I was brought up and educated in Nottingham though I now live in Todmorden on the Lancashire/ Yorkshire border.
Whilst I am primarily a percussionist, in my younger years I received grades for trumpet, and trombone and performed extensively for the School concert bands prior to being their drummer and percussionist.
In 1991 I decided to carve a career in music and pursued teaching and playing full time. I have been fortunate enough to be doing that ever since.
In addition to individual lessons, I also lead percussion workshops for an array of educational and business establishments throughout the country. This work involves enabling children and adults to play music in unison often based on rhythms from across the globe. I thoroughly enjoy this work as it often gives me a chance to collaborate with fellow creative practitioners, explore and develop creative ideas. I've also led world percussion workshops for undergraduates and teachers at various Universities and Colleges.
I'm often asked what my favourite style of music is. It's really an impossible
question to answer as I get something different from all the genres and
hybrid styles I come across. My true percussion experience has been derived
from travelling and collecting rhythms and instruments from wherever I
go. I have a particular interest in percussion and drumming styles from
North and South America, Africa, Cuba, Spain, Turkey, Europe and Egypt.
I experience an ecelectic performance schedule spannning many genres. My live work portfolio in recent years has found me performing with a number of artists who became popular in the 1960's such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, P.J. Proby, The Platters, Tony Crane (of the 'Merseybeats'), Brian Poole (of the 'Tremeloes'), Wayne Fontana, Dave Dee (of ' ….Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch'). Other examples within this wide variety of musical genres include Folk Rockers 'Seven Little Sisters', Heavy Metalists 'Skyclad' and crooning Jazz/ Swingers 'Mood Indigo' as well as various original music outlets. This diversity in musical exposure imbues me with a rich understanding and a personal approach to making music.
I've been lucky enough to take part in a number of World and European tours with some of these bands as well as recording studio and live albums, DVDs and playing at some notably prestigious events and venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium.
Last year I finally managed to embark on my first tour with my incredibly
talented partner Sarah Dale
.
It made a pleasent change to synchronise our work schedule. This was a
good balance and I look forwad to it happening more......
In the late 1990's I founded the 'Watermelon Music Club' in order to encourage the collaboration of the many fantastic musicians that were around the midlands area. This flourished rapidly and provided a few residencies and jam sessions, in addition it influenced the making of a number of now well established line-ups in the jazz/ funk/ soul/ latin and fusion fields. I am often required to put together bands and musicians for sessions and functions from a list of around over a 100 very talented players from all over.
A few years ago I set up my own band of percussionists and horn players with the aim to compose and perform original music.
My co composer on the project being the very talented multi-instrumentalist
Toby 'peewee' Kennedy. 
We
are called 'Battuta' (see links) and perform at
festivals, carnivals, parades, night clubs, well anywhere really! We play
an original blend of rhythms from around the world with a Big Band/ Funk
horn sound. In 2005 we were Awarded an Arts Council Grant for creative
writing and absconded for a week to indulge in writing some new material
....what a luxury! I hope to dedicate more time to what has become my
source of personal creative enjoyment.
Well at the risk of sounding like a C.V. I'm going to stop talking now, except to say, that for me percussion is not a job it is a passion and I hope that I can continue to participate in a rich and fruitful musical life.
Mitch.