Already during their studies at the ‘Royal Conservatory’ in The Hague David and Ellister discovered that they share a passion for the music of Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge. The subsequent years each individually gained a great deal of experience, performing as sidemen in the international jazz scene. Then time was ripe for them to start a band of their own. Knowing exactly which sound they want to hear, they each started to look out for the right people fitting into this sound concept. And, independently, each saw the other as the inevitable counterpart.
Pure music, right from the heart. Proud of tradition but never dogmatic. A new generation that wants to speak the language of its heroes. Individuals subordinate to the music.
Born in Breda (Holland) in 1978, David Lukács started to play the clarinet at the age of 11. When he was 16 years old, he started doing gigs and took up the tenor-sax beside his clarinet. David did a fulltime study at The Hague Royal Conservatory with American reed player John Ruocco. He also had lessons with Barry Harris, Lee Konitz and Scott Hamilton. In 1998 (at the age of 20) he won the Kobe Jazz Award and toured Japan in 1998 and 1999, where he played with various international all-star groups including Bill Berry,Benny Powell and Tom Baker. He also played with: Al Gallodoro, Dan Barret, John Goldsby, Madeline Bell and Bob Barnard,to name a few. David Lukács has played at theatres and jazzfestivals throughout Europe. As a teacher he is active at the Jazz Workshop in Lenk, Switzerland. Some of the other groups he is active with at the moment are: ‘The Jimmy Lunceford Legacy Orchestra’, ‘Kansas City After Dark’, ‘Cris Monen Trio / Quintet’ and ‘The music of Turks Fruit’ (featuring David with a string-4tet and rhythm section), under the direction of arranger Udo van Boven.
Ellister was born March 1st, 1977 into a music loving family. Encouraged at a young age to make a career in music, she attended the Young Talent department of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and won several prizes at classical music competitions. Growing up surrounded by jazz music, it was not a big step for her to switch to jazz. As a jazz student, Ellister had lessons with – in no particular order – Jarmo Hoogendijk, Ack van Rooijen, Eric Vloeimans, Ruud Breuls and Jan Oosthof. Since her graduation in 2000 she has been working as a freelance musician playing in a variety of bands. To name a few: ‘Jimmy Lunceford Legacy Orchestra’, ‘Alice in Dixieland’, ‘New Generation Big Band’ and ‘Dim Kesber and the Augmenters’. Ellister has been playing at some of the big festivals of the world, including the North Sea Festival (many times), Pori and Montpelliers, she enjoys the travelling. The latest big trip was to Singapore in October 2007 with Dim Kesber. Next to playing she also teaches trumpet and improvisation both privately and at a school of music.