John Fordham The Guardian

Winners of the 2009 Competition for Best International Band, Granada Jazz Festival, (VI Concurso Internacional de Interpretes de Jazz).

'what is' "...a jewel of an album." Allaboutjazz.com

"...(one of) the premier contemporary jazz units in Britain..."

John Kelman, Allaboutjazz.com

Trevor Warren - Guitar

Trevor has been playing guitar since 1982, largely self taught, exploring rock, jazz, world and folk idioms, most recently in his bands Disassembler and Deva, whose music was used for the BBC 1 documentaries Panorama and ‘Real Story’. He has worked with Seb Rochford(David Bowie etc.), Ayub Ogada(Peter Gabriel etc.) and in 1997 he played in a series of concerts with Indian percussion master Balachandar (Ravi Shankar). In 1994 co-wrote music for dance/theatre project Company Skin in the acclaimed production 'G is for Gorgeous' at the ICA and The Place Theatre in London. Taught jazz by John Etheridge and John Parricelli he also studied Harmony and Composition at Morley College in London and formed this latest project last year. His aim with this group is to take the rhythms of modern dance music and treat them within the context of jazz improvisation. Current projects also include a duo with Peruvian jazz guitarist Abelardo Oquendo and a quintet with ex PIL drummer Richard Dudanski.

Dudley Phillips - Double Bass

Dudley is a self-taught musician who won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music in 1979.On leaving, he toured the world with acts as diverse as Womack and Womack, Bill Withers and Annie Whitehead. In addition to co-founding Perfect Houseplants he has recorded two albums for Blue Note Records with vibraphonist Orphy Robinson, with folk singer June Tabor and Colin Towns’ Mask Orchestra, John Etheridge and many others. In 1996 he joined Andy Sheppard’s group Moving Image touring and recording an acclaimed album. Recently projects include recording his own trio album with Nic France and Karl Ore and recording projects with singers Mark Nevin and Anja Garbarek.

Winston Clifford - drums

Born September 1965. 1979 - Studied with ex- Tubby Hayes drummer Bill Eyden . 1985 studied drums with Trevor Tomkins at Guildhall School of Music. Has played with many musicians including Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Jason Rebello, Gary Husband, Pete King, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Iain Ballamy, Leroy Osbourne, Ronnie Scott Band, Julian Joseph, Andy Sheppard, Tony Remy, Steve Williamson Band, Jean Toussaint Band, Slim Gaillard, Bobby Watson, Monty Alexander, Gary Bartz, Art Farmer, Archie Shepp, Freddie Hubbard etc. Has appeared at many International Festivals & recorded albums with Frevo, Roadside Picnic, Jean Toussaint, Andy Hamilton, Brian Dee Trio, Harry Beckett Quintet & Jan Ponsford. Appeared on Channel 4, BBC 2 & ITV as well as radio broadcasts.

Annie Whitehead - trombone

Wide experience in all types of music. Played and recorded with Robert Wyatt, John Stevens, Dudu Pukwana, Abdullah Ibrahim, Chris MacGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, James 'Blood' Ulmer, Carla Bley and Jazz Jamaica amongst others. Session credits include Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Doctor John, Jamiroquai, Eddie Reader and the Spice Girls ! Leads two bands, 'Rude' which includes Harry Beckett (trumpet) and Liam Genockey (drums) and the 'Annie Whitehead Experience' which includes Ian Maidman on guitar and Steve Lodder, keyboards.



Pete Wareham - saxophone, treatments

Wareham graduated from Leeds College of Music in 1997 and later continued to pursue post graduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Wareham played tenor and baritone saxophone in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during 1997-1999. Wareham's continued success as a saxophonist lead to many notable performances including appearances at New York's Blue Note Club, London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and a support slot for Roy Ayers in 2004. Wareham formed Acoustic Ladyland in 2001. The band was originally intended, as the name suggests, to be an acoustic improv band reinterpreting the music of Jimi Hendrix. They became a distinctive group of improvisers with a contemporary rock'n'roll attitude. Acoustic Ladyland won the BBC Jazz Award Best Band 2005 and were also nominated for Best Album. In July 2011, Wareham announced the band's final performance before re-forming with the same members under the new name Silver Birch.

He is a founding member of Polar Bear with Seb Rochford.

Dave Priseman - trumpet, flugelhorn

London based trumpet player, drummer, percussionist, and electric bassist active across a wide range of musical styles. Also dabbling in guitar/keyboards/production/composition etc. Since graduating from the Leeds College of Music jazz course in 1985, Dave has been primarily known for his work on trumpet and flugelhorn, but he also works professionally on drums, and sometimes on electric bass. He has performed and recorded across a diverse spectrum of musical styles. For instance:- Modern/contemporary/mainstream jazz with Mark Lockheart Scratch Band, Hans Koller Magic Mountain & New Memories Big Band ( including recording with Steve Lacy), Richard Fairhurst, Keith Tippett Tapestry Orchestra, Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band, London Jazz Orchestra, Michael Garrick Jazz Orchestra, Karen Sharp Quintet, Disassembler. Swing/traditional jazz big bands Back To Basie, John Wilson Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Keith Nichols' Blue Devils Orchestra, Cotton Club Orchestra, The Grahamophones. Jive/R n B/Blues with Ray Gelato, Blue Harlem, Mike Sanchez, Georgie Fame, James Hunter, Paul Ansell's No. 9, Laverne Baker, Frankie Ford, The Spaniels, Joe Houston, Otis Grand, Colin John Band. Acid jazz/dance music with producer Chris Bangs (many albums under various names; i.e. Quiet Boys, Yada Yada, Soundscape Uk etc), Vibraphonic, Night Trains, Humble Souls, Lee Curtis Connection, Flavornaughts (co wrote and produced 1997 Ninebar Records album "My Inbred Pedigree Chums"). Singers Imelda May, Joan Viskant, Victoria Newton, Nina Ferro, Claire Martin, Kim Criswell, Lizzie Scott, Zena James, Esther Miller. Pop with Neil Innes (the Rutles), Ben and Jason, Bap Kennedy, Grand Drive, Ronnie & the Rex. Punk with Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).