Kevin Walker

Kevin played the Recorder and the Trumpet as a boy but finally found his voice on the Bass Guitar, and then later Double Bass. After graduating from Leeds College of Music in 1987 his first full time musical job was onboard Q.E.2, working in Show bands. This led to three years work on different ships. During this period, he worked on a Jazz cruise, meeting Dizzy Gillespie and playing with Leonard Feather. In 1993, he worked with Al Needhams Society Jazz on Yorkshire TVs Young Jazz Player Of The Year. He also worked for two days backing Jazz Guitarist, Jim Hall. Other Jazz musicians backed include; Alan Barnes, Maxine Daniels, Anita Wardell, Jim Mullen, John Etheridge, and, Roy Williams. Kevin has recently gone back to my boyhood roots and taken up the Sousaphone.

The Quartet is led by Chris Walker on guitar who graduated from Leeds College of Music in 1987 , winning the Eric Kershaw memorial Prize for Plectrum Guitar. Chris taught jazz guitar at Leeds College of Music through the nineties and has also taught on many Jazz Summer schools most notably alongside Jim Hall and Lee Konitz during the Hull Jazz Festival. As a performer Chris has been heard at clubs and festivals throughout the North of England with Tribute to Ruby (with Martin Jones), The Nicola Farnon Quartet and his own contemporary jazz quartet C Bop. Chris runs the ever popular Jazz at The Lescar in Sheffield and has played with many of the countries jazz greats including, Jim Mullen, Alan Barnes, John Etheridge, Nicki Isles, Bruce Adams, Roy Williams and Dick Pearce, Anita Wardell and Maxine Daniels.

Phil is formerly known as a drummer starting his career with The Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra with which he toured extensively in the U.K. - and America and Poland. He has since backed many jazz artists including Bobby Shew, Alan Barnes, John Etheridge, Don Lusher, Barbara Thompson and Kenny Baker. A phenomenally popular and busy drummer, Phil plays regularly with The Squadronnaires and The Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra. He has also, recently completed the national tour with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra UK, Mickey Rooney and is currently also playing with The Kings of Swing Orchestra and The Reelin'and a Rockin' Sixties Show. He is enjoying his new passion for guitar and feels that his role in the band is very similarto playing the drums, creating and holding time for the ensemble.

Canadian born Piero emigrated to England in 2003 after many years as a major figure on the Toronto music scene as musical director, keyboardist, saxophonist, accordionist and arranger in many jazz and R&B bands. A phenomenally gifted musician, who began his musical journey at the young age of four taking instantly to the accordion. He continued to study classical accordion for the next 12 years achieving top grades and winning many competitions including three gold medals in the Canadian championships. He went on to graduate from the jazz piano program at Mohawk College top of his class in 1989. He has played with a diverse range of musicians that include Jim Mullen, Alan Barnes, Enrico Tomasso, Roy Williams, through to The Drifters and The Fifth Dimension. He has supported many legends from James Brown to Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, Courtney Pine, Acker Bilke and the sadly departed Humphrey Lyttelton.

contact us