About Me
Throughout his music career, Jeff has been commended for excellence. A featured soloist in many bands, Jeff has performed and recorded with some of the world’s finest musicians, bands and composers covering a variety of musical styles and genres. This diverse, rhythmically oriented and energy charged performer is as intricate, creative and enigmatic as he is engaging and entertaining.
Jeff’s early musical influences include John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Art Blakey, these people helped shape his approach to music and led him to jazz. He has developed into a formidable and accomplished composer and instrumentalist. Jeff now plays tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax, flutes, clarinet and percussion, constantly pushing the boundaries. Jeff’s compositions always seem to embrace the new whilst respecting the old.
Jeff embarked upon his career as a choirboy at the tender age of nine in his birthplace, Georgetown, Guyana and later started taking piano lessons. Two years later he won a prize and a chance to record and broadcast on G.B.C. (Guyana Broadcast Company). The experience changed his life forever and shortly after, Jeff moved to London to join his parents where he continued to study music, particularly jazz.
In 1983, he worked with the Swiss-based soul band, Superlove (his first professional engagement) touring Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark to name but a few countries. He toured Europe extensively, making appearances alongside many leading artistes including legends Chuck Berry and Harry Bellafonte.
In 1984, he started jazz workshops at the Bridge Lane Theatre in Battersea, London, creating opportunities for young and talented instrumentalists, many of whom currently work and enjoy a certain level of respect and acclaim in the music industry. Among the artists who were invited to teach and perform were Don Weller, Pete King, Bryan Spring, Errol Clarke, Dyl Katz and Dale Barlow. A year later, Jeff co-founded the band, Iguazu with guitarist Dominic Miller. Miller went on to work with Sting and continues to be an integral part of Sting’s work.
Iguazu enjoyed high popularity at the 1985 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received the accolade of “Best Jazz Album of the Year†from the Daily Telegraph for the album ‘Iguazu’ recorded on the Factory record label.
In 1986, Jeff joined the Jazz Warriors working with Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Brian Edwards, Julian Joseph, Mark Mondesir, Gary Crosby, Kevin Robinson, Claude Deppa, Dennis Rollins, and Winston Rollins and many more of the new wave of young talented players. This period inspired Jeff to form his own Quartet. In addition, Jeff also performed with Courtney Pine’s Quintet. He continued to explore other musical styles, visiting many African states including Mali and South Africa performing for Nelson Mandela, Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and President of South Africa - Thabo Mbheki. Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh were enthralled by the rousing performance, Her Majesty The Queen personally requested to meet, greet and shake hands with the group.
In 1996, Jeff returned to London and landed a recording contract with London records, which left him feeling confined, restricted and isolated. He learned that being contracted to a major label meant having no control over his own work. He then declined the offer and quickly started making plans to build his own studio and start a new record label – Adiskey Ltd., writing and composing with Steve Williamson and Errol Kennedy (Imagination) amongst others. One of Jeff’s projects managed to win an award from TSK2; to write and produce music in his own new studio (Osiris Studio) for a group of young protégés under the watchful eye of TSK² (a government body designed to support and nurture the best of new British talent).
Jeff has also made numerous TV appearances on TOTP (British), the National Lottery Show, the chart show – CD:UK with celebrity presenters - Ulrika Jonsson, Jamie Theakston and Johnny Vaughan and artists such as Francis Rossi of Status Quo and Mousse T (Horny, Horny, Horny), SABC South Africa Broadcast Company, Spanish TV Network, Dutch TV, Belgian TV and French TV in the presence of the first lady of France; Mrs Mitterand who personally went backstage to meet and congratulate the band (Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath).
Jeff continues pushing and expanding the boundaries of music, working and recording with new artists of varied styles of music: house music, reggae, soca, calypso, soul, drum and bass, R&B, gospel and his own style of modern jazz, appearing at the London Carnival and many of London’s top nightclubs, venues and raves including Ronnie Scott’s, 606 Club , Jazz Café and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
The following is a list of some of the artists/bands with whom Jeff has worked:
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Courtney Pine, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Finlay Quaye, Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Steve Williamson, Archie Shepp, Robert Mitchell, Jazz Jamaica, Brice Wassy, Arrow, Bheki Mseleku, Anthony Tidd, Clifford Jarvis, Dennis Baptiste, Doug Lucas, Dudu Pukwana’s Zila, Errol Clarke’s Trio, Fra Fra Sounds, Harry Beckett, Hugh Masekela, Julian Bahula, Louis Moholo, The Worlds’ First Saxophone Posse and Dominic Miller
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