Jazz & Pop

Amanda has always had a love for jazz and in 2004 she supported Jamie Cullum when he played for a charity concert in the Celtic Manor, Newport. The audience was full of celebrities, including Meg Matthews, Angela Griffin and Dannii Minogue. Amanda has also performed for Phil Harvey, manager of Coldplay..where they were all present.

Dannii Minogue

In September 2006 Dannii invited Amanda to arrange (co -arranger Nigel Hart) and record the track ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’.They recorded it in Strongroom Studios, London with Dannii, drummer Karl Brazil (currently on tour with James Blunt) and Al Mobbs on bass.It was released on the Spirit Of Christmas album, available in Australia.

Deborah Henson-Conant

In April 2010, Amanda was honoured to be asked to perform with legendary jazz harpist Deborah Henson Conant in Carnarfon. ‘Danger Zone’ – a small jazz concerto with orchestra, was about an experiment into the ‘strapless evening gown’ and Amanda played the role of a mad scientist. “Amanda’s talent, commitment, and above all her willingness to fully involve herself in the process of collaboration, epitomizes the power of the composer/performer relationship. She then sat down and poured her heart and soul into the performance. And the audience absolutely loved her.” Deborah Henson-Conant

Richard Hooper

Inspired by Gilmore, Clapton and Django Reinhardt, Richard started playing the guitar when he was 15. His style is described as having “a musical soul singing through his fingers… In tune with all genres, his love of music speaks for itself.” Amanda and Richard perform guitar/bass and harp with music from Sinatra to Kylie.

Something Blue

View the Something Blue page Joanne Thomas and Amanda have been working together for the last nine years during which time they have performed at numerous venues including the Purcell Room, London and St David’s Hall, Cardiff as well as working extensively for Lost Chord, a scheme which takes concerts to Alzheimer sufferers. Their recent CD (Lust, Love and Loss) is a mixture of beautiful jazz songs from Nature boy to My baby just cares for me.

ZWZAZ

Zwzaz is a trio with a difference. A unique blend of Harp, Trumpet/Flugel (Cris Haines) and Double Bass (Donny Joe Sweeney) bringing a fresh new sound to jazz. Zwzaz plays familiar and lesser known tunes from the jazz repertoire along with original compositions. Listen to Dawns Ffuglen from Something Borrowed, Something New. In 2009, Amanda recorded an improvised track ‘Pass-On‘ for the up and coming film director Pablo Magee. Recorded individually, the harp was layered on a bass and drums track to which saxophonist John Altman (who played with Bob Marley, Hendrix, Prince and Sting)added his unique sound.

Park Stickney

Amanda studies jazz harp with jazz harp master Park Stickney from New York. His unsurpassed skills on the harp have provided even more inspiration for her own unique style.

And something different?

In 2000 Amanda performed in Miss Moneypenny’s in Birmingham, improvising over the DJ, leading the way for harp music being incorporated into dance music. Amanda is currently working on chill-out music…leading the way with the serenity of the harp.

The harp…

For jazz, Amanda plays an electro-acoustic 47 string Lyon and Healy and Camac Blue.