Staff A-Z

In 1997 he joined the Bobby Wellins Quartet, the rhythm section of which continues today as the Liam Noble Trio, recently documented on the 2009 CD “BRUBECK”, gaining an almost unprecedented 5 star review in The Guardian.

In 2001, “In The Meantime”, released on Basho Records, explored longer compositional forms and unorthodox improvisational structures, and April 2002 saw a commission from Birmingham Jazz resulting in a song cycle based on Japanese Death Poetry. Noble plays keyboards and samples throughout, marking a new foray into electronica inspired by artists such as Aphex Twin and Arto Lindsay.

In 2004, following a Cheltenham Festival gig the previous year, Liam recorded the acclaimed “Romance Among The Fishes” on Basho Records with guitarist Phil Robson and the New York rhythm section of Drew Gress and Tom Rainey on bass and drums respectively.

Liam’s working relationship has continued with Tom Rainey in the free improv trio, “Sleepthief” with Ingrid Laubrock, with an album released in September 2008, and a second, “The Madness Of Crowds” in 2011. Other frequent collaborators have included Christine Tobin, Paul Clarvis and Julian Siegel. His growing reputation as a free improviser has also resulted in recent performances with Mary Halverson, Marc Ducret, Mat Maneri, Evan Parker, Okkyung Lee and Peter Evans.

In June 2011 he was featured on a recording by Zhenya Strigalev with Larry Grenadier, Tim LeFebvre and Eric Harland. “Brother Face”, an expanded version of his trio with Chris Batchelor and Shabaka Hutchings, looks to expand short form composition into longer arcs. As a kind of summation of the diverse areas in which he works combined with a compositional eye for structure, this new group was highly praised at its premiere performance at the Cheltenham Jazz festival in 2012.

A solo CD, “A Room Somewhere”, released in 2015 on Basho Records, features an eclectic mix of improvisations, as well as versions of music by, amongst others, Edward Elgar, Joe Zawinul, Gillian Welch, Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Liam has also played duo gigs with Dave Liebman and Tim Berne, two highly contrasting giants of jazz who exemplify the chameleon-like tendencies of his collaborations.

Liam holds posts as Lecturer in Jazz at Birmingham Conservatoire and 
Trinity Laban. He has published 4 volumes of transcriptions of the Bill Evans Trio, and a book of original compositions “Jazz Piano; An In Depth Look at the Styles of the Masters”, both published by Hal Leonard.

He has been described as “A Magician of Sound…hyperkinetic rainbow-hued…joy & freedom” (Financial Times), “the most joyous sound I’ve heard in ages!” (New York Times),  “A riotous overabundance of love and rage…an extraordinary experience” (The Wire),”a system-crasher of genre…unmistakable style…highly complex, sophisticated and extremely entertaining, virtuoso ad absurdum” (Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik), and “a super nova…a brazen sensorial mash up…riot and a rainbow…brimmingly heartfelt multi sensorial, genuinely energising fizzer of a new work…super charged joy…forces us all to sit up and loosen up and buck up” (Kate Mollison BBC New Music Show.)

His music has been awarded: an Ivor Novello, Paul Hindemith Prize: ” a Brit who defies every conceivable genre boundary…an extremely modern and future-oriented style”. Ernst von Siemens Composer Prize: “Unbridled joy…sophisticated, passionate music full of pulsating energy and stylistic diversity”, Elb Philharmonie’s Claussen Simon Composition Prize, RPS Royal Philharmonic Society Prize, Dankworth Jazz Prize, Leverhume Art Scholarship with the London Philharmonic Orchestra , the Harriet Cohen Memorial Music Award.

He was a London Symphony Orchestra Panufnik Composer and has represented the UK in the Orchestral section of the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM).
“Some of the most genuinely extraordinary orchestral music you’ll ever have the good fortune to experience…staggeringly happy…unstoppable, continue-at-all-costs need to sing. Melody is literally everywhere…it’s undeniably a superabundance, yet it’s also an unbelievable, glorious treat” 5 against 4.

Alex has released three critically acclaimed albums MUSIC for BOSCH PEOPLE (Birmingham Record Company/ NMC label), iLOLLI-POP (non-classical) and HAPPY MUSIC for ORCHESTRA (Delphian) as well as many smaller releases. Each has been widely reviewed and featured in Uk, USA and Europe in broad sheets (NYT, Guardian, Times, Financial Times etc) and Music magazines (The Wire. Quitus, Bandcamp, Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik, Crescendo,Positionen, Point of Departure etc.)

