About Me
Since turning professional in 1990, my music career has taken me all over the world playing many different styles of music. My own style has evolved from early days in post-punk and r’nb bands, to jazz, world music, Indie and folk roots.
For sixteen years was a full time member of the London based Afro-Latin seven piece band Zubop (and later collaboration with African artists: ZubopGambia), withwhom we toured the U.K and Germany several times with the aid of arts council funding . The band recorded four critically acclaimed albums during my time with them, including “Live At Ronnie Scott’s” in 2006.
Other band highlights include the Anglo-Algerian collaboration Fantazia
(1998 - 2006), which included TV and live BBC radio broadcasts, as well as an appearance at the Gnawa festival in Algiers in 2005.
In 2001 - 2003 I was the drummer for Gail Thomason’s Jazz International big band which included renowned musicians Claude Deppa, Mervyn Africa and Chris Biscoe amongst others. Concerts included the 100 club in London, and an album on Enja Records: “Jadu”.
From 2021 I toured extensivley with folk rock legends Oysterband prior to their decision to retire from touring in 2025. During this time, we recorded the album “Read The Sky” in 2022 which was number one in the folk charts for two weeks.
In the years that followed we toured the UK and Europe as well as festival shows in Germany, Denmark and Spain. The Long Long Goodbye farewell tour lasted eighteen months (including ten concerts with special guest folk singer
June Tabor), and ended with a headline slot at Tønder festival in Denmark.
Alongside working as a live musician, I have also been developing my teaching practice working in schools as a peripetetic instrumental teacher, and running songwriting workshops for both primary and secondary schools since 1990. In London, I was a member of the Children’s Music Workshop team which delivered over sixty projects to primary schools, mostly within a jazz context.
In Northern Ireland, as well as forming soul band The Satellites (playing bass guitar, with Dana Masters on vocals who is now with Van Morrison), I was part of The Making Music Workshops team which delivered cross-community EU funded programs. I also established I Got Rhythm Music School in Moira, where I taught drums, guitar and piano over four years before moving back to the England in 2015, where I now teach in schools as well as privately from my home studio in Painswick, Gloucestershire.
My Gear:
Drums- Gretsch (vintage), Pearl Masters, Ludwig, Roland V-drums.
Cymbals- Zildjian (vintage and new K's), Istanbul, Bospherous.
Percussion - Cajon and various African and Cuban instruments.
Guitars- Fender Precision bass, Fender Telecaster, Tanglewood acoustic,
Aria fretless acoustic bass, Double bass.