Fleur Stevenson is an alluringly graceful and charismatic jazz singer with a charming off-beat sense of humour. Guitarist Hugh Turner will join her.
At 16 Hugh had already started teaching and had discovered jazz, first studying under Cedric West, the acclaimed Burmese jazz guitarist, and later John Etheridge and Dave Cliff, Britain’s finest bebop guitar player.
Graduating in jazz rock and classical guitar from North London University at age 19, Hugh played in all the London and the South-East’s jazz clubs with his already-formed jazz trio. During the next few years he continued with his jazz performances and concentrated on his composition. Pop session work, touring and many dance music recording sessions kept him off the streets.
In 1995 Hugh co-founded ‘Jazz Upstairs’, a club showcasing the best of British Jazz. Alan Barnes, Jon Gee, Jay Denson, Theo Travis and Dave Cliff all visited the club with the great house rhythm section of Andy Crowdy (acoustic bass) and Simon Price (drums).
Around this time he formed Funk Assembly and started the JW’s residency, featuring among others Brandon Allen (sax), Dennis Rollins (trombone), Brian Edwards (sax) and Andy Gangadeen (drums).