Bio

THE BIG EASY is a sizzling 7-piece jazz/blues band. Comprising; Preacher D – lead vocals, harp .. Martin Barter – keyboards, vocals .. Rod Boatswain – tenor sax, b’king vox .. Steve Sage – bass, percussion .. John Alderson – guitar .. Federico Girlando – drums, percussion. The popular outfit are a workmanlike band who deliver with energy and style a fine selection of classic numbers, right across the board, from the 1930s to the present day. The very best of ‘good time’ jazz, blues and rhythm & blues. Aint no sitting back when THE BIG EASY hit town .. prepare yourself for an evening of hot, steamy ‘raucous & roll’ ! from the coolest, most cruelest band on the planet ! Daniel Day-Lewis: “great music guys” .. Steve ‘Big Man’ Clayton declares: “a terrific live band” .. “good time guaranteed” ! .. Sam Williams Lllangollen Pavilion Theatre: “one of the best bands we’ve had in a long time” .. Kirsty Blakeman of Liverpool Maritime Festival states: “The Big Easy went down a storm” ! .. Birmingham International Jazz Festival: “a knock out” ! The Big Easy have gone from strength to strength since forming some 4 years ago and have gained admirers from all corners of the music scene, mainly due to their appealing renditions of classic jazz and blues numbers and thoroughly entertaining live shows. Indeed, Big Bear Music were impressed enough to invite them to perform in the Birmingham International Jazz Festival 2006. Whilst also taking in the Coventry Jazz Festival and Town & Country Festival the same year and being featured on CWR radio, Heart fm and Touch fm along the way. Continuing the festival trail in 2007 the band were featured in the Liverpool Maritime Event at Wellington Dock, the Lichfield Real Ale and Jazz & Blues Festival and ArtsFest in Birmingham. 2008 saw The Big Easy take to the stage at the massive Americana Festival along with the huge Godiva Festival. While driving on to Wales to thrill an enthusiastic audience at Lllangollen Pavilion Theatre. Summer 2009 sees them gearing up for the prestigious Rossano Blues Festival in Italy together with UKs big Muse Festival, Tenby Blues Festival and Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival. Back in august 2007 the band was invited to perform live on Wedding Breakfast TV (Sky channel 277) and received considerable feed-back from viewers. The Big Easy have a 4 track EP available. Which can be heard and downloaded from the band’s own myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thebigeasybandgb Preacher D has been described as: “possibly the best around in what he does” .. “a vocalist of great dexterity and power”. While the band’s undoubted skills as vocalists, musicians and arrangers (check out their version of ‘can’t buy me love’ or ‘mojo’ for example) is now taking them into the big league. It is therefore no surprise that The Big Easy is attracting much interest. They are unique. With such a fast growing reputation they are quite simply becoming a band difficult to ignore. * Docteur Blues Magazine - France Marco Fiume Blues Passion Mémorial Festival 2009 Rossano Italy THE BIG EASY (an English band) hit the evening stage dressed in all black and offering a set of up-tempo swing & blues. This is a band that perfectly illustrates the motto of the festival "The Bluesy Side Of Jazz, The Jazzy Side Of Blues". The band is dominated by singer ‘ Preacher D’ and a fine brass section. They played a catalogue of classic rhythm & blues, and swing and numbers, linked with some typical British fun and humour! (together with some unpublished visual effects!) The Big Easy seemed to be delighted to be there and it certainly showed.