Andrew Stamatakis-Brown piano, Gavin Barras double bass & Ben Gray drums

Andrew Stamatakis-Brown

Andrew studied on the prestigious Joint Course at the University of Manchester and the RNCM, graduating from the University with a first class honours degree in 2003, and a diploma in composition from the RNCM in 2004. He has written music for film, dance and theatre as well as concert music, and his pieces have been performed in Europe, the USA and Australia. Andrew has played piano since the age of 8, and banjo from the age of 24. He made his Ronnie Scott’s debut (on piano) in 2005 with singer Alice Zawadzki, with whom he currently performs as a duo. He works for Yorkshire Young Musicians, sixth form music departments in Manchester and Bury and the education department of the Lancashire Sinfonietta. He has taught on the London Suzuki Group summer school at Bryanston since 2004.

Gavin Barras

After taking guitar lessons at school Gavin decided to try bass guitar. With some encouragement from his music teacher Gavin then moved on to double bass at age 14. Within a couple of years he was studying privately at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Roberto Carrillio (Principle Bass, Hallé), Corin Long (Principle Bass, London Philharmonia) and Tom Goodman (LSO). He achieved his Grade 8 distinction having only taken up the instrument two years earlier.

Gavin studied music at Manchester University between 1999 and 2002 before graduating with a BMus. Whilst studying he was also very active in the local jazz scene developing his real passion for the music. Gaining great inspiration from bass supremo Steve Berry, Gavin soon became a firm fixture on the gigging circuit performing all over the North West of England and has performed at many Jazz Festivals including the London, Manchester, Brecon, Glasgow and Wigan Festivals.

Ben Gray

Ben started playing percussion at the age of 4. In 2000 he moved to Manchester to study at the Royal Northern College of Music with lan Wright (RLPO), Paul Patrick (BBCPO) and Dave Hassell. Whilst at the College, Ben won several prizes, including a Gold Medal Award and the Sabian Cymbal Scholarship. In 2003 Ben was elected student union president, as a result of which he won the Sir John Manduel Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the college. Ben graduated with a First Class BMus degree in 2005, and has since worked as a freelance musician all around the UK in many different styles of music, including classical, jazz and musical theatre. He works with several of Manchester’s leading jazz musicians including Munch Manship and Simon Mulcaster. As a classical percussionist he plays for orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, the Hallé Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, and has toured with Lesley Garrett.