Andy Hamill (double bass, bass guitar, chromatic harmonica and Producer)
Andy has toured and recorded with many jazz and pop artists including Laura Mvula, Natacha Atlas, Eska, Annie Lennox, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Rumer, Tracey Thorn, 4 Hero, Nitin Sawhney, Carleen Anderson, Valerie Etienne, Omar, Kylie Minogue, Lou Rhodes, Cara Dillon, Annie Ross, Mark Murphy, Tim Minchin, Harry Hill and John Hegley.
Andy has his own album ‘Bee for Bass’ which features many of the above artists, available from Emu Records. www.andyhamill.com.
Phil Peskett (piano)
Phil has toured and recorded with bands in a wide range of styles, from the contemporary jazz of the Paul Booth Quintet to the quirky pop of Moloko & with the prolific songwriter Nick Kershaw. He worked as keyboard player in the band Brotherly and has also performed with the Cinematic Orchestra, British rapper Ty and soul singer Natalie Williams. Phil taught musicianship at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich for many years and the tunes which Phil wrote for the Associative Board Jazz Piano Syllabus are favourites of students. If you are learning piano try out, ‘He Is Sadly Melting’!
Mike Outram (guitar)
Mike Outram is a guitarist, composer & improvisor. He has recorded with Steven Wilson, Robert Fripp and Photek; toured internationally with Herbie Mann, Tim Garland, Carleen Anderson and Theo Travis, and is Guitar Professor at Trinity College and The Royal Academy, London. You can join his own guitar teaching programme at www.electriccampfire.com
Mike was featured on the Horrible Histories televised prom, taught Vanessa Redgrave how to rock, played swanee whistle for a live screening of an episode of The Clangers and did an improvised corporate function gig in Thailand. This year will feature more musical releases: a completely improvised recording with Steve Lawson, new albums from Gareth Lockrane, Chris Higginbottom, Kevin Figes, Martin Speake, and more of Mike’s music which is available exclusively from www.mikeoutram.com
‘There is no musician with such complete control of the sounds coming out of a guitar. Mike Outram plays the sweetest wailing rock guitar in Britain. It’s a sound of great beauty.’ Seb Scotney, London Jazz
‘World-class’, The Guardian
Mark Johns (guitar on ‘June Babies’ and ‘The Demos’)
Mark’s work includes Matt Bianco, Vanessa Mae, Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Tina Turner, John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. His many television and film credits include: French and Saunders, Ben Elton, Monarch of the Glen and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Album credits include: ‘Who Else’, Jeff Beck. Mark played on the Sting single, ‘After the Rain’.
Tom Gordon (drums and percussion)
As well as being the regular drummer with the BBC Big Band & an occasional guest drummer with the WDR Big band, Tom has worked with the likes of film composer Lalo Schifrin, jazz stars Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano and James Morrison, BBC Concert Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Larry Adler, Claire Sweeney, Lesley Garrett, Jamie Cullum and Darius. He also played on many West End shows including Fosse, Witches of Eastwick, Our House and Mary Poppins. Tom also played on the Elton John Track “The Heart Of Every Girl” for the film Mona Lisa Smile.
Chris Bowden (saxophone on ‘The Demos’ and string arrangements on ‘June Babies’).
Chris’ debut album ‘Time Capsule’ topped the HMV charts, and his albums continue to receive the highest critical acclaim. He also played with The Herbaliser and 4 Hero.
Julian Ferraretto (violin, viola, chin cello, mandolin, musical saw and string arrangements on ‘June Babies’, ‘Orange Roses’, Country Girl’ and ‘Other People’s Songs’)
Australian born jazz violinist and singer Julian Ferraretto moved to London in 2002. He has performed with the Neil Cowley Trio, Natacha Atlas’s Mazeeka Ensemble, Carleen Anderson, Shakira, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mathew Herbert, Eska Mtungwazi, Robert Mitchell’s Panacea and Wigmore Hall Learning’s Ignite Ensemble and recorded his own album ‘Near’.
Now based in Australia, Julian continues to collaborate internationally through string arranging and recording, alongside touring and education projects. He founded the 30 piece “Goldsmith Big String” orchestra (GBS) in collaboration with Goldsmiths University of London. GBS premiered at the 2012 London Jazz Festival playing with the Neil Cowley Trio to a packed Barbican Centre with the performance later broadcast on BBC Radio.
He runs the Big String project in Adelaide and is a busy string arranger, his work including Carleen Anderson, Neil Cowley and Tim James of Bespoke Music – (Rebecca’s cousin!)
Justin Woodward (vibes on ‘Other People’s Songs)
Justin played vibes on the new album. He is very busy session percussionist and drummer and often plays drums on live gigs with me. He has played in most of the West End musicals you could name and is an extremely versatile musician. Along with being great to work with, he always makes us laugh!
Jeb Loy Nichols (spoken word on ‘June Babies’, and cover design for ‘Orange Roses’)
Jeb is a highly regarded singer-songwriter and visual artist, and his own albums are top of Rebecca’s listening list. Check them out at www.jebloynichols.co.uk. He can count singer-songwriter James Taylor amongst his fans and has supported David Grey, Alannis Morrissette and Richard Thompson.
Everton Nelson (violin), Jacqueline Norrie (violin), Reiad Chibah (viola), Chris Worsey (cello) – string section on ‘June Babies’.
Everton is one of the busiest session violinists and fixers in London and his credits include Joni Mitchell albums amongst many others. He assembled this brilliant quartet to play live on Rebecca’s debut album, and they are heard as the lone backing on ‘Where are you going?’.