ABOUT KAI’S CATS

Uplifting, positively joyful entertainment of the highest calibre, Kai’s Cats play a mix of jumpin’ jive, swing and early rock and roll. Click here for photos from Ronnie Scott’s, here to listen, and here for public gigs.

In the style of great jazz entertainers such as Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Nat King Cole, Kai’s Cats accessible, melodically swinging tunes are fun to listen to and even more fun for dancing. 

Kai's Cats have been performing their flights of feline fancy since 2008 - and their residency at Ronnie Scott's Bar, 'Zoots, Toots, and Champagne Flutes' (www.myspace.com/zootstootsflutes) is already in it's second year!! The Cats are purrrroud to have played at fabulous London swingin' events including Stompin' at the 100 Club for the London Swing Dance Society, Jitterbugs Lindy Hop Night at Marble Arch and C-Jam at the Bedford in Balham, with many corporate events, weddings, jazz club and festival gigs in between. 
 

Kai's Cats have just recorded their debut CD, which will be available in Spring 2010! 

Here are Kai’s Cats individual profiles:

London-based American singer Kai Hoffman combines a brilliant feel with a deep, flexible sound and range. Her 'refreshing and exciting voice' (Dave Silk, Riverfront Jazz Festival, Greenwich) is sure to keep you entertained. Kai has performed with musicians including Jamie Cullum, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine and Phil Woods, and at venues including Ronnie Scott's Club and the Royal Albert Hall. Also an accomplished French horn player, Kai occupied the National Youth Jazz Orchestra French horn chair for 5 years (as well as singing with the band) and has played with major symphony orchestras. For more about Kai, please click here for her main website.

Pianist Simon Whiteside is responsible for Kai's Cats' fabulous arrangements. An accomplished orchestrator and arranger for television and films (including the last two Harry Potter flicks!), Simon is a true jazz cat, with loves including Miles Davis 'Birth of the Cool,' Hank Mobley, Marty Paige and Nelson Riddle, and runs various big bands.

Double Bass Player Nick Pini has worked with record labels including Universal and Verve, with the fabulous Puppini Sisters, and has played on BBC Radio 3! Along with his fabulously struttin’ swing bass for Kai’s Cats, he plays with beat bop band The Hoodlums.

Drummer Darren Altman has played for The Rat Pack Show in The West End and been the house drummer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. He went to Leeds College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He then went on to occupy the drum chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for three years -- and also has numerous film and television credits to his name.

Trumpet player Gabriel Garrick, son of distinguished jazz pianist and educator Michael Garrick, grew up with music everywhere -- including Sunday lunches at John Dankworth and Cleo Laine's. A fantastic big band trumpet player, composer and arranger, Gabriel has played with top musicians and bands all over the UK, and runs his own five-piece band, The Gabriel Garrick Group.

Sax player Sam Bullard plays regularly with the BBC Big Band, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the Grahamophones, and his own band, the Sam Bullard Quartet. Sam is a graduate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and played tenor saxophone with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

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photography & website design by Chris Huning