About Us

Frankly Jazz is a Northern UK-based group comprising a jazz singer, drummer, double bass and piano. We have performed in a variety of venues across the North of England including Castle Howard, Ripley Castle, Aldwark Manor, The Sage Gateshead and the Royal Hall in Harrogate. We are available for hire for any function no matter what the size. Meet the band members…

John ‘his holiness the’ Pope – Bass

After recently completing a Masters in Music at Newcastle University, John is a well-known, versatile and fine local musician. His musicianship and outstanding bass playing has found him work playing in many jazz groups. However, he is as much at home with many other genres including soul, hip hop and free jazz. John is a fine composer and improviser and has run projects such as the Improvisers Orchestra of the North (ION) based at the Sage, which displayed an incredible performance at the Gateshead Jazz Festival in 2009. He has also played with jazz legend Roy Williams (trombone), folk star Pete Cooper and he has even been seen on stage supporting The Brand New Heavies. John has recorded and played with the Johnny Tunnard Trio for 5 years. In the pipeline is a bass-led group playing John’s original compositions.

Jon Clark – Drums

After returning from a year in Europe playing his music, John completed his studies in Music at Newcastle University also. Jon is an amazingly mature player with a fantastic sense of ‘groove’. He has led his own quartet ‘Southern Lights’ and also plays for ION and local bands and Jazz orchestras. He certainly gives off the vibe of a well-travelled musician, starting his own Jewish Klezmer band, playing an array of percussion in a Salsa band and also demonstrating his skills on the Indian Tabla drums. His playing is imaginative and creative and he is certainly an all-round great musician.

Johnny Tunnard – Piano

Johnny started playing piano from an early age and became involved with jazz nearly 10 years ago. He studied music at Newcastle University from 2006 under jazz organist, Gerry Richardson and UK award- winning jazz composer and saxophonist Tim Garland.

During his time in the North East, Johnny played in many jazz groups including his own sextet ‘Orjazzm’ and the ‘Boogaloo Allstars’ – the headlining act for ‘Beatniks Boogaloo’ –an Arts Council series of concerts held to promote jazz to the younger generation.

Since leaving university, Johnny co-founded Frankly Jazz and joined forces with  the talented singer Marcus Groundwater.

Johnny has also had the pleasure of learning with the Professor of Jazz studies at the Guildhall, Pete Churchill and Free Jazz expert Pat Thomas. His performances have led him from the Jazz Café, Newcastle to the City Hall with the Peter King Quartet , performing in the world premier of a Jazz Mass composed by Peter King.

Marcus Groundwater- Vocals

Marcus has had a long history as a Jazz and classical singer and musician. After joining forces with pianist and musical director Johnny Tunnard in 2009, he soon gained a vast repertoire from Rat Pack to RnB. He has since gone from strength to strength bringing his fresh take on great jazz tunes new and old.

Read more on Marcus’ Myspace.

David Carnegie – Drums 

David was born in 1979 to Jamaican parents on the island of Barbados. Originally taught on piano, David started playing drums at secondary school in Barbados but only decided to consider a career in music when he took his first lesson with jazz great Al Harewood.

In 2002 he received an associate degree in music with distinction from the Barbados Community College (BCC) and has since performed at the Barbados Jazz Festival with various groups including the BCC Jazz Combo, Quarternote (which he co-founded) and Janelle Headley in 2005. He has also performed with vocalist Melanie Marshall, saxophonist Arturo Tappin (Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross) and pannist Andy Narell.

David has performed at various shows and venues in the Caribbean, the U.S. and U.K., playing everything from calypso, reggae and Cuban music to jazz, R&B/soul and rock. These include the Barbados Pan Festival in 2004 and 2005, the Florida Music Festival 2005 with Kite (whose music was featured on the TV series “The Ghost Whisperer”), the Gateshead International Jazz Festival 2006 (leading his contemporary jazz group, Extreme Measures).