'The meeting between the OffBeat Trio and British singer of Jamaican origin AlexiaGardner is most certainly a happy one. The band’s first album of 2009, Chasing Hope, is the product of this collaboration and has been praised by both public and critics. The CD contains old and new jazz standards, original compositions, Latin grooves, and delicate ballads that enhance the band’s qualities and Alexia Gardner’s sensual and velvety voice.

2011 has proved to be a very fruiful year for this debut album. Although Chasing Hope was not one of the top 5 televised bands, in it's catagory, of the 2011 53rd Grammy Award Nominations; it was, however,  successfully through the first round of the Grammy Award Nominations in two  catagories.  BEST NEW ARTIST  and BEST VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM.

Alexia Gardner and Offbeat Trio were also awarded the 2011 SWISS JAZZ AWARD as a result of public voting. They were presented with this prestigious award at this years Jazz Ascona in association with Radio Swiss Jazz.

Gardner is a charismatic and versatile singer, always at ease on the European and Asian stages she has performed on for years. She moved to Switzerland in 2006' (Jazzascona, 2011)
The Offbeat Trio are Marcel Schefer (Piano), Kalli Gerhards (Bass) and Beat Fraefel-Haering (Drums).  Alexia Gardner and Offbeat Trio have already  had the oppertunity to perform from  Dubai to Liechtenstein and from Zurich to Ascona in the few short years since they became a band.
Special guests featured on the album - Chasing Hope Alexia Gardner and Offbeat Trio -  are Pius Baumgartner on Tenor Saxophone, Paula Gardner and Alexia Hope on Backing Vocals. This vocalist -  Alexia Hope -  is the same Hope in Chasing Hope, the title track of the album! It tells the story of a 4 year old girl with the magical name - Hope. The house seems so empty when she is not there. Alexia wrote this tune lamenting the absence of her neice Hope. Naturally, the meaning of the song leant itself to everyone missing 'hope' in their lives from time to time. Chasing Hope. 
The plan of this quartet is to continue enjoying concerts and shows throughout Switzerland and it's neighbouring countries. Hopefully, the International Jazz Festivals will continue knocking on their door!

The Guitar, Bass and Vocal Trio is one that is most challenging. There are no drums to keep you in time. No piano to create that added melody and harmonies for the vocalist. This type of Trio is very exposed. It's raw, ‘out in front’....and thats exactly what Alexia Gardner Trio have done.

They are Beat Baumli (Guitar) and Lorenz Beyeler (Bass) and Alexia on the voclas. Together they are the Alexia Gardner Trio and have been performing at the intimate Jazz Clubs up and down Switzerland since Alexia's arrival to Switzerland. Alexia has   released her 4th album in this Trio format. It was released September 30 2011. It is a swinging Live recording at the Birds Eye Jazz Club in Basel. Tunes were selected from 3 nights performances and the album is entitled ‘A Little Closer, Alexia Gardner Live At The Birds Eye Jazz Club’. Here is a short excerpt from the Liner Notes on the upcoming CD provided by Phil Morrison (Bassist/Composer/Songwriter):

`There'll Never Be Another You` is as standard as you can get when it comes to jazz tunes yet, Alexia brings a freshness to this tune that few singers would be able todo.  Even the configuration of her rhythm section exemplifies her "out of the box"approach.  With no drummer, these guys are swinging hard and Alexia can hardly wait to get another "taste" of the tune while they are soloing (notice her occassional vocal snippets inspired by their solos).

When you have a moment, feel free to browse over to the Alexia Gardner, A Little Closer, Live At The Birds Eye Jazz Club website. Here there are more photos, text and music samples of the Alexia Gardner Trio's debut album.