I have been performing jazz part-time since about 1981, when I joined former young
jazz musician of the year winner John Sanderson's band Expressions, based in the
East Midlands. Expressions (including several of my compositions) were featured
on BBC Radio Derby.
Since moving to Cambridgeshire I have been part of the local
jazz scene, regularly appearing in some bands, and depping in others, including
Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra, Silicon Edge big band, Caxton Swing, Andy Bowie
Quartet, Louise Hobbs Quartet, Ten to Ten and others. I have covered every jazz
style, from New Orleans to free. I currently do a lot of restaurant gigs or private
functions, in solo, duo or larger format.
Musicians I've played with include Harvey Wainapel, Jim Mullen, Quentin Collins, Gilad Atzmon, Kevin Flanagan, Nick Hill, Josh Kemp, Paul Stubbs, Simon Fell, James Allsop, Andrew Brown and many others.
For several years I helped to run, the Cambridge Jazz Co-operative.
I taught piano and electronic keyboard,
including jazz piano, from 1991 to 1995, to pupils of all ages on a one-to-one basis.
If pupils wanted to take exams, I entered them for Associated Board and other grade
examinations. I currently teach only jazz and music theory.
I've also learnt to play tenor sax and bass guitar. I don't take these too seriously, but the bass is useful when I'm teaching someone to play piano as part of a band.
I'm a specialist jazz piano teacher, and a performing jazz musician.
I accept pupils of any age and with any level of piano playing experience. Pupils who have been taught some (or a lot of) classical piano, and would like to learn how to play jazz, are most welcome.
I also teach pupils who are adept on other instruments to play jazz.
I teach theory (classical or jazz) to any level.
Lessons are given at my house in Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire, on my upright Yamaha piano.
Hemingford Grey is just off the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, near St Ives. See Bing map.I have a London College of Music A(mus) diploma, which is a qualification in stylistic composition.