Jazz from Musicals with G&T

Adversity can often lead to something beautiful. This was true of the impact on music during the great depressions in America. From 1929 to 1940, the majority of what is now known as jazz standards originated. The popularity of this music, based originally on dance, was promoted through musicals, with Iconic songwriters such as, Rodgers & Hart, the Gershwins, and Hoagy Carmichael, contributing songs to meet the demands of Broadway and Hollywood.

Gary Bland and Tom Wakeley (G&T) present songs recorded by, and sung by, the greats. Songs that have become known as Jazz Standards.

Gary trained at Rose Bruford from 2012/2013, in Theatre Acting, aged 51. His wife heard him sing for the first time after having been together for 29 years. Most recently, Gary was in The Lehman Trilogy at The National Theatre and the Piccadilly Theatre, directed by Sam Mendez.

Gary has played, Judge Brack in, Hedda Gabler, and appeared in the award winning, Epidemic, produced by the Old Vic. He made his feature film debut in the Hollywood blockbuster, Les Misérables, and his West End stage debut was at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as an Ugly Sister. His first lead role was, Joe Boyd in Damn Yankees. His second lead role was in The Baker’s Wife, both shows with 4 and 5 star reviews. Gary’s first TV role was the lead, as Detective Freehling, in Devils in Disguise, on American TV.

When he is not acting, Gary loves to put on his own cabarets, which include, A Tribute to Johnny Mathis, at the Edinburgh Fringe, shows at Crazy Coqs, The Pheasantry, and The Other Palace. Gary’s first cabaret was at Crazy Coqs.

Tom has worked extensively in London’s West End. He was Assistant Conductor on the musical CHICAGO, Musical Director on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ASPECTS OF LOVE, DAMN YANKEES, BY JEEVES and OLIVER at the London Palladium. Also he has worked on JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, LUST, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CITY OF ANGELS, SHE LOVES ME and MISS SAIGON.

Since 1993 Tom has been Vocal Coach at RADA, working in conjunction with the singing teachers there. In 2010 he was invited to Moscow to give two public master-classes at an International Conference on Music Theatre. In 2013 and 2015 he taught on Music Theatre courses in Manila Philippines.

Tom set up ‘One Voice’ for Rada Business in 2008 and now runs ‘Voices in Harmony’ where he provides singing as a means of Team Building, Self-Discovery and Energising sessions in corporate situations both in London and internationally.

He has appeared with many cabarets with Tiffany Graves, Anita Louise Combe, Dan Goode, Kelly Burke, Rosie Ashe, Maria Kessleman and before lockdown had a regular spot at The Pheasantry with Nicky Haslam and his t