Previously released on the ‘Oh Silly Me’ album in 2018


Tamsin Dean (vocals),Thomas Hinks (saxophone), Peter May (piano), Simon Smith (double bass) and Keith York (drums)


But is it Jazz? is the brainchild of songwriter/saxophonist Thomas Hinks. Thomas came to music very late in life, first deciding (perhaps in a mid-life crisis) to learn the saxophone, and then pulling a band together (Jazz Alchemy) to play jazz standards, which he and they still do today. But it wasn’t long before the urge to write original material in a jazz vein became overwhelming and the seeds of BiiJ were born.

But is it Jazz? are thus a project writing, recording, and performing original jazz material reminiscent of 1930’s, 40’s & 50’s show songs from the Golden Era of jazz.

“One of the most stunning jazz groups in the UK” – Andrew Marston, BBC Radio

The band’s debut studio album “Oh Silly Me” 2018 features eighteen original songs and not one but seven different female lead vocalists plus two rhythm sections.

The line-ups comprise female lead vocals, piano, acoustic double bass, drums/percussion, and a variety of saxophones and Shakuhachi flute (the latter synthesized on a Roland AE-10 digital wind instrument.)

“Very Classy” – Nina Das Gupta, BBC Radio

The band’s material is not the jazz of hardened connoisseurs but is at the popular end of jazz making it accessible to both jazz lovers and the non-initiated alike. All songs are melody driven, with sophisticated harmonies, and clever, story-telling lyrics. Beautiful uncluttered music is at the heart of everything they strive to do.

7 tracks from the album have already been featured on BBC Radio Introducing drawing praise and admiration from the shows’ presenters.

“I love that, yeah we need more, we definitely need more” – Vital, BBC Radio Host, Artist, Curator, Mentor

BBC Introducing have also nominated But is it Jazz? to perform at New York’s WinterJazz festival in 2019.


www.biij.uk

www.facebook.com/biijmusic

“The lyrics are mature and sophisticated while the mood is light, elegant and playful. The melodies, while always in the service of the lyrics, are quirky and filled with rhythmic and harmonic interest. The arrangements are notably refined and uncluttered with some interesting textures and dynamics. Individual contributions on sax, piano and flute are concise, focused and principled.

Think of this as songs from the shows, shows that never were but might have been in another world.” (Hot Music Live review of ‘Oh Silly Me’ in July 2018)