THE SHADES JAZZ ORCHESTRA

The Shades of Kenton was formed by Ernie Eyes in 1981 . They rehearsed for 18 months before their first public engagement and built-up a following by playing at venues all over the North West of England.

The nineties saw them under the new musical direction of Ivor Deach. Now going out as the Shades Jazz Orchestra, TDK signed them up and paid for two albums which allowed them to be heard by audiences all over Europe, most memorably in Ireland where they performed with Shorty Rogers at the Cork Jazz Festival.

The Shades have since backed several alumni of the original Stan Kenton band including Lee Konitz, Charlie Mariano, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins, Bob Burgess, Richard Torres, and many others.

The Shades have also accompanied some of the great British-based jazz musicians like Don Rendell, Kathy Stobart, Don Lusher, Eric Delaney, Tommy Whittle, Barbara Jay, Jiggs Whigham and Pete King.

Thirty years down the road and the beat goes on!

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