Member Since: 6/8/2007
Band Members: Felix Milan (Felix The Sax Cat) was born in the Czech Republic in 1984. He started to play saxophone, when he was 15. It was then he had a classical teacher who educated him in the basics of saxophone playing. His first teacher introduced the world of jazz to him with song 'Take Five'. Since that time Felix started to experiment with improvization and ear training. After two years of hard practicing, he joined his first band in high school to play music covers. In the same year he joined 'LOW ATTENDANCE BIG BAND' which was a great experience in which Felix learned how to play in a brass section to read music properly and to play with more then 15 people on stage together.
The band's repertoire included Joe Zawinul covers, Herbie Hancock covers and funky big band tunes. In that time Felix started to enjoy the funky and jazz style of music the most. There he found his greatest influences and the tune of the sax that he loves the most.
His best and favourite influence became Candy Dulfer. Felix says, "She' s got one of the most amazing tunes in the whole world". I made my own sound which is a very important thing to every sax player".
Felix attended two jazz workshops in the Czech Republic, where he found his first contact with Scotland and two great scotish jazz singers; Fiona Duncan, Gina Rae and drummer Tom Bancroft. Felix says, "I will never forget how we played the song 'Careless Whisper', it was 3 am and Fiona and Gina have been smoking cigarettes and we've made such great smooth version of that song". "Thank you guys".
When Felix was just a teenager he formed a band called 'Felix Fusion'. The band was full of great guys. Felix was 17 and the guys were the same age. His piano player George Vidasov is the composer of the song 'Brazilian Coffee' and another two songs have been composed by gypsy singer 'Erika Fecova'. All of the songs played by the band were arranged by 'Felix Fusion' band together. The band were on the road together for two years and then they split up. After that Felix has been on the road with many different Czech bands.
In the August 2005 he decided to go to Scotland to experience the International Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. There he entered a competition, and won the prestigious 'Jammer of the Year 2005' award. After that he decided to stay in Scotland and play music for the good Scottish people.
Now he's still playing rock & roll with blues band veterans of the Dundee Blues Bonanza 'Wolftrain' and Scottish Blues Brothers www.scottishbluesbrothers.com, Also Felix has been playing with the Marie McCormick Blues Band, with this band he recorded a CD called 'Inner City Blues' www.myspace.com/mariemccormick
It has been a great pleasure for Felix to play with: Li'l Jimmy Reed from Alabama, Bob Hall, Otis Grand, Dougie McLean, Ross Ainslie, James McLean, Don1977, Wang Dang Delta ,Little Miss Emma, Drummer Paul Mills
He has played: International Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Dundee Blues Bonanza, Perthshire Amber, Tarbert Music Festival, Smokie Blues Festival Arbroath, International Maryport Blues Festival, Chicago 1920 International Jazz & Blues Festival {Czech Republic}
Felix is the chairman of 'Chicago 1920 Festival' and he run this festival for five years now.
It was great pleasure to have the 'Marie McCormick Blues Band' play at the festival in 2007 (video footage below)
He has also made an appearance on the Live screening on BBC with Don1977 in the Upstaged competition.
Felix sais,
"Thank you for the great musicians and people who I meet, thank you all of them, because its great to play with you and for you guys."
Influences: Candy Dulfer, Maceo Parker, David Sanborn, Bill Evans, Incognito, Tower of Power, Spyro Gyra, Michel Camilo etc.
Sounds Like:
Add to My Profile | More Videos Check out this video: Don 1977 BBC Upstaged
Record Label: Unsigned