Bull's Head Live presents:
ThunderThumbs
Jacqui Hicks + Hazel Fernandes + Simon Foster + Phil Mulford + Geoff Dunn + Nico Sabatini + Simon Heeley + Phil Todd + Neil Sidwell + Andy Greenwood
Entry Requirements: Under 18s to be accompanied by an appropriate adult
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ThunderThumbs: A celebration of bass playing magic and music of the great Louis Johnson; the man who put the thumb into the funk!
As one half of The Brothers Johnson, he backed legends Billy preston and Billy Womack before co-penning celebrated singles such as The Brothers Johnson's, Quincy Jones produced, hit 'Stomp'. His bass on Quincy's 'Mellow Madness' positioned him as a unique and formidable talent in his own right while his innovations on the biggest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's Thriller (and Off The Wall) elevated his status further.
To so many of the great artists of his era, Louis was the Johnson Brother who added his musical spice through formidable technique to so much unforgettable music that this night revisits. A top-class 10-piece band led by our own soul/funk, jazz and pop bass wizard Phil Mulford tackle a wealth of great material, and as Louis Johnson worked with everyone from Anita Baker, Stevie Nicks and Aretha Franklin to Herbie Hancock, George Duke and Stevie Wonder, it's a treasure chest of fabulous music to select from.
Line-up includes vocalists Jacqui Hicks, Hazel Fernandes and Simon Foster with Phil Mulford on bass, Geoff Dunn on drums, Nico Sabatini on guitar, Simon Heeley on keyboards, Phil Todd on sax, Neil Sidwell on trombone, and Andy Greenwood on trumpet.
Doors will be open at 20:00, the act will start at 20:30 and continue into the evening with an interval
Line Up
Jacqui Hicks
Vocals
Jacqui studied saxophone & flute on the jazz course at Leeds College of Music and started singing during her three years there, continuing on to the Masters course at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Shortly after leaving the GSDM, Jacqui joined NYJO in 1992 as the featured vocalist and spent the next four years touring and also recording with the band — including the vocal album Looking Forward, Looking Back.
Since 1993 Jacqui has worked with the jazz/funk band Shakatak, both as backing vocalist and sax player. She’s toured Europe and Eastern Europe, South Africa, the Far East & Japan numerous times with them and also appears on their albums Let The Piano Play, View From The City, Under Your Spell, Blue Savannah and Beautiful Day.
Jacqui has also worked with the Latin/Pop band Matt Bianco, touring Japan, Indonesia & Europe with them and appears on their albums Gran Via, Another Time: Another Place and a re-working of their greatest hits, A Collection.
Under her own name she released her debut album Spellbound back in 2000 – which was well received by the critics – and has released two acclaimed jazz CDs in collaboration with the John Critchinson Trio: With A Song In My Heart and A Child Is Born.
Jacqui’s teaching credits include various summer schools and head of Jazz Vocal coaching at Vocaltech London.
Hazel Fernandes
Vocals
Hazel Fernandes is a British house music artist currently signed to Grape Records. She is well known for her song "Number One" that featured on the anime BLEACH.
Hazel has worked in the UK with many artists both on their live stage shows (such as Tom Jones (last UK Tour), Tina Turner (showcase), Gabrielle, Tina Arena, Alexander O'Neal, Dina Carroll, Belinda Carlisle, Jocelyn Brown, Michelle Gayle and Jamiroquai) and their albums (such as Stereophonics, Chris De Burgh, Kula Shaker, Status Quo, Jesus Jones, Sarah Brightman, Brand New Heavies, Kim Wilde, Maxi Priest, and various unsigned artists). She has also been involved in film soundtracks such as Jesus Christ Superstar and done music for British commercials like Pepe Jeans and Toyota. TV appearances include: Parkinson, MTV, The Brit Awards and Noel's House Party.
Simon Foster
Vocals
Simon Foster’s musical career started in back in 1985, performing his first love, Soul music, with his band Weekend in Paris, touring the UK supporting artists as diverse as Joe Brown, The Platters, The Stylistics, Edwin Starr and Gino Washington. Soon after that he landed the part of Elwood in the West End Show “The official Tribute to The Blues Brothers”, staying with the show for eleven years. After some time away from performing due to a serious accident, in 2004 Simon's undoubted qualities as a singer and performer were recognised when he was asked to join the iconic Internationally recognised a cappella band The Flying Pickets. He has been, to date, instrumental in the recording, arranging and production of four of their albums, all of which have received critical acclaim, and he has continued to perform worldwide with the band through to the present.
Simon’s other ongoing project is Arcelia, a genre defining “Folk Soul” band with whom he has also produced and arranged two albums and which has recently been touring with Chris Difford of Squeeze. In amongst all this Simon has also worked with some impressive Jazz artists, including Richard Rozze (guitar) and Paul Booth (sax). And if all that wasn't enough Simon is also an experienced sound engineer and co-founder of
How Now Productions. An enthusiastic collector of microphones (he worked closely with Georg Neumann Microphones GmBh, testing and developing their range of digital mics) and, as he says "his passion for recording the human voice knows no bounds!
"Simon Foster….like Joe Cocker in Van Morrison’s hat and James Morrison’s socks. Ace!"Karamel Music Club
Phil Mulford
Bass
The Thunderthumbs Project was something that I have wanted to do for many years. It is a celebration of the music and bass playing of Louis Johnson from the Brothers Johnson.
