GIANT STEPS QUARTET

 
 

MUNCH MANSHIP Experienced jazz musician based in Manchester, played with Ronnie Scott, Art Pepper and Dusko Goykavich, among the others. Munch was invited to contribute to many jazz festivals throughout Europe.


CHRIS GUMBLEY Saxophone & Composition Teacher at Birmingham Conservatoire, an Examiner for the Associated Board, Director of Stafford International Jazz Festival, a Coach for the Staffs Youth Wind Orchestra and does Freelance performances. He established Gumbles Jazz Club in 1987 to promote contemporary jazz in the Midlands.


ALBERTO MINETTI With a background in classical music since the age of 4, also developed at the Milan Conservatory of Music, his jazz style has been influenced by Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Chick Corea. At the time of band formation, Alberto was acting as an academic at the Manchester Metropolitan University.


PETER ‘PEDRO’ ROBINSON A very well known bass player in Cheshire, has worked as a professional for the last three decades. He also plays tuba, banjo, guitar and electric bass. Other than joining Giant Steps, Peter regularly contributes to other bands like: Jazz Junction, Fine & Dandy and Old Fashioned Love Band..


PETE COTTERILL Very well known and experienced musician in Cheshire, he ran the jazz scene at the Horseshoe Pub in Church Lawton every Thursday for decades. Peter started playing at 9 years old and interacted professionally with a lot of visiting american jazz musicians, as Scott Hamilton, Warren Vashe and Harry Sweets Addison. He has also played for 10 years with Tommy Burton.

Munch Manship    tenor saxophone, (2003)

Chris Gumbley      saxophones (since 2004)

Alberto Minetti      piano

Peter Robinson     double bass

Peter Cotterill        drums


Photo Album








Contact:

Alberto Minetti

aminetti@mac.com


Concerts:

  1. -7˚ Nantwich Jazz Festival 2003

  2. -8˚ Nantwich Jazz Festival 2004

  3. -9˚ Nantwich Jazz Festival 2005


Listen to the podcast

 

GIANT STEPS QUARTET is a mix of professional musicians and an academic fond of music and jazz in particular. We found our common repertoire in the Bebop-Cool-HardBop era of jazz history. The tunes, belonging to 'Straight Ahead Bop' and played with a modern touch, have been chosen according to the interesting melodic/harmonic/rhythmic structure and, sometimes, to challenging features (e.g. Giant Steps by John Coltrane). The band held a regular jazz gig in Nantwich, Cheshire (UK) in 2003.

Nantwich Jazz Festival 2005