Trevor Whiting
(Reeds)
After initially learning tenor horn in the school brass band at the age of eleven, he heard recordings of New Orleans clarinettist Sidney Bechet and immediately decided to switch instrument. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion for Jazz in its various forms. Trevor taught himself the rudiments of clarinet and saxophone and by his late teens was beginning to do gigs with various traditional and mainstream bands around the London Jazz circuit.
By the mid-eighties he had formed his own group the 'Swingtet' which featured notable musicians such as trumpeter Ray Crane, pianist Martin Litton, guitarist Paul Sealey and drummer John Armatage. The Swingtet was regularly featured in BBC Jazz Club broadcasts. During the early eighties he worked on several occasions with the late Ken Colyer.
Since the eighties, Trevor has often enjoyed working and recording with visiting Americans including Al Casey, Art Hodes, Scott Hamilton, Marty Gross and many others, in between a busy freelance schedule. In recent years he has appeared live and on recordings with vocal star Clare Teal.
In January 2003 he toured Germany and Holland with the Big Chris Barber Band subsequently joined the band on a permanent basis. In July 2004 he came offthe road to resume his career as a freelance soloist and side man.
Tomas Pedersen
(Double Bass) Tomas started playing double-bass in 1971 when he started studying classical bass in Denmark. After only one year of hard practice he joined the Danish Radio Youth Symphony Orchestra. At this point his interest in Jazz grew and he began playing in Jazz Clubs all over Denmark and Scandinavia with leading Danish bands. In 1977 he went to sea playing onboard cruise ships – travelling all over the world, playing shows, jazz and light classical music. At this time Tomas had the opportunity to accompany several several great Jazz artists such as Mel Thorme, Joe Williams, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan. Tomas moved to England in 1991 and soon got busy playing a great variety of music from Big Band, Traditional Jazz, Swing, Mainstream, Pop, Rock to Blues and Soul. Tomas has been associated withTAD NEWTON'S JAZZ FRIENDSsince 1996. In his time in England Tomas has fortunate enough to work with many great British Jazz musicians such as Bill LeSage, Allan Barnes Roger Nobes, Bobby Ore, Jim Douglas, Keith Smith, Martin Litton, Trevor Whiting, Bobby Worth, Jimmy Hastings and many more. |
Gary Wood
(Trumpet/Flugel Horn/Vocals)
Gary started playing cornet at the age of 8 with his local brass band, however it wasn't until he left school that he took a real interest in music. He quickly developed a taste for jazz and joined his first band in October 1986.
Soon Gary was performing with many local bands and by 1990 appeared at jazz festivals in the UK and Europe.
He has worked with bands in a variety of Jazz and latin styles and has performed alongside many top UK jazz names such as Alan Barnes, John Dankworth and Roy Williams.
Gary has been a member ofTAD NEWTON'S JAZZ FRIENDSsince 2001.
Ronnie Fenn
(Drums) |
Mike Graver
(Piano)
Mike's influences include Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans and British pianist and composer, Brian Dee. Brian commented “Since I have known Mike, there’s been a continuous development in his playing and I feel he is now very much his own man musically”.
Since 1989, Mike has been a valued and respected member of the acclaimedTAD NEWTON'S JAZZ FRIENDS, in which his elegant piano contributions have won him a host of admirers on the national and international jazz scene. He has played with Tad's band at major venues such as The Barbican, The Derngate Theatre, The 100 Club, Ronnie Scott’s and at numerous jazz festivals including Guernsey, Upton-upon-Severn, Teignmouth and the Isle of Bute, Scotland.
Tad sums up Mike’s attitude to playing jazz piano, saying: “His repertoire, improvisation presentation, professionalism, musicality and enthusiasm reflect an elegance in jazz that is laudable”.
Mike has performed with many of the leading British jazz stars, including Digby Fairweather, Roy Williams, Alan Barnes, Pete Allen, Campbell Burnap and John Barnes.
John commented: “I’ve done quite a few gigs with Mike over the years and it’s always been a pleasure to play with him and Tad’s band. I carry a selection of chords for tunes and he always plays them to perfection. Keep it up, I say”.
Mike has broadcast on BBC Radio, appeared on TV and has made a number of recordings in his own right, as well as contributing toTAD NEWTON'S JAZZ FRIENDSand Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz CDs.
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