He is a commissioned contributor to John Zorn’s Arcana X 2021. “This is what an orchestra can be like in the 21st century: an ensemble that speaks with one voice yet also gives voice to each of its members” The Times

His music is frequently performed internationally by many of the worlds leading orchestras, ensembles and festivals: London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), WDR Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elb Philharmonie, Ensemble Modern, Klang Forum Wien, London Sinfonietta, AskSchöenberg, Neue Vocalsolisten, Riot Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, Ensemble Klang, London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), National Youth Orchestra GB, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain,, BBC proms, Bang on a Can Long Play, MearzMusik, Guadeamus, ECLAT, impulse Graz, Now essen, Klangspuren swartz, Wigmore hall, Klammer Klang,, Making Music (UK), Hyper Duo, National Youth Jazz Orchestra (UK) NYJO, Listen-Pony, Aldeburgh Festival. “Alex Paxton’s fascinating score impressed me from the very first moment…the notes literally jumped out at me from the score; it was clear that this was a unique compositional voice, combining a complex, almost chaotic sensibility with a charming grounding in folk tradition.” conductor Alan Gilbert

He has written six operas hosted by English National Opera and Helios Collective, Tête à Tête opera festival, Second Movement Opera. “Operatic Game Boy music played by a virtuosic motley crew that’s inexplicably been hired to provide live jingles for a primetime TV show sometime in the recent past that never quite was” Point of departure

As a jazz trombone soloist “Paxton is a monster improviser” (Bandcamp) Alex has performed concerto-like pieces of his own with WDR Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, London Sinfonietta, Asko:Schoenberg,  Riot Ensemble, Ensemble Klang, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), & ensemble x.y.

He is founder of Dreammusics ensemble and performs regularly with pioneering improvisers (eg: Charlotte Keeffe, Steve Noble). “meticulously scored…seems to change with every bar, enfolding bite-size pieces of classic minimalism, brass brand tradition, electronic noise, & video game plasticity..intensely virtuosic and giddily joyful. electronically slathered trombone…connects his garrulous attack to the most extroverted playing of George Lewis & Roswell Rudd…” Bandcamp Daily Best Contemporary Classical.

Alex has written extensively for musicians in community settings including, innovative ways of writing for young instrumentalists & singers in a post-Roald Dahl world of new-music.  eg: NOGGIN and the WHALE (Massed forces including 500 young instrumentalists and singes), Fly Like a Kitchen, Muffin, Pudding Tummy and The smelling test.

He is professorial composition staff at Trinity Laban and has worked as lead-composition tutor (and workshop leader) on the National Youth Orchestra GB, he has taught/ lectured at composition and improvisation at conservatories including, RAM, GSMD, RCM, The Royal Conservatoire (NL) (and multiple universities).

Alex studied as a scholar at Royal Academy of Music & the Royal College of Music and is an endorsed solo artist with Micheal Rath Trombones.

Nic is also the founder and violist of the internationally acclaimed Smith Quartet renowned for their performance of new music and prize winners of the Prudential Award for the Arts. Now into their third decade, they have collaborated with many of the worlds leading musicians including John Adams, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, David Tannenbaum, Andy Sheppard, Django Bates the rock group Pulp and dance companies Siobhan Davies and Shobana Jeyasingh. They regularly perform in many of the worlds most prestigious festivals and leading concert halls. The Smith Quartet record for Signum Classics their first three albums receiving worldwide acclaim. As a violist and a conductor, he has worked with many of London’s leading orchestras including London Mozart Players, English Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, English Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. The more observant viewer may also have seen Nic playing the part of a ghost in Anthony Minghella’s film Truly, Madly, Deeply.

* Conferred with the title of Professor in January 2017.

Since arriving in England in 1997, Omar has maintained an international profile, playing all over Europe, the USA and Africa, playing with such musicians as Tito Puente, Kirsty MacColl, Jools Holland and Courtney Pine. Omar has appeared on the BBC and several ITV channels, various radio shows as well as at venues the length and breadth of Britain: from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight, Newcastle to the Eden Project, Belfast to Cork including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, The Jazz Cafe, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Royal Festival Hall.

