Return of the Native

Return of the Native blend adventurous harmony, metrical games and lush melodies to create a highly individual sound. 

Luke Belcher is originally from Christchurch in New Zealand. He lives in Yeovil, teaching and performing across Somerset. He previously performed at the club with Ray D’Inverno’s Quintessential Groove back in February, tackling Ray’s complex charts with ease and providing some great solos.

Will Rees-Jones previously attended Wells Cathedral School with tutelage from Andy Tweed, Ed Leaker and Karen Street as well as being part of the National Youth Jazz Collective. Now in his final year at London’s Guildhall, Will is mentored by Mark Lockheart, Gareth Lockrane and Iain Ballamy, as well as many other British jazz icons. He has been heard locally recently with Ed Leaker’s Swing Machine and the GBH Big Band.

Pianist Hywel Davies is a UK-based composer, sound artist and installation artist.  His wide-ranging output includes concert works, dance scores, studio collage, electronic and electroacoustic works, ringtones, sound installations and installations that don’t involve any sound at all. From 2013 to 2017 he was composer-in-residence with Kokoro (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s new music ensemble). He is a winner of the George Butterworth Prize for Composition, the recipient of an Arts Council England International Fellowship and a Muttart Foundation Scholarship.  He has a long-standing relationship with musicians in Trondheim (Norway) which has resulted in works for the Trondheim Sinfonietta and Trio Alpaca.  Recent concert works include Elternszcenen (Scenes of Parenthood) for pianist Clare Hammond, a set of pieces reflecting on Robert Schumann’s Kinderszcenen (Scenes of Childhood).  The premiere of The Voyage of the Argo (Part One), an hour-long dramatic oratorio commissioned by Tonbridge School planned for March 2020 has been delayed by COVID-19.  Hywel Davies has made sonic installations for Kent County Council, Arts Council England, the National Trust, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru, b-side Festival and Bath International Festival.  His most recent sound work, Pilgrim (commissioned by the National Trust) runs at Mottisfont Abbey (Hampshire) until April 2022.

Drummer Luke McCarthy is also based in Somerset and is just about to start at the Royal Academy, one of the UK’s most prestigious jazz courses.

Luke Belcher – bass, Will Rees-Jones – tenor sax, Hywel Davies – piano, Luke McCarthy – drums

Stream Return of the Native music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud