Boptimism - Swinging Hard Bop Jazz

Boptimism is a quintet, celebrating the classic bop and hardbop era bands of Cannonball Adderley, Hank Mobley, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Tubby Hayes and others, with an eclectic set of 2-horn arrangements by jazz composers like Duke Pearson, Cedar Walton, George Coleman, Harold Mabern and Scotland’s own hardbop legend, trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar.

Boptimism's front line is local saxist Keith Edwards and Donald Corbett, who in addition to playing trumpet & flugelhorn, contributes cracking original compositions, which are an important ingredient of the band’s live sets and the focus of its debut album: ‘Boptimism plays the Donald Corbett Songbook’. Built upon a powerhouse rhythm section of Campbell Normand (piano), Ed Kelly (bass) and Alastair Morrow (drums), Boptimism has a regular monthly slot at the Jazz Bar where they aim to conjure up the jazz vibe of the late 50’s and 60’s with a mix of swinging hard-bop, burners, ballads, jazz waltzes and latin grooves.

Boptimism

Boptimism.

Jazz Quintet

Band Line-Up

Some info on the band members

  • Keith Edwards - sax

    Keith is the band's musical director, arranges most of the band's material. A fiery tenor player, he also co-leads the Jazz Bar Big Band. A former member of the Scottish Jazz Orchestra, Ken Mathieson's Classic Jazz Orchestra and Fat Sams Band.

  • Donald Corbett - trumpet

    The quiet man of Edinburgh jazz, Donald is a tasteful trumpeter and talented composer. He can be heard regularly with the Jazz Bar Big Band.

  • Campbell Normand- piano


    One of the most sought after pianists in Edinburgh, Campbell has played with everyone around from King Louis and the Primas to Fat Sams band.

  • Alastair Morrow - drums


    Al grew up playing different genres in the Glasgow area with bands like Crazeology, Bobby Deans before moving to Stilring where he played with Rent a Dep and the Bill Wells Octet and Big Band. He then spent 6 years with The late Gordon Cruikshank's Quartet and 12 years touring the world with Fat Sams Band and now with King Louis and the Primas.

  • Ed kelly - bass


    Originally from Dublin Ed has established himself in Edinburgh and Scotland as the 'in demand' bass player. Another Jazz Bar regular.

Up and Coming Gigs

The band play :-

 

Whighams Jazz Club on 6 Feb 2022

Edinburgh's Jazz Bar on 11 Feb 2022

Edinburgh's Jazz Bar on 13 May 2022

Edinburgh's Jazz Bar on 1 July 2022