AB Workshops

UK Bassist Yolanda Charles started her career in the music business playing for Jimmy Sommerville from The Communards, as well as with London bands Raw Stylus and Urban Species. A career as a session bassist followed, she worked with artists like BB King, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Van Morrison, and Mick Jagger. She even did a recording for Michael Jackson, with Jermaine Jackson producing.

Since 2010, she’s performed live with Anastasia, Lulu, Heather Small, Natasha Bedingfield, Sinead O’Connor, and Daryl Hall. She’s served as Musical Director for Dave Stewart’s London appearances and in TV house bands for shows hosted by Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs) and Nicole Scherzinger (Pussy Cat Dolls). Yolanda’s more recent work includes performing with composer Hans Zimmer and working on various film soundtracks including “A Knight’s Tale,” “Alfie,” “Home,” “War on Everyone,” and “Boss Baby.”.

For workshops, Yolanda’s style is interactive: A performance demonstration often comes with an invitation for volunteers to join her.

Yolanda will perform the masterclass with drummer Laurie Lowe, who will accompany her in a solid rhythm section duo. They demonstrate rhythmic development and placement, exercises to internalise 16th note divisions, utilising dynamics and various styles, including navigating odd time signatures and everything else BASS & DRUMS.

Laurie Lowe has been playing drums since the age of six and has gained experience playing with many different artists in many different genres of music. Since then Laurie has gone on to play with some of the top jazz musicians in the country such as Robert Mitchell’s Panacea, Gilad Atzmon, Nicolas Meier, Jim Mullen, Dave O’Higgins, Andy Sheppard, Mike Mondesir, Zhenya Strigalev and Carl Orr. Laurie has also toured with the Grammy Nominated American Hip Hop/R&B group ‘’The Foreign Exchange’’, receiving widespread critical acclaim.

Open to all musicians, invaluable advice whatever instrument you play.