The Gig features a 10 piece band playing songs that featured Louis’ bass playing including tunes by Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Benson, George Duke, Jeffrey Osbourne, Lee Ritenour Billy Preston and of course The Brothers Johnson.
We have been playing regularly at The Bulls Head, in Barnes, South West London and other Venues including a date at the Southend Jazz Festival to packed and enthusiastic audiences.
Geoff Dunn
Drums
Geoff Dunn was born in Clapham, London, started playing drums at age 10 in his grandfather's dance band; in his teens he first started to make a name playing with Incognito, recording their first two albums, then on to play with many of the Brit Funk bands of the time: Junior, Central Line, Morrissey/Mullen, and US soul acts: Shalamar, Jermaine Stewart. Jazz acts: Spyro Gyra, Georgie Fame. Rock acts: Jimmy Page, Eric Burdon, among others.
The 80s saw him working with Feargal Sharkey and Dave Stewart, Andrew Roachford, Kim Wilde, Terence Trent D’Arby, with whom he recorded and toured; he also played with Paul Young, Zucchero, Randy Crawford, 10cc, Ashley Maher and The Blessing. In the early 90s he joined Van Morrison (stepping in at a day's notice) recording four CDs and numerous other tracks with the man, being a major contributor to his music.
Geoff currently plays with legendary Procol Harum
Nico Sabatini
Freelance Guitarist / Composer - currently guitarist for Hamilton, London and composer for the BBC quiz show Only Connect
Simon Heeley
Keyboards
Simon trained at the University of Surrey before professional work took him in to the world of shows and musicals. Since 2001, Simon has played piano/keyboards and been either Assistant Musical Director or cover conductor on the following West End productions: Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria), Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre), Sister Act (London Palladium), Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), A Chorus Line (London Palladium), and The Commitments (Palace Theatre). He currently plays piano and conducts the orchestra for Disney's "Aladdin" at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. Simon regularly performs in a jazz/pop capacity as well, and also plays in a 9-piece wedding/function band. He has also performed with The BBC Concert Orchestra, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Chi-Lites, Boney M, and The Bootleg Beatles.
Phil Todd
Saxophone
Phil Todd (born August 6, 1956 in Borehamwood , Hertfordshire ) is a British jazz musician ( saxophone , clarinet , flute , electronic wind instrument ) who is also in great demand as a studio musician. According to the Jazz Rough Guide , he has developed his own style and is one of the most talented British jazz musicians of his generation.
Todd learned the saxophone from the age of twelve, soon followed by the flute and clarinet. At the age of fourteen he played in dance bands. After a two-year music course at Hitchin College , he studied at Trinity College of Music ; at the same time he was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra from 1973 to 1977 . Then he worked with Jeff Clynes Turning Point (1979 to 1982) [1] , with Michael Garrick and the Cortege ensemble of Mike Westbrook before 1982 Member of the nucleus was (he was one of the band to the resolution 1989).
From 1989 to 1992 he played with Ian Carr ; on his album Old Heartland (1988) he was one of the main soloists and soloed on the soprano saxophone and the bass clarinet . He also belonged from 1990 to Mask Orchestra by Colin Towns , and then the band of Guy Barker and Paul Hardcastle. He also toured with Phil Collins . As a studio musician, he has appeared on albums by Roxy Music , Anne Dudley , Joni Mitchell , Westlife , James Morrison , Vanessa-Mae and Will Youngto listen. Exclusively with electronic wind instruments, he made an important contribution to the film music of Arachnophobia .
Neil Sidwell
Trombone
Multi-hyphenate doesn’t begin to describe the work and ability of Neil Sidwell. As a music producer, composer, orchestrator, and arranger, his songs and jingles have touched the stage and screen worldwide. Beyond those skills, he’s adept at piano, bass guitar, and trombone, having toured the world and recorded with The Who, George Michael, Blur, Robbie Williams, and Elton John, amongst others.
His arrangement work includes the Quadrophenia score for Pete Townsend and The Who. On the television screen, he’s created arrangements for X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, Pop Idol, American Idol, and Grease Live. He delivered award-winning work on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
His personal compositions are often filled with merriment, playfulness, and trombone.
Andy Greenwood
Trumpet
Andy Greenwood is UK based freelance Trumpet player . He was fortunate to study with the great Bobby Shew whilst a member of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. After spending 2 years working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Andy joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, during this time was asked to join the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, where he remained a member for 6 years. Throughout his musical career he has worked with Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, Chuck Findley, Wayne Bergeron, Bobby Shew, Jon Faddis, James Morrison, Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Cobham, Gladys Knight, Maceo Parker, Westlife, Michael Buble, Burt Bacharach, Shirley Bassey, Hugh Jackman, Pendulum, Georgie Fame, Barry Manilow, Kylie Minogue, Jamie Cullum, George Michael, Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai and The Who. He has performed with many groups including The Metropole Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Laurence Cottle Big Band, Steve Sidwell Big Band, Guy Barker Big Band, BBC Big Band, Syd Lawrence Orchestra and the Ronnie Scotts Jazz Orchestra. West End shows include Wicked, Chicago, My One and Only, The Rat Pack, Saturday Night Fever, Guys and Dolls, Ray Charles, The Producers, Sinatra, 42nd St, Motown The Musical and On Your Feet.