David Hall
David Hall has received rave reviews for the piano courses he has directed at Finchcocks, with Giles Smith of the Sunday Times, describing him as a “musical powerhouse” and students of the courses regularly rating them as “life changing”.
With an MA and FRCO under his belt (amongst many others qualifications!) David is an astoundingly versatile musician who is equally at home playing cathedral evensong or accompanying and directing a jazz big band. He studied the piano with Laura Cole and the organ with Anne Marsden Thomas at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1996 he was appointed organ scholar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and is an alumnus of the Cambridge University “Fitz” Swing Band.
David is now the Director of Music at Twyford School in Hampshire, a role he combines with freelance work accompanying, conducting, composing and performing.
Jennifer Maslin
With a warm, smooth and light soprano voice, Jennifer’s voice stands out on the jazz scene. “Jenny Maslin is a captivating vocalist with a unique ethereal tone.” Paul Dunton, Local & Live Festival Organiser
Finchcocks Programme Director and singer Jennifer Maslin is an extremely versatile singer. Having gone through formal classical training at the University of Southampton, she has since forged a career as a performer and singing teacher, finding her own unique style in jazz.
Vocal highlights have been singing on HMS President at a dating event overlooking the Shard, a family party at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair, London and a wedding at the Roman Baths in Bath. She loves singing with David Hall on our Finchcocks courses for guests, as a soloist and across the South East with jazz band Café Society.
James Sunney
Living in Tunbridge Wells, Kent James started his music career while studying at Tswane University of Technology under the tutelage of some of South Africa’s most influential and prominent jazz musicians and educators including Marc Duby, Kevin Davidson, Johnny Fourie and Wessel Van Rensburg.
After graduating James went on to perform alongside some of South Africa’s most celebrated artists, some of which include Heinz Winkler (South African Idols winner), Kresan, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Ettiene Steyn and Mel Botes.
In late 2007 James replaced Vernon Hodgetts as the bass player for top South African band, Watershed to record their last two albums and toured extensively across Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.
James was a regular fixture as a double bassist in various jazz ensembles in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria South Africa, where he got the opportunity to explore his passion for jazz and improvisation.
James now performs in various jazz ensembles in and around the south east of England.