Greg Lyons - Damon Brown Quintet

Greg Lyons Tenor Sax - Those currently involved in his recordings and performances include Malaysian drummer Lewis Pragasam, bassists Christy Smith (USA) and Andy Peterson (Malaysia), Finnish pianist Jarmo Savolainen, pianists Mei Sheum (Singapore), Michael Veerapen, Mac Chew (Malaysia) and Michael Stanton (USA), percussionist Steve Thornton (USA), guitarists Randy Bernsen (USA) and Eugene Pao (Hong Kong), singer Angelita Li (Hong Kong), and British trumpeter Damon Brown.  He has played and recorded with many other great musicians. These include jazz artists such as: Toninho Horta, Billy Cobham, Phil Perry, Terumasa Hino, Jeremy Monteiro, Asiabeat, Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers, John Etheridge, Phil Manzanera, Nana Vasconcelos.  He has been instrumental in the setting up of several jazz writing and performance courses and has lectured at various institutions such as University Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Singapore University and The International Saxophone Conference for Mahidol University in Bangkok.
He continues to be as involved as possible in education and welcomes the chance to run workshops during his travels.  (See Greg's Masterclass intros on this site).
Sample from Greg Lyons Acclaimed - Island to Island - Album 610KB

... after previewing a larger than normal stack of cd's that came into the studio this week, none stood out more than one submitted by an independent artist... I had my first listen to saxophonist Greg Lyons 'island to island' and the decision was clear... this work would be shared with jazz fans all over the world... and thus, became this weeks featured album (on radioioJAZZ)

Greg Lyons Website

Damon Brown (Pictures by Peter Hutchinson©)
After leaving the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Damon's unique trumpet sound and approach to music earned him the admiration of both musicians and audiences in a surprisingly wide variety of musical settings. This, perhaps, reflects his own tastes and influences which span from the classical music repertoire through to the jazz and improvised music tradition; from popular song to dance music, soul and reggae. He has toured internationally and recorded with Maxi Priest, Paul Weller, The Pasadenas and visited Japan for the first time with acid jazz group Push.  Damon has always maintained strong links with British Jazz and his playing on the Ska scene with artists like Prince Buster, Desmond Decker, The Specials and most notably, a long standing relationship, with Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez have helped him to forge his individual voice as an improviser. He has recently returned from Japan and his work on the début Adam F album won him many new admirers. This crossover with dance and pop culture has been an important factor in Damon's development as a composer. His style blends British and American influences in a highly personalised approach to jazz.  While rooted firmly in the blue-note tradition his continued reference to wider musical settings creates complex and emotional music with flowing melodic lines which seem to transcend boundaries.  The music, although exciting and accessible, retains a classic feel throughout.   Now resident in Paris.
God Bless The Child - Sample (1.38MB)

Damon Brown (Trumpet, Flugelhorn) plays with a warmth and fluidity that allows him to find considerable variations from the norm , therefore making his work worthy of attention.  His thoughtful and attentive playing always demonstrates his ability to find greater emotional depths.  Browns playing skills are such that he is able to blend his seemingly disparate influences and create original and entertaining contemporary music that defies pigeonholing.  A gifted composer..."
                                                THE PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ ON RECORD 6th EDITION

Damon Brown Website

Greg Lyons & Damon Brown - UK Tour Featured

Leon Greening - Piano
Pianist Leon Greening studied at Leeds College of Music and the Guildhall. His extraordinary solos, inspired by the likes of Wynton Kelly and Bud Powell, keep the audience on the edge of their seats and mark him out, at the age of only 31, as one of the finest pianists this country has ever produced. An all star gig absolutely not to be missed.
He was voted runner-up in the 1999 Sun Alliance Musician of the Year awards.
He has performed at Ronnie Scott's and with Christian Brewer Quartet, Matt Wates Sextet, Gareth Lockrane Septet and toured with pop band 'Incognito'.

David Chamberlain - Double Bass

Also performed with Scotland's David Newton (Piano),
Mark Crooks Quintet,
Tim Lapthorne (Piano),
Stacey Kent
Alan Barnes,

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Matthew Skelton - Drums
Southpaw Style
(Mike Gorman & Jim Mullen Organ Trio)
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Hi Eddie,

Just to say that it was another great gig this month . We really enjoyed it and thought that it was a great grouping of very talented musicians.
In fact, thinking about it the next day it struck me how lucky we are to have such a terrific quality of young jazz musicians in the UK.....also that we are lucky to have you bringing them to us!  We are quite unable to understand why this was not a full house....is it just inertia or what? Nice to see some young folk there, seems odd there are so few when so many of the musicians are relatively young.  - Julian.

Great gig on Wednesday, one of the best so far I think. I bought the “A Bigger Picture” CD, it’s pretty good. I’m on holiday in May, so hope to see you in June for the Dan Banks gig. - Tony