I grew up in Bristol and began playing the trumpet at
11 years old. I Loved listening to jazz and started
playing along to records as soon as I could. I
continued playing through school and took part in the
Bristol Jazz Workshops before joining the Midland
Youth Jazz Orchestra in Birmingham in 1994. There I
was awarded the John Fordham Young Soloist Prize in
the Big Band Competition.
In 1995 I moved to Leeds and studied on the BA (Hons)
Jazz Studies course at the Leeds College of Music
(LCM). There I was taught by Richard Iles and played
in a wide range of ensembles including, the Duke
Ellington repertory Orchestra, Tony Faulkner Jazz
Orchestra, Al Wood Big Band and the Art Blakey tribute
sextet amongst others. I really enjoyed working with
many of the visiting jazz artists including Hal
Galper, Randy Brecker and one of my major influences
Conte Candoli and spent a week in Holland playing with
an all -star Dutch Big Band and flugelhorn player Ack
Van Rooyen.
After graduating with a First class Honours Degree in
1999, I was named Young Jazz Musician of the Year
after performing at the prestigious competition and
went on to complete a weeks residency at Ronnie
Scott's Jazz Club in London to much acclaim.
The year 2000 started in the studio recording my first
album produced by LCM. It featured award-winning
musicians Pete King, Tina May and Dave Newton and
received rave reviews.
I am now a working musician teaching and performing
across the country. I write a jazz column and am
currently busy writing music with my brother Mat for
various projects including an album of original
material and music for TV and film.
