The Man Overboard Quintet

The Man Overboard Quintet brings together five like-minded musicians who play and listen to all sorts of music, but who share a love of hot swing. Thomas Gould is a classical violinist described as “staggeringly virtuosic” by The Guardian. He also is a dab hand at jazz, and his playing meets its match in the lyrical clarinet- playing of Ewan Bleach, who has been making his mark on the music scenes of London and New Orleans. Thomas and Ewan work the tunes beautifully together, sometimes harmonising, sometimes challenging each other. At other times, they simply provide the setting for Louisa Jones’ distinctively husky but sweet voice. Underpinning the sound are Dave O’Brien (one of the brightest young musicians on the London swing scene) on the double bass and Jean-Marie Fagon, a good old- fashioned, no-nonsense rhythm guitarist from France.

The five musicians first started playing together in January 2011 and were quickly performing in some of London’s favourite jazz venues. The Man Overboard Quintet has recorded music for television, being featured in BBC3’s Being Human series, and they cut their first album – a collection of old jazz numbers played in The Man Overboard’s infectious, melodic style – for Champs Hill Records [All Hands On Deck, CHRCD062].