Mark Allaway - from Ongar Essex.
Born into a musical family, Mark started performing professionally as a young teenager.
During his time at the Guildhall School of Music, Mark was also able to develop his compositional and arranging skills. This lead to the composition of a score for the play 'Singular Women' by Stewart Permutt [performed in London's West End] and to a commission for BBC Music Live Day. Mark also wrote a large amount of material for the contemporary classical group Quadraphonic which appears on their first CD release. He now continues to write for various media outlets as well as for more artistic projects.
Mark's saxophone playing can be heard on the theme tune to BBC's Animal Hospital as well as various other film and television soundtracks.
SAMIZDAT REVIEWS
'The core of this album is a clutch of brilliantly melodic
original tunes.' The Birmingham Post

'Mark Allaway is surely a name to watch. His improvisations imply a warm melodic line; in fact he is one of those rarities who can play a theme almost straight, yet it's still jazz!' Brian Davis

"A fresh generation of jazz musicians is springing up for the 1990s. The Allaway Quartet epitomise the strength of this new generation. "

After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in London where he received expert tuition from Jean Toussaint [ex Art Blakey] and British jazz legend Don Rendell,
Mark studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Mark was invited to tour Europe with the internationally renowned saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers (now emulated by Brass Jaw) playing opposite many top American artists including David Sanborn, Cecil Taylor, Bob Berg and Chick Corea. The tour incorporated most of the major European Jazz festivals - Stockholm, Vienna, Lugano, Leipzig and Frankfurt. His Allaway Quartet band was formed in 1991, shortly after I finished a European tour with 'Itchy Fingers',.  He has recorded with the London Jazz Orchestra.

He has worked in various musical styles from the music of the 1930’s through to contemporary pop sounds and beyond. Mark has worked alongside various artists including Shirley Bassey, Helen Shapiro, Michelle Hendricks and Salena Jones, and has written and produced two albums under his own name ‘Samizdat’ and ‘When Time Stops’.   http://www.myspace.com/marksax

Nick Tomalin - Composer and Pianist
Nick is a graduate of Leeds College of Music and in 1993 completed the post-graduate course in Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then he has been working as a freelance musician and music teacher in London. He has worked in many of the most prestigious UK musical venues performing with his own ensembles and as part of other musicians projects. He is a long standing member of The John Bennet Big Band and has worked regularly with many leading jazz musicians including Jim Mullen, Don Weller and Stan Sulzman. He regularly leads jazz education workshops introducing children and young adults to the art of improvisation
Nick has performed at many prestigious jazz venues, both with his own band and as part of other projects. He is a long standing member of The John Bennett Big Band. He has also played with some of the country's leading jazz musicians including Jim Mullen, Don Weller and Alan Barnes.