Performance

I studied classical piano from the age of four with my Grandfather, pianist and composer Henry Duke LRAM ARCM, before taking up the bass. I gained double A-level music (Music, Music Technology) before gaining a scholarship on the classical BMus course at the London College Of Music. After a year on the classical course, I realised that whilst studying classical theory gave me an excellent grounding, I had a strong desire to further my love for jazz fusion and funk music. This led me to switch courses to the BA in Performance at The Guitar Institute and Basstech in Stanley Gardens. It was here that I developed my guitar playing alongside bass guitar. Although I kept up with classical double bass lessons for a while, I felt that bass and guitar were the instruments I wanted to pursue. After college, I  got the chance to join the house band on a ship as showband musician and to travel the world. I worked for Holland-America and for P&O for three contracts, then returned in 2004 to record an Album with US Singer Viola Wills. We embarked on a UK Tour, ending with a residency at Ronnie Scotts. Shortly after, I got involved in a project with an upcoming artist called David Jordan and subsequently got the call to record the album ‘Set the Mood’ with Producer Trevor Horn. The album reached No 8 on the UK album charts, with ‘Sun Goes Down’ reaching No 4 on the singles chart. 

In 2014, I was privileged to be asked to MD Joan Rivers UK Tour, which culminated in two sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall. There wasn’t much MD-ing involved; after all, she was a comedienne, but as it was a double bass gig, I had to get back to shedding. I joined the University of Sussex Symphony Orchestra shortly after the tour finished, which led to some extremely enjoyable and memorable concerts over the next few years.
After this, I joined the Magic of Motown show on guitar while also depping on bass when needed.
2019 was the first year I got offered a doubling chair on a show, Keys 2/Guitar, for the UK tour of Rent. Shortly after, I got the call to dep on Berry Gordy’s Motown The Musical on Guitar, which led to me taking over the chair for the last three months of the UK Tour. During this, I also depped on the same show on Bass guitar/Double Bass.
In 2020, I joined the ‘Whitney Queen Of The Night’ show on Bass guitar and synth bass. This led to some momentous arena tours of Europe and South America. I also used to dep on Piano/Keyboards for this.
In 2021, I depped on bass for ‘Pantoland’ at the London Palladium and on the UK tour of Hairspray.
In 2022, I depped on the Rocky Horror Show UK Tour on guitar and performed on bass with Joe Stilgoe in the Carols by Candlelight Spectacular in Dubai.
In 2023/24, I depped on Keys with the ‘Gimme The Night Tribute to George Benson’ show. I was also Keys 2/Guitar 2 for the UK Tour of ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ Produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman.