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Here's some biography of the band to give you an idea of what we've done and what we're doing.
We hope it's of interest to you and that it makes you see us as a truly professional option.
Noel Joyce-drums/perc
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Noel studied percussion at Leicester Poly with Nigel Shipway(cats/session), James Blades(the father of british percussion), David Corkhill(Philamonia Orchestra) and loads of other musicians. While there he studied Ghanain hand-drumming, Indian Tabla, orchestral percussion and drum-kit, as well as performing in numerous bands, shows, contempary music concerts, ballets and solo Four mallet Marimba recitals. After graduating with a B.A (Hons) 2.1 in performing Arts, he went to Goldsmiths College in London and received a Diploma in Orchestral Studies after a 2 year orchestral course. This led to freelance orchestral gigs and show work in the West End.The best decision he ever made was to study Moeller technique with Bob Armstrong for six years, which renued his passion and enthusiasm for music and drumming. Noel works in numerous bands often dj'ing between sets on his laptop! He has written music for ads,website and film. He has various pieces in the new TrinityGuildhall grade exams for drumkit, as well as having published his own chart reading books. Noel also teaches at Thomas's Day Schools in London, Glyn Technology School in Ewell, and has a number of private pupils. At present Noel works in numerous jazz outfits, function and big bands, as well as freelance work and composition. Noel is also a founder member of the infamous Soul Jazz Collective. He always wants the client to be happy with his work, as he believes it is only reputation and recommendation at the end of the day that creates more work for musicians. Whatever you've been fortunate enough to experience in the past is fine, but at the end of the day you're only as good as your last gig! If you want to find out more you can contact him at : |
Graham Snell-Saxes
Graham didn’t study with anybody well known or have much formal musical schooling.
He however started playing at 20, because a girl he liked at work loved the sax.He became more hooked on the sax than the sex, and has hit a practice regime to make up for lost time eversince!
He practiced in a cupboard for a few years playing classical etudes, and then started playing in a funk band for about 10 years,during this period working with the Blunter Brothers.
After this he started Colibri, a jazz/funk/fusion outfit which amongst other things had airplay on jazz fm, thus leading to them appearing on the double compilation album-'guitars, saxes and more.'
Graham currently plays in Colibri, StraightNoChaser Big Band and the SJC,as well as duo work with the guitarist Alex Steer.
Graham is also a founder member of the infamous Soul Jazz Collective.
Simon
Atkins-Keyboards
Simon studied music at Goldsmith's College London and then spent many years working in a variety of pop bands, and as a session keyboard player.
More recently he has become involved in education working for Trinity College of Music, and The Laban School of Dance as a community composer and workshop leader.
He also teaches improvisation and classical piano at the City Literary Institute for adults in Covant Garden.
Simon freelances with numerous jazz outfits, function and big bands as well as working with the South African Jazz outfit 'Mbawula' by run Paul Bartholomew [Arranger for Jools Holland].
Simon has had numerous pieces performed and broadcast, including commissions for Channel 4's Black Bag series, and a series of Science Documentaries.
Simon is also a founder member of the Soul Jazz Collective.
David McLeod-Bass
Although
David has played the piano since the age of six, his main love is the
bass. Influenced by
the work of James Jamerson, Anthony Jackson, Marcus Miller & Stevie
Wonder, he studied with
renowned Bassist & Tutor Joe Hubbard for seven years.
It
was at Joe's School in 1994 that he was awarded the dubious honour of
Bass Player of the
Year! It was also at this point that David developed his passion for writing
& arranging.
Since
that time David has written soundtracks for Channel X (Reeves & Mortimer),
Primal Pictures &
the RSA. He is currently writing & producing two songs for soul legend
Billy Paul.
David
doesn't get out much preferring to spend most of the small hours in his
home studio, but
when he does, it usually involves live performances with Colibri or SJC.
Mike
Nicholls -Trumpet
Mike Nicholls played trumpet at school but was sacked from the school orchestra for wanting to play jazz and forced to hand his trumpet back.
After
various engineering jobs mike returned to the trumpet at age 27 and soon
became
a well known figure on the local jazz club and big band circuit in Taunton
and Exeter.
A post graduate course at the Guildhall School of Music in London led
to touring theatre work, musical shows, cruise work and appearances with
various groups covering a multitude of styles from Reggae to Traditional
Jazz.
Mike now plays regularly for a number of ensembles and is happy to play anything musical.
Actually Mike is happy to play anything!
Actually Mike is just happy generally...
Rossana
Schura-vocals
Rosie is a singer and piano player based both in london and down in devon.
She studied at Trinity College of Music and now spends her time gigging, teaching and developing her own writing.
Rosie is a fantastic singer and a wonderful addition to the SJC.
Nico
Sabatini-guitar
Nico Sabatini started his professional career as a rock and pop guitarist in his late teens and soon expanded his horizons to jazz and classical music. He has worked as a demonstrator for Yamaha Guitars, played with international artists such as Gregg Bissonette and supported Metallica.
He composed music for Italian cinema and tv and since moving to London from his native Italy in 1997, he studied composition at the Birkbeck College and obtained a postgraduate diploma in Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music.
Nico is at present working in the west End in Cabaret.He is a superb addition to the SJC!
