Who we are........
Fliss Gorst is a swingin', sparkling saxophonist from London. She's joined on stage by an array of dazzling musicians. The band are available as a 5 to 9 piece, depending on YOUR requirements!
Read a bit more about our band leader and fabulous vocalists below...
Fliss Gorst
Band Leader
Since her arrival in London in 2011, Fliss has enjoyed success as a saxophonist, band leader, composer and arranger. Her love for swing music inspired her to form The Fliss Gorst Band. The band have gone from strength to strength since their formation in 2012, with a monthly residency at Poppies of Camden since 2013, regular gigs at The Spice Of Life, Soho, sell out theatre shows and main stage performances at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and Pizza Express Jazz Club.
Fliss is also Musical Director for the show 'Celebrating Bond' and 'My Winehouse', a popular Amy Winehouse tribute band. She also composes and performs with her smaller jazz ensemble 'The Fliss Gorst Quartet'. Fliss endorses Vandoren reeds.
Renowned for her big tenor saxophone sound and ‘gorgeous phrases’ (London jazz news) Fliss is a lively, enthusiastic band leader who loves nothing more than performing with her band.
Lauren Bush
Guest Vocalist
Shane Hampsheir
Guest Vocalist
'Lauren Bush uses her voice as well as any master musician. It’s a perfection unforced, finely tuned with the rest of her band.' —Bill Quinn Sunday Morning Sunshine, Metromedia Radio
Lauren has just released her debut album with the help of award winning vocalist Ian Shaw as producer. It premiered at the famous Dean Street Pizza Express in Soho.
Originally born and raised in Canada, Lauren relocated to London to pursue music on a new level just over 4 years ago. Since moving to London, highlights include playing at Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, being a finalist in the Riga Jazz Stage competition in Riga, Latvia and the Sarah Vaughan Competition in New York.
Lauren also connects with the rest of Europe. She has a regular partnership with 'La JazzLife Associazione' in Northern Italy where she travels regularly to sing with her Italian quartet, performing with some of Italy's best musicians.
As well as performing regularly with The Fliss Gorst Band, Lauren has a weekly residency at The Charterhouse Bar, Farringdon.
Miranda Wilford
Guest Vocalist
'There's a new swing king in town' (The Upcoming)
Shane is widely recognised within the music industry as a highly accomplished and respected swing vocalist. Once seen never forgotten, Shane's 'instantly likeable' (The Upcoming) personality and easy onstage manner make him a sure fire hit. Shane has performed a number of highly acclaimed one-man shows in theatres across Europe and is widely regarded as one of the UK's top swing singers. He regular performs with his own band at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club as well as with The Ronnie Scotts Big Band, Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Peter Long Orchestra, Nick Ross Orchestra, The Debbie Curtis Radio Big Band and The Len Phillips Big Band.
Kai Hoffman
Guest Vocalist
Miranda has appeared in many lead roles around the world and in London's West End. Most recently, she appeared in the original production of the new play XY at The Other Palace. Her sell out solo concert Singing The Songs That Speak regularly appears at the prestigious Crazy Coqs club and she is about to return to the tour of Remembering Fred with Strictly’s Janette and Aljaz. Her West End lead roles include: Rizzo in Grease, the Narrator in Joseph, the Lead Singer in Thriller Live!, Jennifer West in When Midnight Strikes, Sheila in Hair, and the iconic Doris Day in the world premiere of Ol' Blue Eyes.
Miranda is a regular with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Spice Fusion and The London Movie Orchestra.
"Miranda Wilford - this actress is the girl who has everything. She is ravishingly beautiful, sings like an angel and looks like one"
"Miranda captures every minute nuance in a beautifully voiced performance of painfully anguished maturity... understated brilliance"
"It’s not an outrageous claim to say that there’s more than a little Dusty Springfield in her musical numbers – she really is a wonder"
https://www.facebook.com/MirandaWilfordActor/
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Kai is a versatile, vivacious performer, who is equally at home in a variety of venues.
With three previous releases under her belt - ‘Hey Boy! Hey Girl!’ with Ray Gelato and the Giants (2011), ‘Jump, Jive and Swing’ with Kai’s Cats (2010), and 'Luckiest Girl Alive' Kai Hoffman (2015) Kai has 'an infectious, cheeky, charm… a wicked ‘glint in the eye’ sense of humour when she performs that you can’t help but get swept up in. She makes you feel like she’s performing just to you, with her sexy, sultry ‘blonde bombshell’ looks that gives just a nod to the good old days…[Kai’s] vocals are stunning, sassy and explosive, yet soft and heartfelt' (Glenn MacNamara, London Jazz News).
Having honed her craft hosting the Live and Let Jive club night since 2008 at Soho jazz institution Ronnie Scott’s, Kai is considered to be part of the Ronnie Scott’s family. This is an honour not afforded to many at this world-famous club. Need we say anymore?!