BAND
Mike Hazell
Congas, Percussion
Mike’s interest in conga drums was first piqued by hearing English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist Frank Ricotti, who recorded regularly as a busy studio session player at Lansdowne & CTS recording studios in the 80s, where Mike worked as a young tape op / assistant engineer. Interest aroused and keen to learn technique, Mike took lessons in the 90s in London and Cuba from the late great Robin Jones, affectionately known as the UK’s Godfather of Latin music. This led to playing in a broad range of musical settings from Cuban son and timba to jazz, funk and fusion and even a stint in the conga chair for the on-stage Cuban band Sonora La Calle in the West End musical Lady Salsa. Mike describes himself as a serious enthusiast with his favourite musical influences being those from the ‘melting pot’ era of 70s Latin, Jazz, Soul, Funk and Disco citing legendary congueros Ray Barretto, Sammy Figueroa and Paulinho da Costa as being huge influences. Knowing the TGP band share similar musical passions has been a real treat.
Richard grew up in the vibrant Leeds jazz/funk scene of the ‘90s where, as an original member of funk band Capri, he could often be seen playing Rhodes, Hammond and Clavinet across the city’s many jazz clubs. Since then he has played in a wide variety of bands throughout the UK, but always finds himself coming back to those funky, jazzy grooves that he acquired a passion for during those early, formative years! He counts Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarret, Jimmy Smith and Stevie Wonder among his musical heroes.
Richard Sharp
Keyboards
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Chris Daniels
Saxophones
Chris started playing in 1989, hiring a saxophone on a whim, from the sadly missed Myatts Music in Hitchin! Chris made such progress that in 1993 he formed Soul Kitchen, who became popular and actually earned money! As a result, he decided to take music more seriously and took lessons with eccentric Essex saxophone guru, Mick Brannan, for 2 years. Consequently, Chris enrolled with the Open College Network Access to Music course from 1996 – 97, which led to acceptance onto the University of Central England, Birmingham’s B.Ed music course. In between study, Chris was playing as a part-time touring musician, on the jazz circuit as a part of Duophony and mod rockers Secret Affair. Chris returned to Essex in 2002 combining school teaching and the life of a gigging musician, playing Glastonbury festival, The Marquee, 100 Club, Secret Garden Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, amongst other prestigious venues. Chris’s musical CV is impressive - to name a few; Smokin Jacks, Secret Affair, Rhythm Rockits, The Jars, Band of Fools, West 54, Post Floyd Dream, The Filthy Lounge Band, Albion Breaks, and now The Gray Project. Chris has earned an enviable reputation as a deeply soulful player whose musical sensibility and sensitivity keep him in extremely high demand. The Gray Project is thrilled that Chris is part of the band and notably the TGP Horns!
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Originally from Perth, Scotland, Mike took up the saxophone at 17 and received jazz tuition from the renowned trumpeter, Jimmy Deuchar. Equally at home playing jazz, big band, funk, rock and pop, he plays the entire range of saxophones. Artists he has collaborated with include Edwin Starr, Fiction Factory, China Crisis, Robbie Gladwell (of Cockney Rebel and Suzi Quatro), Nick Hayward and the reformed 80s Band Pigbag. As a session musician he has played with several top London function bands such as ‘Groove Station’, ‘The Talent’ and Midlands based ‘Railroad Kin’. He also performs with top tribute band “The Floyd Effect” He has played at major London jazz venues including Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 Club.
Mike Owen
Tenor saxophone
Nero Diamante
Lead Vocals
Nero Diamante is a profoundly gifted vocalist and dynamic performer who can boast an impressive musical background. Her professional resume includes acting, poetry, playing instruments, song and playwriting. Coming from a deeply musical family, she played her first instrument at the age of three, recording a song with her brother when she was five! At school she played recorder, trumpet, euphonium, baritone, piano, steelpan drums, drumkit, percussion and tabla. In her late teens, she played steel pan for the Metronomes Orchestra during the London carnival season. She wrote her first rap songs aged 8, then again at 13. A mixture of fun dance related numbers, to a serious political analysis of the then South African apartheid regime. Mid-teens, Nero and her brother were the subject to of record company ‘bidding war’, ultimately signing an album deal with EMI Records, subsequently leading to a publishing contract with Chrysalis Music.
The other third of The Gray Project’s horn section, Mark hails from Leeds and enjoyed the wide variety of musical experiences the city offered a young trumpet player, playing in Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra, Leeds Youth Orchestra and many smaller groups. His love of modern big-band jazz, funk, disco and soul was cemented during this period and since then Mark has played in a variety of funk, disco and soul bands but most frequently lead trumpet in big bands, living out his fantasy of one day getting the call-up from Earth, Wind & Fire, the Brand New Heavies or Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band when all the pros are too busy.
Mark Wightman
Trumpet & Flugelhorn
David Allwood
Guitar, Keys, Flute, Vocals, Percussion
David got involved in music at a very tender age - joining and performing with Orpington Junior Singers. He received classical training in piano and flute but picked up a guitar at the age of 11 and proceeded; like many young boys, to spend many hours in his bedroom attempting to master the instrument. He would still say that he is on that journey! In his teens, David played in a variety of bands playing different styles of music and writing very sophisticated compositions which were performed and recorded. Child rearing and house refurbishing marked a hiatus in David’s musical exploits for some time. Eventually, when asked to play for an event, he picked up a bass which would lead to his re-acquaintance with the guitar and regular performance. David is a talented multi-instrumentalist; he is very much the musical cornerstone of the band. Current instruments include guitar, keyboards, flute, percussion, and vocals.
Mike started playing at the age of 14 and was inspired to pick up the bass guitar after watching a clip of John Entwistle standing in front of a massive stack of speakers playing Won’t Get Fooled Again; he hasn’t put it down since. Mike has played bass and occasionally lead guitar in all kinds of venues: from tiny pubs to outdoor festivals, in rock, pop, soul, covers and function bands. He also regularly enjoys working as a bass player on studio recording sessions. Mike's many and varied influences include James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, John Paul Jones and Pino Palladino. He plays Fender and Sadowsky 4 and 5-string basses.
Mike Cameron
Bass
Bill Gray
Drums
Bill has been playing drums since he was eleven years of age; at fourteen his teenage mind was well and truly blown when he was privileged to see Elvin Jones, Art Blakey and Max Roach, appearing on the same programme! Turning professional in his late teens, he began studying with highly respected big-band drummer and educator, Frank King. Bill then spent six years in countless rock and soul bands travelling up and down the country, playing with amongst others ‘psychedelic cult band’, The Smoke! There followed long lay-off when family and the music business beckoned. Then in 2013, He started playing again, taking lessons & improving his technique. Bill’s philosophy is simple, ‘I’m an accompanist, it is my job to listen and serve the song’. His favourite drummers are exemplars of this ethos: Roger Hawkins, Andy Newmark, Al Jackson Jnr, Charlie Watts and Steve Jordan. Bill plays Cambridge Drums & Avedis Zildjian cymbals