Meet The Band

As well as playing for the FSB, Suzanne also plays in two other big bands, a sax quartet and a jazz quintet,. She also runs a monthly jam session and a sax choir. A busy lady? But it doesn’t stop there, she teachers woodwind, has been a class teacher and an exam coordinator for Trinity College London. As a regular attender at jazz summer schools in both the UK and France she has had the opportunity to play with, and learn from, some of the best jazz players in Europe. A VERY busy Lady!!!

Rachel’s main love is holiday in exotic destinations, “Well you cannot play all the time!” she says. That said, she is a member of a few big bands and several sax groups. Unlike her colleagues she sticks to the alto sax and quotes “she would rather be a master of one than mediocre of a number, besides, do you know how expensive a baritone sax is???”

Kevin has never wanted to be tied into any particular style or genre and he has played in many bands ranging from Blues through Rock, Soul and Ska. But he particularly enjoys the challenge of playing and improvising in all forms of Jazz. However, he has been known to swap the sax for a flute and sometimes strays into the world of classical music! Kevin Says “You have to be very lucky to make a living just playing and I am very fortunate to work as a music teacher".

Mike started his musical career on the recorder but as he says “You have to start somewhere!”, he now plays both the Tenor and the Baritone Sax for the FSB and has done since 1990. In the past Mike has played with the Bath University Big Band (BUBBA) and in his early years, with a Rock ‘n’ Roll band that performed across the West Country.

Kate is another exponent of the saxophone/woodwind family. She relishes playing both the most delicate and one of the deepest instruments in the woodwind family. She effortlessly transitions from the sultry, rich tones of the baritone sax to the airy, whimsical whispers of the flute—all while maintaining a straight face (well, almost!). During lockdown she attempted to play the Theremin but we won’t be playing the theme to “Midsomer Murders” just yet!

Luke is one of those annoying multi-instrumentalist who just cannot stop learning yet another instrument. As well as mastering the entire sax section he plays trombone in another band and has just started on the Trumpet. Look out Sandoval!!! Kate says “Ah! But can he play the Theremin?”

Liam graduated from the University of Southampton with a degree in music having studied trumpet with Peter White and Bob Tinker. Liam was regular member of the Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra as a teenager. A member of FSB since 2010 and the band's musical director since 2015. Liam is always keen for a gig so plays with several other local ensembles.

Simon took up the trumpet at school to get out of French language classes and has never looked back. He is one of our many craftsmen in the band who brings his day job as an electrician to his playing to light up the trumpet section. His pet hate is being asked to play “last post” every year without breaking into an unaccompanied trumpet solo!

Paul took up the trumpet at school having first tried, unsuccessfully, scratching around on a violin. He enlisted into the Army from school, joining a military band. Paul enjoyed many years of ceremonial & concert engagements, travelling far & wide in the UK and abroad. Paul joined FSB Big Band in 2016.

Phil began playing Trumpet at school on the Isle of Wight in 1966. He progressed to playing in a holiday camp band, playing five nights a week, for three fun summers. In1973, he left the Island and his musical beginnings for a life in London. Forty-Five years on and his ambitions was rekindled after seeing the FSB play at the 2018 Frome Festival. He says he is “still learning and now playing with some fine musicians, so who knows, some of their talent might actually rub off..!”

Formerly a Clarinet player for the late Queen in one of her many Military bands, Steve now plays the Trombone and says he has loads more fun. He can often be heard on the outskirts of Warminster serenading the cows with his practice. One of the cow's recently commented that "he is better than the guy with the bagpipes!"

Graham has been playing the trombone off and on since a child. He is a member of a number of Big Bands in Wiltshire and Somerset. His second passion is cycling and has cycled most of Europe, “Not all in one go” he hastens to add! Look out for a cyclist blowing’ just his mouthpiece as he free wheels downhill!

Shaun’s musical career began in the early 1950’s when he played the bass part on a tea chest in a skiffle group with some friends. He soon progressed to a proper instrument and for the next forty years played string bass in several bands in Frome. A surfeit of bass players a few years ago, saw him take up the Trombone challenge and says “it’s much easier to get on the bus!”. As well as the FSB he now plays in a brass band but still keeps up the bass in a couple of local jazz bands.

When George was 11 he was so taken by the winner of the inaugural BBC Young Musician of the Year that he began learning the trombone immediately. His main career took him to sea with the Royal Navy but he managed to smuggle his instrument aboard in his kit bag. Throughout his service he was often called upon to play at church services and in a number of volunteer bands around the world.

Several decades of playing piano or the Hammond organ in function bands around the London, Bristol and South West areas have instilled in him a love of many types of music. However, his passion has always been for swing jazz, inspired by the iconic keyboard players of jazz and blues, and epitomised by the performances of the FSB for which he has been a member for over 9 years.

Steve began playing Bass in his teens and started in his first band playing Beatles songs- as this was the only music available. After leaving the RAF and settling in Wiltshire he continued to play and joined the Jazz Factory in Bradford on Avon some 25 years ago. He fatefully saw an advert for the Frome band and joined in 2002 and started connecting with the many local musicians. This led to playing in other big bands in the area where Steve is a regular player.

Dave was born in Scotland and has been banging his drum since he was 14 years old. He started his musical career in a traditional jazz band but has played in a number of different styles, ranging from heavy rock to the drummer in a pit band for musicals. His claim to fame is that he toured with Los Reales del Paraguay throughout the West Country back in the day. He has been a member of the FSB for 20 years.