meier Group, sharing the bill with some of the biggest names in jazz including Bill Evans and Brad Mehldau. His recent album Silence Talks is a wonderful heady mixture of Flamenco, jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern music and he certainly adds an extra spice to Eclectica, not least because of his prodigious jazz talent but also as his other great passion is playing heavy metal guitar in his fantastic group ‘Seven7’.