Alan Barnes Octet - 'Sherlock Holmes Suite'

Swinging musical journey through the "life" of the great detective with stunning playing and witty narration.

Between 1977-80 studied saxophone, woodwinds and arranging at the Leeds College of music before moving to London. In 1980 he played with the Midnight Follies Orchestra and the following year was with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, touring Europe until 1983. In that year he left to join the hard bop band of Tommy Chase where he attracted considerable attention on the UK jazz scene for the first time. He left Chase in 1986 to co-lead The Jazz Renegades with rock drummer Steve White travelling as far afield as Japan and recording four well received albums.
In 1988 Alan was asked to fill the chair recently vacated by Bruce Turner in the Humphrey Lyttleton band where he stayed until 1992. Between 1987-97 he also found time to lead the Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet with Gerard Prescencer and Dave O’Higgins. Alan has enjoyed a prolific career as a sideman, playing and recording for many bands. He broadcast regularly over a ten-year period with the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra and has toured and recorded with big band leaders, Dick Walter, Kenny Baker, Bob Wilber, Don Weller, Stan Tracey and Mike Westbrook. Alan recorded his first record date as co-leader in 1985 with Tommy Whittle –“Straight Eight” and as leader of his own quartet in 1987-“Affiliation” with pianist David Newton, an association that goes back to their college days.
Since leaving the Lyttleton band, Alan has concentrated on his freelance career. In 1993 he again recorded with Newton resulting in the duo album “Like Minds” and the quartet, quintet and sextet album “Thirsty Work”, which featured fellow reedmen Andy Panayi and Iain Dixon. Throughout the 90s he co-led a quintet with blistering be-bop trumpeter Bruce Adams, recording 2 CDs “Side- Stepping” and “ Lets Face the Music”. Other bands he has toured and recorded with include the Gary Potter quartet, playing the music of Django Reinhardt, the Tina May Trio with Nikki Iles, Bill LeSage’s Genetically Modified Quintet, and Spike Robinson’s Tenor Madness.