Jackal Jazz

Started playing guitar March 1990 at age 13

Left school at 14 to do an aprenticeship as a sound tech.

Played mainly in Rock bands.

Studied electric guitar at Musicians Institute.

Became interested in playing other styles mainly Jazz, Funk & Blues

at 18 Gigged with a gospel band around london
Played at London Arena

worked in a music shop for a few months

from 20-21 Worked on cruise ships with the show band playing pre-show music and backing the singers, dancers and comedians in the shows.

Working on the ships I travelled to cuba and the dominican republic, this inspired me to learn some samba and merengue and got me interested in latin jazz.

I bought a lovely Alhambra spanish guitar when I was in Malaga on the Crossing from The carribean to the Med which I still use today.

When I came home I got the Bach lute suites book by Koonce and didn't look back.

came home specifically to study a degree at Acton Power House, Hated it with a passion, so dropped out of uni and got asked to teach at a local privately owned music school that was set up and run by people I knew. Have been there ever since.

I started to study classical guitar with Lee Sollory just after I began teaching electric guitar because I wanted to teach classical as well and I passed Grade 7 (hons), Grade 5 Theory (Distinction) and Grade 8 (hons) in 2 years.

Learning Bach also got me interested in Classicall Composition so I studied Tonal Harmony for a while and was also fortunate enough to be put in touch with Paul Patterson one of the UK's top composers and I have had the great pleasure of studying with him.

worked as a sessions guitarist for a while backing singers in shows and recording bits and pieces, worked a lot with producer Philip Larson and recorded the guitar on the Andy Bell solo album 'Electric Blue' I also co-wrote two of the songs for this project.

also set up my own project studio at home, which is where you'll find me most of the time.