biography
Jesse started playing the guitar aged 11. His stepfather Jon Stokes, Jazz guitarist and trumpet player, was a formative influence. They spent many hours jamming and learning Jazz tunes, the introduction to the basic principles of Jazz at a young age was invaluable.
Jesse studied A level music at Exeter College where there was a strong emphasis on Jazz.
At the Musicians Institute, London, Jesse studied Jazz and Popular music where there was a high standard of playing and teaching. Jesse has had lessons from some of the country’s finest Jazz guitarists including Mike Walker, Mike Outram, Dave Cliff and Dominic Ashworth and still devotes a large amount of time to practice and improvement. Jesse has also performed with Mike Outram.
He has co-led a jazz jam session in Exeter for 3 years with Al Swainger and Gary Evans.
After developing a late interest in the classical guitar Jesse obtained his Grade 8 certificate which coincided with him meeting his wife Ruth, who is an accomplished classical flautist.
Jesse has worked in pit bands for several musicals including We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar, Footloose, Cats and Our House.
With the Dave Hankin Big Band - "Jaw-droppingly good...the finest large-scale jazz unit the city has ever had" Plymouth Herald - Jesse has performed with Alan Barnes, Gordon Campbell and Bruce Adams. Jesse has also performed with the Royal Marines Big Band, notably with Claire Sweeney at the Plymouth Pavilions. He has also performed Scott Stroman’s Jazz Mass at Exeter Cathedral.
The rhythm section for the Jesse Molins Trio/Quartet consists of Jesse, Al Swainger and Coach York who both work as sidemen in the Craig Milverton Trio.
Since 2015, Jesse has performed a series of concerts and recorded 3 albums with British Jazz luminary Mike Westbrook.
Albums
A Bigger Show - Mike Westbrook Uncommon Orchestra, ASC Records, recorded by Jon Hiseman and Miles Ashton 2016
Granite - Kate Westbrook, dBs Productions, Bristol - Jay Auborn and Callum Godfroy 2018
Takes - dBs Productions, to be released in late 2019/early 2020
With Mike Westbrooks Uncommon Orchestra, Jesse has performed at Kings Place in 2017 and toured Sicily and Italy in November 2018 - performing in Palermo, Catania and at the Teatro Rossini in Pesaro. This tour culminated in a performance at Ronnie Scotts legendary Jazz Club in Febuary 2019.
With Kate Westbrook Granite, Jesse has performed in Germany at Halle - Women In Jazz Festival and also at Kings Place in 2019.
See Reviews
Jesse teaches guitar at several schools and colleges and has helped teach on Jazz workshops around the Southwest. Read my page about guitar lessons in Exeter.
Go to links to see Jesse’s bands.
Jesse studied A level music at Exeter College where there was a strong emphasis on Jazz.
At the Musicians Institute, London, Jesse studied Jazz and Popular music where there was a high standard of playing and teaching. Jesse has had lessons from some of the country’s finest Jazz guitarists including Mike Walker, Mike Outram, Dave Cliff and Dominic Ashworth and still devotes a large amount of time to practice and improvement. Jesse has also performed with Mike Outram.
He has co-led a jazz jam session in Exeter for 3 years with Al Swainger and Gary Evans.
After developing a late interest in the classical guitar Jesse obtained his Grade 8 certificate which coincided with him meeting his wife Ruth, who is an accomplished classical flautist.
Jesse has worked in pit bands for several musicals including We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar, Footloose, Cats and Our House.
With the Dave Hankin Big Band - "Jaw-droppingly good...the finest large-scale jazz unit the city has ever had" Plymouth Herald - Jesse has performed with Alan Barnes, Gordon Campbell and Bruce Adams. Jesse has also performed with the Royal Marines Big Band, notably with Claire Sweeney at the Plymouth Pavilions. He has also performed Scott Stroman’s Jazz Mass at Exeter Cathedral.
The rhythm section for the Jesse Molins Trio/Quartet consists of Jesse, Al Swainger and Coach York who both work as sidemen in the Craig Milverton Trio.
Since 2015, Jesse has performed a series of concerts and recorded 3 albums with British Jazz luminary Mike Westbrook.
Albums
A Bigger Show - Mike Westbrook Uncommon Orchestra, ASC Records, recorded by Jon Hiseman and Miles Ashton 2016
Granite - Kate Westbrook, dBs Productions, Bristol - Jay Auborn and Callum Godfroy 2018
Takes - dBs Productions, to be released in late 2019/early 2020
With Mike Westbrooks Uncommon Orchestra, Jesse has performed at Kings Place in 2017 and toured Sicily and Italy in November 2018 - performing in Palermo, Catania and at the Teatro Rossini in Pesaro. This tour culminated in a performance at Ronnie Scotts legendary Jazz Club in Febuary 2019.
With Kate Westbrook Granite, Jesse has performed in Germany at Halle - Women In Jazz Festival and also at Kings Place in 2019.
See Reviews
Jesse teaches guitar at several schools and colleges and has helped teach on Jazz workshops around the Southwest. Read my page about guitar lessons in Exeter.
Go to links to see Jesse’s bands.