I currently play in a few regular bands as well as deps and one-offs. Here's a brief summary.
Life and Soul
We are a 7 piece (+sound engineer) soul/pop/party band playing at weddings and functions etc. This is a very tight, rocking band playing 60's, 70's dance music plus selected contempary songs.
A 4 track demo CD is available via the website.
The line up is Jane Twyford - vocals, Stuart Partlett - bass and vocals, Luke Frassani - guitar and vocals, Rory McInroy - keyboards, Ady Cole - sax and vocals, Gary Wiffen - trumpet, Frank Hockney - drums and Graham Crew on the desk.
For more info on the band please visit http://www.life-and-soul.co.uk/
Blakes Heaven
Blakes Heaven are a modern big band playing Nick Blake original compositions and arrangements as well as some standard big band arrangements. The music is a real challenge of technique and reading. Also playing contempary arrangements and originals means plenty of interesting rhythm content e.g.Songo, Afro-Cuban etc.
The line up is:
Vox - Linda Blake , Tenor 1 - Nick Blake (dbl: flute / Alto sax / soprano sax), Tenor 2 - Simon Carr (dbl: oboe), Alto 1 - Chuck Lloyd (dbl: flute / Alto sax / soprano sax), Alto 2 - Otto Caretta (dbl: soprano sax), Baritone - Joe Carey, Bass Trombone - Malcolm Gunningham, T-Bone 1 - Bob Cronin, T-Bone 2 - Julian Hawes, T-Bone 3 - Tom, Tpt 1 - Lloyd Payne, Tpt 2 - Paul (dbl: flugel), Tpt 3 - Philip Dobbie, Tpt 4 - tbc (dbl: flugel), Guitar - Peter Kingslake, Keys - Jeff Young, Bass - Jez Cook
Drums - Frank Hockney
On the Jukebox page you can hear a live recording made at Didcot Cornerstone Theatre of us playing a Nick original called 'Clam Chops'. Visit http://blakescore.com or contact Nick at nick@blakescore.com
Radio Days Big Band
We are a sixteen piece dance based in Kennington, Oxford playing Big Band music from the 1930's right through to the 1960's.
Radio days line up is:
5 Saxes (Joe Carey, Angela Richings, Nick Blake, Cat Young and Myles Madden)
3 Trumpets (Bob Cutting, Dave Richards, Steve Clapton)
3 Trombones (Julian Hawes, Steve Barritt, Pat Aitken)
Piano (Matthew Bason)
Guitar (George Wicks)
Bass (David Sholl)
Drums (Frank Hockney)
Male Vocalist (Ben Guppy)
For more information on the band please visit http://www.radio-days.co.uk/
CANAPE TRIO
The Canape Trio is a band playing nicely arranged jazz standards and some originals. Mostly we play functions where nice mood music is required. Pictured here playing at Bicester Jazz Festival.
The line up is:
Martin Pickett - piano, Phil Berry - bass, Frank Hockney - drums.
On the jukebox page you can hear our take on 'I Only Have Eyes For You.'
Contact Martin at http://www.myspace.com/martinpickettgroup
SEVENTH AVENUE XPRESS
S.A.X. are mainly a function band playing a good mixture of jazz, dance and pop standards.
Line up:
Della Thompson - Bass, Terry Hutchins - Guitar, Martin Pickett - keyboard, Frank Hockney - Drums and usually a guest sax player.
CACAHUETES
Cacahuetes is a collective of professional, high standard jazz musicians who together are able to supply live music of any number of styles suitable for any event or function, from solo jazz piano through to small bebop bands, to large swing and dance bands.
Pictured above is the Kenny Hung Trio with Kenny on piano/vocals, Chas Maguire - bass and Frank Hockney - drums.
Pictured above is the Kenny Hung Trio with Kenny on piano/vocals, Chas Maguire - bass and Frank Hockney - drums.
Alvin Roy, now based in Oxford, has led a band since the days of the "Trad Boom", in the early sixties. His band won the British Jazz Band Contest in 1960 and immediately turned professional and were billed as Britain's youngest professional jazz band.
Alvin uses many national and local musicians and the band play regular Sunday night spots at the Lord Nuffield Club Oxford.
Contact Alvin at http://www.alvinroyjazz.co.uk/
THE MARTIN PICKETT ORGAN TRIO
This band was formed by three people with a love for organ trio music. We have a set of original material and our own take on a few standards.
On the juke box you can hear us playing a Martin Original called 'Windows is Shuuting Down'.
The band have a MySpace site at www.myspace.com/martinpickettorgantrio
Theo Jackson
Theo's band have just finished recording a CD of some stunning originals and unusual and interesting versions of songs such as Speak Low and Frank Zappa's 'Oh No'. I think Frank Z would have approved.
Theo's great singing and distinctive Fender Rhodes playing is supported by multi instrumentalist Giazzone Reyes (bass, guitar, Hammond, vocals and probably more), amazing tenor and trumpet playing by guests Brandon Allen and Quentin Collins.
The CD should be out soon. As a taster, the track on the Jukebox is a Theo composition called Another 3 a.m. Contact Theo at http://theojackson.com
Rory McInroy Trio
Formed with a view to have a more Afro-Cuban approach, Rory's Trio play up tempo Samba, Bossa, Calypso, Cascara and many other rhythmic styles. The band also use dynamics to great effect. Rory has been introducing original compositions. On the jukebox you can hear our version of Yesterdays played in the style of a Mozambique rhythm.
The line up is Rory McInroy - piano, Paul Jefferies - bass and Frank Hockney - drums.
Contact Paul jefferies at: www.pauljefferies.com
The Third Eye
Led by the very talented young tenor player Phillippa Lasocki. The band is versed in a variety of musical styles focussing mostly on jazz genres including standards, swing, bebop, latin jazz, funk, fusion and acid jazz as well as more popular and contemporary genres such as dub, reggae, hip hop and nu soul.
The regular line up is Phillippa Lasocki -tenor sax, Alex Hawkins - piano, Steve Smith - bass, Frank Hockney - kit.
Contact http://www.thirdeyejazz.com/
upWATT
High powered, sustainable jazz!
A package of funky, groovy, bluesy guitar and sax led tune, originals and unusual takes on standards.
All band members contribute to the original material.
the line up is Nick Blake - saxes, Jez Cooke - guitars, Paul Jefferies - basses and Frank Hockney - drums.
The band recently recored a 5 track demo session and the track on the jukebox is a Jez Cooke number called Sweep My Tie.
Contact: me at this website or www.pauljefferies.com