ABOUT MY MUSIC BACKGROUND

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The Pink Panther & Sax:
Music Education Background: Dean'o plays Clarinet, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone sax's and started playing from a very early age. As well as Clarinet & all Sax's, Dean'o also plays and experiments on "EWI" Electronic Woodwind Instruments with bands. Dean'o started playing recorder at school at the age of 6 years, at the age of 10 years he started on Clarinet and studied both Clarinet and Theory of music until the age of 15 when he then started to learn the finer points of playing Sax. Although not a truly accomplished musician, Dean'o has gigged with most bands in the South of England with an excellent reputation as a improviser and a session musician and until recently returning to the UK, was formerly living in Eire. A session musician for countless years, Dean'o has gigged with many Known musicians and some not so known. Dean'o has his roots firmly planted in Soul / Jazz / blues which goes a long way to describing his melodic soulful approaches to melody lines, has been described as one of the South's premier Sax players, and is always in demand with Soul & function bands in the region. Soprano Sax is a particular love of Dean'o, and this really does come across in many of the numbers he has in his set, the almost crying melody's of the Soprano, are a testament to this, and the envy of many a fine Sax player. Dean'o has for years studied improvisation and the art of this most unusual music form, which bears witness to his playing, which is unusual, with melodic undertones. Dean'o was first introduced to sax from a very early age, and has been playing ever since, Royal school of Music exams for theory under his belt complimenting the soulful playing and filling in for the general tone of any band. Dean'o has had the honor to have played for/with the following known musicians, whilst working as one of the south's leading session musician's. In Alphabetical Order. Andy Comley Ben E King Bob Pearce ( Blues Man Of The South ) Curtis Mayfield DVB (Darren Vern Band) Darren Waller Edwin Starr Eric Bell ( Thin Lizzy ) Frank Dixie ( Brilliant Local Talented Entrepreneur Having "A Bad Bad Day" ) Geno Washington Gloria Gaynor Helen Crathorne Herbie Armstrong ( Ex Lead Guitar & Vocals for Van Morrison ) Jimmy Ruffin John The Hat Katie Holmes Kenny Young ( Writer of ) "Under The Boardwalk" Laura Vane Nick Beggs ( Of Kajagoogoo Fame ) Peter Van Hooke Rod Demick Uno Annalon Amongst bands, I have had the privilege to have played with the following local Groups. Aitch Brothers Amorilo Big Red Blue State Boy's White Teeth Function Harry Hammersmith & The Flyovers Herbie Armstrong ( House Band ) I Am Ted Bovis Impulse Jack's House No Previous October & "Uno" Perry / Ellis Pub Idles / Gemini Rufus Stone Skimmer Steam Machine Stoned Soul Picnic Sunflower The Bloody Nice Blokes The Cheese Doctors The Mustangs The Noise Next Door Tongue In Groove Many thanks to you all, you have been a real inspiration to me. I currently have & play the following Instruments. Clarinet's B&H Regent "Ebonite" Clarinet Soprano Sax's Keilwerth "Black & Gold" Sx90II Soprano Yamaha Yss 875 Custom Soprano Alto Sax's Cannonball Unlacquered A1998 "Mad Meg" Alto Dave Guardala BN400 "Black & Silver" Alto Keilwerth "Black & Gold" Sx90R Alto Keilwerth "Black & Gold" Sx90R (Straight) Alto Tenor Sax's Cannonball Unlacquered "Mad Meg" Tenor Dave Guardala BN500 "Black & Silver" Tenor E.M. Winston "White & Gold" 385MW Tenor Fremont Sahara "Blue" Tenor Keilwerth "Black & Gold" Sx90R Tenor Yamaha Yts 875 Custom Tenor Baritone Sax's Keilwerth "Black & Gold" Sx90R Baritone (Low A) E.W.I. "Electronic Woodwind Instrument" Yamaha Wx-5 Wind controller with Yamaha VL70-M Synth module
My main inspirations are: My main inspirations are the following artists, who without their continued brilliance, there would be no more hope for the saxophone, may they continue to excell in their brilliance. Gerald Albright (Out Of This World) Michael Brecker (Weird Jazz Man) Chris (SNAKE) Davis (Brilliant UK Player) Kenny G (Brilliant Soprano Sax) David Sanborn (The Man) Andy Sheppard (Brilliant English Sax) Kirk Whalum (Phenominal Sax Player) To you guy's, I owe all my inspirations. Thank-you, may you continue to prosper !!