Omar teaches jazz violin at Leeds College of Music, Cuban music at various places including LCM, and Trinity College of Music, London. He continues to teach in Havana, and maintains a close relationship with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

As a guest artist he has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Hallé, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

Embracing both jazz and classical styles has led to performances alongside John Scofield, Vince Mendoza, David Arnold, Seth Macfarlane, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin OBE in venues as diverse as the Royal Albert Hall, the O2 Arena and the Blue Note clubs Japan & New York.

Matthew also has a passion for vintage keyboard instruments, regularly working as both restorer and performer on Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos.

Riepler is also known for his work with French saxophone star Julien Lourau (Electric Biddle) and since late 2015 member of US-drummer Jeff Williams’ band. He holds teaching positions at Trinity Laban and Middlesex University (London).

Riepler’s writing and playing are refreshingly cliché free and “The Brave” represents a highly promising début . The Jazz Mann 

“… music making and improvisation at the highest level” Jürgen Spiess, Reutlinger Nachrichten

“London continues to be a magnet for foreign jazz musicians, and one of the best is Austrian guitarist Hannes Riepler” The Daily Telegraph

Matt has also gained a reputation as one of the most versatile conductors in London, often being called upon to lead ‘cross-over’ projects with broad stylistic demands. He has conducted the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, United Strings of Europe, Engines Orchestra and many others.

Alongside his composing and conducting career, Matt regularly works an arranger and orchestrator for pop artists such as Jorja Smith, Cleo Sol, Dizzee Rascal, Giorgio Moroder, SAULT, Maverick Sabre, Lanterns on the Lake and many others.

A passionate educator, Matt lectures in orchestration at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance and in Jazz Composition and Jazz History at Goldsmiths University. He’s also worked as a visiting tutor at Leeds Conservatoire, Royal Academy of Music, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and many other education institutions.

Olly has performed at venues such as Ronnie Scotts, The Jazz Café, The Elgar room, XOYO, The Royal Festival Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Pizza Express Jazz Club, The 606, The Vortex, Band on the Wall and Cadogan Hall. He has recorded live radio sessions for BBC Radio 2 with Jamie Cullum, World music on BBC radio 3, BBC 6 music and pre-recorded sessions at Herts Jazz for BBC Jazz on 3. Sarkar has recorded live streams for Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Camden Roundhouse Rising Festival, the British Music Embassy’s SXSW showcase and Jazz Re:Freshed’s SXSW showcase live from Abbey Road studio 2.

As a Trinity trust scholar of TrinityLaban Conservatoire of music & dance Sarkar studied under the tutelage of Simon Purcell, Dave Wickens, Gene Calderazzo. Sarkar learnt the importance of studying musical traditions and how to approach new music. Sarkar has furthered his studies

with Jonathan Blake, John Riley, Kenny Washington & Richard Spaven. Olly proudly endorses Canopus drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth Drum Sticks.

In smaller groups he has played with Gary Husband’s ‘Drive’, Django Bates’ Human Chain, NYC performance artist/violinist Laurie Anderson and pianist/singer-songwriter Steve Nieve, The Smith Quartet, Kirk Lightsey, Norma Winstone, Jason Palmer’s Quartet featuring Jeff Ballard. He is a member of Oren Marshall’s ‘Charming Transport Band’ featuring musicians from Ghana and Nigeria. Julian has also performed with vocalists Cleo Laine, Beverley Knight, Joe Lee Wilson, Liane Carroll, Eddi Reader, Charlene Spiteri, Jacqueline Dankworth, Lizz Wright, Juliet Roberts, Keziah Jones, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin and punk rock legend Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).

He has recorded and appeared with singers such as Marion Montgomery, Dame Cleo Laine, Claire Martin OBE and Dame Jessye Norman.

In 2015, he toured in the USA and recorded with Seth MacFarlane.

He was Sir Richard Rodney Bennett’s drummer of choice and for eight years, toured and recorded as a member of Stacey Kent’s group, including her Grammy-nominated 2007 release Breakfast on the Morning Tram on Blue Note.

Matt was a founder member of the Grammy-nominated John Wilson Orchestra performing on various televised BBC Proms and concert tours, 2010-19.

