Realta

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MICHEAL BRAITHWAITE - BASS
Brief history: born in Trinidad I grew up on the rhythms of Steel pan, calypso, soca & reggae, I discovered jazz, funk & soul music when I came to live in London.
Instrument: Bass, guitar, vocals/backing vocals.
Influences: Marvin Gaye, Gill-Scott Heron, George Duke Weather Report, Quincy Jones.
Bands and Venues: Special Brew Funk Band. Tms. The Boys, Power Black Survivors MUKI, Loose, Mix Company & now Realt Venues Inc, Tour South of France, Belgium, Olympia, Dingwalls, Band on the Wall (Manchester). Jazz Café (London) Jazz-Café (Reading). Respect Festival (Millennium Dome), Big Chill festival, Barnet Festival, Mean Fiddler Jazz After-Dark.
Personal: My belief in music is spiritual. I enjoy song writing, composing and working in the circle.
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STEVEN BRAITHWAITE - VOCALS/SAX
Brief history: I was born in Trinidad from a musical family, my grandfather played the Accordion and my aunt played the Organ . Trinidad is and always will be a musical island, the home of calypso & soca. I started singing calypso at an early age and also played steel pan. I have lived in London since age 12; played the Violin at school, but taught myself to play the flute and saxophone.
Instrument: Saxophone (Alto and Tenor), Vocals, Percussions.
Bands & Venues: played in Special Brew Funk Band, Mix Company, Loose, Key Collective, MUKI, & Realta. Venues include Olympia, Jazz Café (London) Jazz Café (Reading) Big Chill Festival, Dingwalls, Ronnie Scotts, Gullivers, Barnet Festival, Jazz After Dark Mean Fiddler.
Released (Ki-Juice feat flute) MUKI Productions, used on five-live radio during programme change and Quiet Riot-MUKI Production
Personal: simplicity is sometimes difficult to achieve, but once it has been achieved, it becomes simple!
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SIMON PIRES - NYLON/ELECTRIC GUITAR
Brief history: I was born in London. I am completely self-taught musician playing the guitar for over 17 years. My father introduced me to rock-roll music of the 50s & 60s (The Shadows) and later to bands such as Pink Floyd & Dire Straits. I became highly inspired by Santana and completely hooked on their unusual blends of Latin-Rock, Afro-Cuban & African 3/4 Rhythms.
Influences: Afro-Cuban & Flamenco. Artists such as Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, B. B. King. Steve Wonder and players such as John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Al De Meola, George Benson. Acoustic Alchemy, The Rippingtons, Santana, The Gipsy Kings, Paco De Lucia.
Bands and Tours: Gigged over UK with the Afro-Cuban bands La Mechanica, Fifteen piece Latin/African band Los Ojos; sessions with Coco-Butter. Other artists: Performed with Amy Winehouse and a duo with up-and-coming Nate James.
Other live gigs: Jazz Café (Reading) China White Room 101, Respect Festival (Millennium Dome), Barnet Festival Ronnie Scotts, Jazz After-Dark Floridita Cargo
Personal: Pray and Play, Play and Pray. ~~~LET THE MUSIC SET YOU FREE ~~~

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JOE BLAKE - DRUMS
Brief history: Born in London, my interest in music started at an early age. I studied percussion at Primrose Hill School orchestra, sshhh.playing gigs when I shouldve been in class. Moonlighting helped me refine my rhythmic skill and dimensions.
Instrument: Drums/ Percussion
Influences: Earth Wind & Fire, George Duke, Herbie Hancock
Bands & Tours: Special Brew Funk Band Mirage (released single Summer Groove - ..2 British Soul Chart), followed by As From Now. Several sessions on Radio 1. I had the great pleasure of working with Marvin Gaye, Ive worked on several albums including tracks produced by Velvet Undergrounds Producers Jeff Haslam and Geraint Davies, Bob Potter and Barry Reynolds (Grace Jones/Sly and Robbie). Ive toured with Hazel OConnor, star of the British Punk film Breaking Glass. Ive performed several European tours with Helen Webbs Akimbo, Space Rituals 7 Nick Turners Hawkwind. Ive toured Africa in several bands including Agor-Mmba; also worked nationally teaching African Drum and Dance. Live gigs include Ministry of Sound with J. Tibbs, Jazz Café (London). Currently working in London with Realta
Personal: Realta brings vibes full of spiritual energy, heightened by a sense of rhythm thats unique.
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IAN FERNANDES - TRUMPET
Brief history: I began playing the trumpet at the age of 11 and am predominantly classically trained.
Instrument: Trumpet
Influences: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chet Baker, Jeremy Pelt, Chris Botti, Freddie Hubbard.
Bands and Venues: Numerous bands and orchestras until joining the college big band at age 16. I also joined a jazz quintet before going off to university.
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RICH FREEMAN - KEYBOARDS
Brief history: Richard was born in London in 1977. He studied classical piano for 10 years before moving onto Jazz for a further 10 years.
Influences: Oscar peterson, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane.
Bands and Venues: This year he has made regular appearances at the Institute of Directors, Pizza Express and a Jazz club in Soho. His styles include Jazz Standards (Swing and Ballad), Popular Classics, Latin and Blues.
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