Scroll down on Yolanda’s website and you see: Mum, bassist, session musician, songwriter, band member, occasional producer, poet, nature lover and novice gardener. Refreshingly lovely!
Project pH features a diverse range of musical styles, including beautiful ballads, heavy funk-fusion instrumentals, and modern R&B-influenced soulful tunes. Their musical variety has drawn comparisons to Parliament/Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, Prince, Yes, and Return to Forever - as well as Don Blackman, John Scofield, and even the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Yolanda is well-known to music fans and industry professionals worldwide. In 2020, she was awarded an MBE for her services to music. She has spent her career performing live with artists such as Hans Zimmer, Squeeze, Robbie Williams, and Paul Weller, as well as recording with BB King, Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, and Queen, to mention a few.
Yolanda’s new band Project pH has the dynamic and versatile Laurie Lowe on drums, known for his work as part of the Preston, Glasgow & Lowe trio as well as a myriad of names in the UK jazz scene. Pianist Hamish Balfourbrings a wide range of experience as a composer and arranger. His training in both classical & jazz and as a dance music producer, gives him the perfect mix of skills for the band sound. Guitarist Nick Linnik provides a stunning display of highly compelling soloing as the newest member of the band.
The band presents its music with intricately arranged elements that allow unprepared moments to emerge, with a nod or glance signalling accents or arrangement changes. The interplay and rhythmic possibilities are numerous, which allows the musicians to enjoy a highly creative experience.
Yolanda Charles: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Videos: Ph PROJECT band live at a festival with drum solo from Laurie Lowe https://youtu.be/C_B6bWgRH80 and keyboard solo from Hamish Balfour https://youtu.be/fCb0TJjbOXw. Hans Zimmer - Live In Prague (2017) Rain Man Main Theme https://youtu.be/BydyHQWQqDA?t=160
Episode 106 of Paul Weller Fan Podcast with Yolanda Charles MBE - Musician, Bassist, Bandleader & Songwriter... ”You know I feel it, I know you feel it too...” Hear this podcast on one of these: Spotify Podcast | Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
For bass players in particular there’s a Yolanda Charles Bass masterclass on 22 April 2023. More details here.
Tickets £15 / £5 student
Children free with accompanying adult
Jazz Steps brings high quality, entertaining contemporary jazz to audiences in Nottingham at the excellent Bonington Theatre venue in Arnold.
And, through our Jazz Steps Live at the Libraries monthly events - a collaboration with Inspire, we promote gigs at their library venues in Beeston, Worksop and West Bridgford.
As a not-for-profit volunteer-run promoter, we have been welcoming enthusiastic audiences to enjoy live music from top musicians and bands for over 25 years. Each and every gig is a unique experience - jazz being the quintessential 'music of surprise'! Let’s keep enjoying it – see you soon!
