Features

Omar Puente - Violin

“The violin that I have right now,” says Puente, holding a well-used instrument with a striking patina, “is the same violin that provided food for three generations. This violin is part of my family and I will never let it go; it’s priceless”. Puente grew up in Santiago de Cuba. “My grandfather,” he says, “was a carpenter who used to work for a rich family who bought a violin for their child. But the boy showed no interest, so they offered it to my grandfather. My father was given the violin and...

Sam Burgess - Double Bass

Burgess’ first musical performance was hardly an auspicious occasion. “When I was seven – I think, I was entered into a piano competition and I was so nervous, that I refused to go on stage!” Stage fright is clearly no longer an issue, as Burgess is currently being kept very busy building up the bass lines with Ronnie Scott’s house band, Tom Cawley’s Curios, pianist John Law and songstress Gwyneth Herbert.

Mike Outram - Guitar

“Well, dad played guitar,” says Outram. “He was left handed and I used to pick up his guitar in secret and play it upside down. I figured everything out by ear. Eventually of course, he discovered I was playing his guitar and so then he bought me one.”

Soweto Kinch - Saxophone

"I guess our house was like a creative hub,” says Kinch. “I grew up being surrounded by lots of musicians, poets and visual artists.”

Ingrid Laubrock - Saxophone

“So you want to know about my saxophones,” says Laubrock, her rich dulcet tones characterised by a clear Munster lilt. Growing up in a musical family, “my mother and father were both music teachers”, certainly helps to put you on the musical track.

Rob Statham - Bass Guitar

“Fretless bass seemed like a natural transition, having spent 10 years playing the violin,” says Statham, whose long aquiline fingers delicately and precisely pick out the pitch on the high patina of the rosewood slab.

Zoe Rahman - Piano

“I love ivory keys”, says Rahman. “I really like the pianos that really inspire you and give you something back and make you play in a completely different way as to how you were expecting and give you the freedom to create in the moment – it’s not necessarily their make or their age.”

Cameron Pierre - Guitar

David Gallant talks to the guitarist about how he got started, the instruments he has played over the years and his all time favourite choice. He also reports on the latest instrument developments and launches...

Barnaby Dickinson - Trombone

“I’m doing a bit of everything – and it’s what I love”, exclaims the effervescent Dickinson. “I played on the Strictly Come Dancing and Just the Two of Us TV shows and it was great fun and in complete contrast to my own band Most Wanted. Dickinson couldn’t perhaps have chosen a better name for his horn led outfit. As he says: “Work’s been flooding in ever since the day I left college – I’ve been really lucky.” But like every successful musician, it’s all been based on hard work and burning the...

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