“Some lovely versatile and agile vocals… I think they have a very fresh take on gypsy swing.”
BBC Radio Scotland
''They revisit and respect memorable milestones in the immense jazz tradition and are pioneers in their field.''
Italia in Jazz
MEMBERS
Ami Oprenova - Vocals www.amioprenova.com
Daniele Ciuffreda - Electric Guitar www.danieleciuffredamusic.com
Coco started her career as a classical violinist. After graduating from the National Music School of Sofia, Bulgaria, she studied a Bachelors in Violin and Composition at Birmingham Conservatoire.
Her interest in jazz quickly broadened and during her undergraduate classical course she became part of many ensembles such as Dunnet Baxter Big Band, Sambuca Diaries Big band, Nova Sisters, Joe Broughtons Folk Ensemble, CBSO Youth Orchestra and the Leto Quartet. She quickly established herself as a jazz singer and entered a Masters degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she met Havard Tanner, a friendship that founded Coco ‘n’ the Fellas.
Ami had the privilege of studying with great musicians such as Cyrille Aimee, Liane Carroll, Anite Wardell, Pete Daley, Lee Gibson, Barry Green, Martin Riley and Howard Skempton. Over the years she has performed many venues: RAH, Symphony Hall and Town Hall (Birmingham), The Yardbird Jazz Club, Spotted Dog, Babican, Milton Court and at Festivals such as Fairport Croprety Convention (20,000+), Shambala, Towersey and Warwick.
Ami was awarded Awarded Special Prize for Vocal improvisation for the song ‘I got Rhythm’ (2010), an Outstanding Performance Award at The Bernard Statman Memorial Prize for Leading an Ensemble (2011) and Best Orchestral Composition (2013).
After starting his musical career as a violinist at the age of eight, he found interest in the guitar during teenage years. He was soon accepted into the 'Accademia Musica Moderna' in Turin, and continued his higher education at the "G. Verdi". Between 2014-15 he moved to Milan to study at the Accademia Internazionale “Civici Corsi di Jazz".
In 2015 he moved to London and began a Jazz Postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. This is where he met Ami Oprenova and Havard Tanner and joined Coco 'n' the Fellas. Throughout his years of study, Daniele had the privilege of working with many great mentors such as: Marco Roagna, Dario Chiazzolino, Furio Di Castri, Riccardo Bianchi, Colin Oxley, John Parricelli, Malcom Edmonstone, Garrison Fewel and many others.
He has played at festivals including Valenza Jazz Festival, Torino Jazz Festival, Break in Jazz, EFG London Jazz Festival, and at different venues around Italy, Austria and the UK. In June 2013 he won 1st Prize with the formation "Jacopo Albini Quartet" at the Valenza Jazz Contest and in 2015 was appointed as one of the most talented musicians at the Barolo Jazz Contest, being a represent at Torino Jazz Festival within a workshop led by the Juilliard School of Music.
Joe Perkins - Acoustic Guitar www.joeperkinsmusic.com
Joe graduated with a Masters in Composition after completing a Bachelors in Music (Hons) at City University London, specialising in jazz guitar and electroacoustic music. He has spent many years under the tutelage of Stuart Hall, Barak Schmool, Dave Warren, Jonny Hepbir, Ian Pace and performed for the Lord Mayor of London.
Joe has been featured on BBC Radio and has performed at venues such as RAH, The Royal Academy of Art, and Shoreditch Town Hall. He has composed for internationally acclaimed feature films and worked extensively as a studio technician for Brains and Hunch – Music For Moving Image, London.
Joe has published academic writing on the subject of Django Reinhardt and Jazz Manouche on the prestigious ‘Djangobooks’ in addition to teaching composition at Barrow Hill Junior School and the Royal Borough of Greenwich Music Hub.
After moving to London he started working with many different musicians creating a portfolio career leading him into founding a strong friendship with Havard Tanner soon to be drawn into forming the band Coco 'n' the fellas.
Havard Tanner - Upright Bass www.musicnetworkpro.com/havard-tanner
This last fella also has a classical background and through the years has played with many Orchestras in England and Norway.
He moved to London to start a Bachelors Degree at London Centre of Contemporary Music followed by his Postgraduate at Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he met Ami Oprenova and founded the band. Over the years Havard studied with many musicians such as Scott Stroman, Christian Mortensen, Geoff Gascoyne, Steve Watts and Colin Paris.
Havard is part of Swing'it Dixie Band and was a core member of MHOO. He has appeared at the stages of the Festivals Slottsfjellet, Vinjerock and Øyafestivalen. He has played support sets for renound musicians such as Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull and Lizzie. He also had the opportunity to play with Terje Rypdal and Paolo Vinaccia.
One of his biggest achievements is releasing a CD through Sony Music Norway/Colombia records (2010) and receiving a nationwide attention and renown. Havard is still very much involved in the London Music scene not only as a jazz musician but as a multi-styled player.