This Yorkshire based band is a quartet of Bass, Drums, Keyboards and Saxophone. The members of the band have known each other for over 17 years and originally were all involved a gospel group called "Insight." The band members were also the backing group for Gloria Gaynor's "Gospel Train Show" on BBC radio.
The group performs an eclectic mix of improvised music under the clear influence of Gospel, Reggae and Rhythm and Blues. The band's tight and funky rhythmical style more than hints at the music of James Brown, George Duke, The Crusaders, David Sanborn etc, whilst the melodic improvisation is reminiscent of Grover Washington Jr, Bob James and Joe Sample.
David combines a career in education with his work as a saxophonist and clarinetist working regularly in the United Kingdom with "Revelation" and his other Jazz ensemble "Three +1" as well as in other small and large jazz ensembles, shows and as a session musician.
David graduated with a BMus honours degree in music in 1993 majoring in woodwind performance. Since graduating he has performed for Northern Ballet Theatre, the Squadronaires, and sessions for ITV, BBC TV and radio. He has also arranged for and performed on a number of Gospel CDs and broadcasts for SKY TV. Most recently he was the featured soloist on both "The Clarinet Collection" and "Saxophone Collection" albums for Boosey and Hawkes.
From 1997-2007 he was worked as the Head of Instrumental Studies at Birkdale School in Sheffield. In September 2007 David was appointed Head of Instrumental studies at the prestigious Dragon School, Oxford, where he teaches both saxophone and clarinet and is responsible for co-ordinating and developing the instrumental music throughout the school.
Mark combines his talent as a touring session musician with writing and recording projects for other artists. He is an experienced keyboard player, drummer and bass player. His roots are in black gospel music and he has worked with a number the world's top gospel recording artists. During the last 17 years he has supported and played for artists such as Commissioned, the Hawkins Family, Derek Dunkley, Tramaine Hawkins, Darlene Zschech and numerous other gospel artists and choirs. Most recently Mark has performed for and toured with some of the most influential pop and R&B artists including: - Simply Red, Anita Baker, Alexander O'Neal, Eternal, Westlife, East 17, All Saints, Gabrielle, Gary Christian, Matt Goss, Five, Omar, Ruby Turner, Nate James and many others!
Graham currently combines his talent as a music teacher with his talent as a performer. As a keyboard player he has a wealth of knowledge. Graham studied at the Leeds College of Music after which he worked as a sound engineer, keyboard teacher and session musician recording gospel and popular music CDs. As a session musician he has performed for the BBC radio, television and ITV. He has toured and played in many fusion and gospel groups, he has also toured on keyboards for Alexander O'Neal, and more recently with Lemar!
Roy has is roots in the black gospel tradition. He has experience as a drummer, Bass player, keyboard player, sound engineer and gospel choir director. Roy is a bass player of the highest calibre and as such has performed on numerous gospel CDs radio and TV broadcasts he also has toured with some of the most famous pop artists including The Christians, Eternal and All Saints. He currently divides his time between writing, arranging performing and acting!
Note: The band can be booked for festivals, functions and private events and session work. David Smith can also be booked for saxophone quartet, big band and jazz workshops. For further information contact:- David Smith mob. 07976 069439 email davidsmith@saxman.co.uk
The Old Dance School is a fluidly versatile Birmingham based 8-piece group bringing youthful, vital energy to traditional music. The band features brilliant fiddlers Helen Lancaster and Samantha Norman, who have a long history of performing together; a jazz trained rhythm section of Cajon wizard Tom Chapman, the inventive Robin Beatty on guitar and the multi-talented Aaron Diaz laying down the bass with the lovely Laura Carter and Sarah Jeffrey on Whistles. The band's electrifying original compositions complement their ever growing repertoire of fresh, energy-enthused arrangements of traditional tunes from Ireland, England, Scotland, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. Now over two years in the making, The Old Dance School has gone from strength to strength with appearances at arts centres and theatres across the country, with the Joe Broughton Folk Orchestra, music festivals, private ceilidhs and folk clubs. Recently featured on BBC Radio's Janice Long Show, the band enjoyed a main stage appearance at the prestigious Moseley Folk Festival in September, alongside Kate Rusby, Fairport Convention and Davey Graham.
a band comprising local youngsters playing their own exciting mix of jazz, big band, traditional and modern.