He regularly appears with the BBC Big Band and often with the BBC Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony orchestras, including the Last Night of the Proms, 2017.

Travelling as John Wilson’s drummer, he has most recently performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the Antwerp Radio Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2018, Matt toured internationally with Sir Simon Rattle with the London Symphony Orchestra for various Leonard Bernstein centenary concerts including performances of Bernstein’s 2nd Symphony, The Age of Anxiety and a concert version of Wonderful Town.

In 2019, he performed at the Edinburgh Festival with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a concert version of West Side Story for Sir John Eliot Gardiner OBE.

Matt played and recorded for Alan Barnes’s Parliamentary Jazz Award winning 60th birthday project +11 and subsequent album release.

Many appearances at Ronnie Scott’s have included main shows with Claire Martin, Jim Mullen’s Organ Trio, James Pearson’s Portrait of Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson Celebrations also with Dave Newton, Joe Stilgoe’s 80s big band project and as a frequent guest member of the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

West End musical theatre credits include the 2015 Savoy revival of Gypsy and ‘the Broadway transfer of An American In Paris‘ at the Dominion theatre, 2017.

Anything Goes at the Barbican, 2021/22

Recent film soundtrack includes Motherless Brooklyn, Catch 22, Doug Days, Four Kids and It, Blythe Spirit, The Lost Marilyn Tapes, A Spy Among Friends and The Great Escaper.

Matt played drums for Callum Au’s critically acclaimed orchestral album, Songs and Stories featuring Claire Martin OBE, released in 2020.

He continues to perform with orchestras such as the LSO, the RLPO, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra and with Britten Sinfonia for Alison Balsom’s 2022 Warner Classics album release.

2023 recording releases include Claire Martin’s Richard Rodney Bennett songbook album project along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and John Wilson’s cast recording of the original score of Oklahoma with Sinfonia of London.

Matt appeared at the BBC Proms last year with the RSNO performing with Nicola Benedetti in a UK premiere performance of Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto.

Recent activities also include concerts with the BBC Big Band, James Pearson’s Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue project, The Callum Au – James Davison Quintet, Pete Horsfall quartet, Purdy, Rob Barron’s Celebrating Bernstein trio project and festival appearances with the Guy Baker Big Band.

Forthcoming concerts include the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Southbank Centre as part of their American Music festival for conductor Marin Alsop and concerts and broadcasts with the Orchestre National de Lyon.

In November 2023, Matt will play on a national tour with John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London.

2023 sees the launch of Matt’s own project and recording release Beyond Category celebrating the music of Duke Ellington featuring Pete Horsfall, Alec Harper, Alex Garnett and Will Barry.

Matt is currently interim Head of Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he also teaches for the Woodwind, Brass & Percussion department.

He is director of the Guildhall Big Band devising a concert project series spanning the history of Big Band jazz.

For the Woodwind, Brass & Percussion department, Matt has most recently devised a project intended to bring the study of drum kit more closely aligned to that of multi-percussion. This has involved working closely with the composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and celebrated drummer Peter Erskine in preparing material and special events scheduled for the forthcoming academic year.

He regularly gives masterclasses and workshops at the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Matt is also a visiting Jazz and Drums consultant member of the Britten-Pears Foundation, Aldeburgh Young Musicians.

In 1986 Dele and Femi left Egypt 80 to form their own band called Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and the Positive Force of which Dele was the musical director and bandleader, he was again responsible for recruiting and training the new band members. He was also the rhythm keyboard player and keyboard soloist. They toured the world extensively and played in several of the major jazz festivals, from Montreux to the North Sea Jazz Festival to the Montreal Jazz festival. They band produced the followin albums – No Cause for Alarm POLYGRAM, NIGERIA,1989, Mind Your Own Business (MELODIE, FRANCE 1991) and Wonder Wonder (TABU/MOTOWN USA, 1995). The Positive Force was also invited to perform at the Jazz Club of Nigeria Festival alongside other renowned musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Weston, Toshiko Akiosu and Didier Lockwood.

Dele at this time also developed his other musical influences and interests by working and playing with an Afro Jazz Quartet/Quintet and by working in collaboration with a French Bassoon Player called Alex Ouzounoff, to produce a CD titled Made In Nigeria (European music productions 1993) courtesy of the French Cultural Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

Dele left Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and the Positive Force in December 1995 and moved to London.

