music: empty boat band members
Dean Brodrick: keyboards and composer
Known as something of a creative genius amongst the musicians he works with, Dean is the main driving force behind Empty Boat. He originally studied painting at Wimbledon and the Royal College, but, never content with the two dimensional, he frequently formed musical affiliations with the jazz, experimental, folk, contemporary and world music scenes. He regularly organized events during the 80s at the former L.M.C (London Musicians Collective) and was one of the founders of the English Gagaku Orchestra. Bands he has lead include: Was it a Car or a Cat I Saw; Eureka!; Big Baffle; and Veronikas. He has written for TV, theatre, dance and film, notably for the dance company the Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs, and the film-maker, the late Derek Jarman.
Madalaine Brodrick: vocals
Dean's daughter Madalaine, aged 9 at the time of recording, makes her stunning debut singing on five of the songs on Waitless.
Simon King: guitar
A powerhouse of experimental guitaring, Simon helps to steer the boat away from hum drum. He regularly works with the theatre company Forkbeard Fantasy and plays in three bands: the eccentric Laboratoires Murphy; the unusual I am a Kamura; and the avant guard rock trio Superstrings. He has also worked with the Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs and Homelife.
Gideon Juckes: tuba
Tuba and bass guitar player Gideon is a rare phenomena. He began playing the tuba at 13, and in a busy career encompassing jazz, traditional world music and classical music, he has performed and recorded with, amongst others: Sigur Ros; John Surman; Jamelia; Beverley Knight; Billy Cobham; Bellowhead; Eliza Carthy; Max De Wardener; Cicala Mvta; Paul Weller; F-ire Collective. He also performs in two of his own groups: Farmyard Animals Trio and SETSUBUN BEAN UNIT.
Steve Blake: saxophone & banjo
Steve plays drums, 5-string banjo and saxophone. He currently plays with Nigel Burch and the Flea-Pit Orchestra, Man Aubergine and Yum Yum. He composes for and performs regularly with the Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs and other contemporary dance companies.
Steve Buckley: saxophone & bass clarinet
Steve is arguably the best jazz penny whistle player in the world. A legend.
Sonia Santana: vocals
Spanish diva Sonia Santana has sung with Big Us and numerous other latin bands. Her debut album Havana Dreams features top young virtuosos in Cuban jazz.
Filomena Campus: vocals
Sardianian vocalist Filomena co-leads the Mediterranean and Brazilian jazz quintet In Chimbe with Rowland Sutherland. She runs her own physical theatre, live free improv and multi media ensemble: Theatralia.
Mônica Vasconcelos: vocals
Mônica Vasconcelos is a highly respected Brazilan singer who began her career singing at the age of 17 in bars, clubs and at parties in her home country. In 1992 she came to England to form Nois and they released their first album in 1996. She also sings with a small ensemble, the quartet As Meninas and has recorded with a number of London based musicians, amongst them pianist Roland Perrin, saxophonist John O'Neall and singer Ashley Slater (Freak Power). In 1996 she toured England singing alongside Norma Winstone, Christine Tobin and Jacqui Dankworth as part of saxophonist Tim Garland's Songs Of Love And Liberty project.
Howard Jacobs: percussion
After studying at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, Howard continued his studies in Cuba with top Rumberos and religious musicians. As well as playing percussion for Empty Boat, he currently co-directs and arranges for the huge Orquestra Timbala and plays in Mojito, another northern Latin outfit. He is also consistently involved with experimental music, playing with Homelife, Graham Massey's Toolshed, RSL, The Cornelius Cardew Ensemble, Blendaholics and the long-standing Chinook Clarinet Quartet. He is currently working on the music for the latest Forkbeard Fantasy Theatre company show.
Davide Giovannini: drums
Drummer Davide has played with an impressive roster of big names from Bjork to Paul McCartney. When starting out, he travelled to Cuba on a regular basis where he studied with many Cuban greats including Changuito, Calixto Oviedo, Oscarito, Ernesto Simpson and Irian Lopez. In his home country of Italy he studied with Billy Cobham and Giulio Capiozzo and worked with a variety of bands playing many different styles of music. He moved to London in 1991 and his first big break came when he was invited to play on Paul McCartney's single Hope of Deliverence. Since then he has been inundated with opportunities playing with countless artists - Lisa Stansfield, Roy Ayers, Steve Winwood, the Pet Shop Boys - to name but a few.
Mark Sanders: drums
Mark Sanders accompanied Empty Boat as drummer on their Mozambique tour. He is the drummer of Jah Wobble.
Other contributing musicians
Chris Coultas, Chris Smallwood, Nana Tsiboe, Simao Ribero Fontes (Massukos), Manuel Dihuaia (Massukos) Urtema Dolphin, Ian Smith, Oren Marshall, George Hadjineophytou, Joe Townsend, Danny Manners, Simone Haggiag, Julian Nicholas, John Harris
©2006-2008 Poo Productions. All Rights Reserved.