In London Dele set about forming a new group, and the resulting projects reflect London’s multicultural environment, with a strong influence of jazz and shades of deep funk and latin music, but all underpinned by the heavy grooves of Afrobeat’s Yoruba rhythm with Dele’s vocals very strongly in the Afrobeat tradition.

In 1996, he started playing as a resident musician in some of the London Nigerian venues, initially playing as a duo, then later on forming Gbedu Resurrection, which he led to several London venues, such as the Africa Centre, (Covent Garden) and The Shrine (then held at the Brixton Fridge). By this time Dele had honed his skills as a composer, singer and entertainer, incorporating the piano into Afrobeat. Dele’s collaborations in this period included working as lead pianist with The African Jazz Explosion All Stars, lead by Claude Deppa and featuring Toni Kofi, Jason Yarde, Byron Wallen, Fayaz Virgi, Jean Tousaint, Thomas Dyani, Harry Brown, Sam Djengue, Francis Fuster to name a few; and also with Lucky Ranku and the African All Stars, lead by the legendary Lucky Ranku and featuring Claude Deppa, Fayaz Virgi, Bukky Leo, Frank Tontoh to name a few.

Following his first solo album Turbulent Times (Eko Star 2002), he was invited to select the tracks for the 3-CD compilation entitled Essential Afrobeat (Universal/Family Recordings, 2004). He was producer and co-writer of Calabash Volume 1: Afrobeat Poems by Ikwunga, the Afrobeat Poet (Rebisihut 2004). He is a central member of the Wahala Project, whose single Wahala appears on Puma’s 2006 Soccer World Cup Compilation CD (Wea/Beacuse 2006). He has also featured on British rapper TY’s recent album Closer (on the track Sweating for your Salary Big Dada 2006), and his track Turbulent Times is featured on Nu Afrobeat Experience (Shanachie 2002), Essential Afrobeat (Universal/Family Recordings, 2004) Sound Affects Africa (Paul Oakenfold Remix Malmaison 2005) and Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (Modiba 2006). The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (2006). His new album Identity out on limited edition pre-release (22 June 2007) is in the final stages for Official release in November 2007 (Helico Records).

His live shows are ALWAYS electric, and the crowd response is ALWAYS massive. He has performed all over the world (for example, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Joe Zawinul’s Birdland (Vienna Dele was invited to perform as a guest alongside the late great Joe Zawinul at his Charity Event for survivors of Hurricane Katrina), the Treibhaus (Innsbruck), Paradiso, (Amsterdam), Bimhuis (Amsterdam) Oerol Festival (Terschelling, Holland), the Ollin Kan Festival (Mexico City), Afrikadey! Canada Afrobeat Summit in Calgary, Canada (August 2007), Sensommer Int Musikkfestival 2007 Oslo, Norway (August 2007) and in London (frequent appearances at the Jazz Cafe, The Kemia Bar at Momo’s. The Shrine, and the South Bank Centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall & Purcell Room), to name a few.

Currently based in London, Dele is an educator and instructor in Afrobeat (via his Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Foundation, and as a Visiting Lecturer in Music and Media, London Metropolitan University). Dele performs in one of three formats, each as compelling and funky as the others, a 15-piece Afrobeat Orchestra (featuring a 5-piece horn section and dancers), a 6-9 piece band (the most frequently used format) or a trio/quartet (with bass and drums/percussion.

Sosimi is abetted by a group of musicians, most of whom have either played with him on previous records or have gigged with him on the live circuit. They all have chops to spare and the communication between them is near telepathic. Afrobeat is lovingly given the virtuoso treatment by a combination of Femi Elias, whose Bass growls, twists, turns, pulsates & grooves, Kunle Olofinjana on drums who meshes perfectly with Elias and like a dream machine the groove never lets up. The gear changes are seamless, no accent or punctuation is missed, Phil Dawson who delivers tasty, funky rhythm guitars and some truly exquisite solos from a wide range of angles, again revealing the endless possibilities of what can be done with this music, Maurizio Ravalico on percussion adding colour and The horns – delivered with laser-like precision by Justin Thurgur on Trombone, Tom Allan on Trumpet & Eric Rohner on Tenor Saxophone.