Swingshift Bigband

Phil "that's why I'm the band leader" Shotton - Musical Director

Having graduated from Liverpool Hope University with a first class honours degree in music and music technology Phil now combines a demanding teaching schedule with his work as a freelance musician and jazz educator.

Phil has been directing Swingshift since its first conception and has had a lifelong interest in Jazz and Big Band music. Phil started playing Clarinet at six years old and joined the Maghull Wind Orchestra at the age of eight, taking up saxes and flute when he was ten years old. During his music degree in which he majored in performance on Clarinet he studied with Andy Roberts from the WNO. Due to this sound education Phil is confident and feels at home playing in either jazz or classical styles and is in demand as a performer from big bands to small ensembles to theatre pit orchestras. Phil is involved in many different ensembles in varying styles and genres and often guests with other bands and local orchestras.

Phil trained to conduct at the RBL College Tidworth, where he studied conducting with the musical director of the Royal Marines David Cole and Ted Whealing. He now often tutors on wind orchestra conducting courses and is musical director and principal conductor of the Maghull Wind Orchestra. Phil is the ensemble director for Sefton Schools Jazz ensemble, and Saxophone Ensemble also working for Sefton Schools Music Service as an instrumental teacher and director of many ensembles. Phil has a particular passion for Saxophone Ensembles and has recently formed a versatile 7 piece Sax ensemble 'Saxophobia' in which he plays Soprano Sax. Always having a new musical project in the bag, Phil is kept busy with Rehearsals and concerts. When he is not playing Phil enjoys riding his Harley Davidson and the odd pint of Guinness, (but not at the same time!)

Karoline Brennan

A recent addition to the sax lineup, Karoline joined Swingshift on tenor in 2008.

Originally from Yorkshire, Karoline (mis-)spent her youth playing bari sax in various big bands in the south west, before heading to Gloucestershire and playing with all kinds of ensembles, favourites being Gloucester soul group Bits & Splitz and top Cheltenham band Blue & the Rude Tubes.

A stint with freelance horn section Little Big Horns was cut short when Karoline legged to New Orleans with an alto sax to let the good times roll... Her visa up, and with a university place up for grabs, she headed home to study and get a Proper Job, and somehow left her saxes to gather dust…

…roll on a few years and she rediscovered her instruments in a wardrobe, finding she a) had a tenor sax and b) could almost play it. She was delighted to be invited to join Swingshift, replacing Alison as Phil’s right-hand girl. Alison still keeps in touch, playing with Phil, Karoline (and fellow Swingshifters Hannah and Pete) in 7-piece sax group Saxophobia.

"Uncle" Pete Lammymann

Pete is the oldest member of the Band (by a few decades!) and spent most of his life as a mining and explosives engineer, taking early retirement in 1994.

After a little studying and armed with an Diploma in clarinet teaching and an MA in Popular Music Studies, he found himself, surprisingly, as Director of Music at Tower College Rainhill. He retired from this position in 2002.

Since then he has worked in both private and Council Schools as a peripatetic teacher of Sax, Clarinet and Flute. In addition to playing lead Alto with Swingshift he plays lead Tenor with Merseyside Big Band. He also plays in Saxophobia, as well as sax quartets and other small groups (pretty much any group who'll have him actually.)

Hannah Shotton

Hannah began her musical career at the age of eight when she took up the cello and passed grade 8. At the age of 15 Hannah began playing the flute and gained her diploma in flute performance at the age of 18. Soon after the saxophone followed!

Moving to Liverpool in 2000 to complete a music and sport degree at Liverpool Hope University she met various musicians who were later to become members of the Swingshift Bigband...

One of these musicians was Phil Shotton who sparked her interest in jazz and big band music, and perhaps other things as they are now getting married in August!

After graduating and completing a PGCE teaching course Hannah is now a Music teacher at Deyes High School in Maghull as well as an active performer in various ensembles.

Trevor Hacon

Musically, Trevor started on the clarinet at the age of 11, somehow ending up on baritone sax and being in the band since its conception many years ago.

Trevor is originally from Devon and has worked all around the UK in his full time profession as a Chartered Civil Engineer. This has involved designing and constructing many large projects from motorways and water treatment plants to aviation.

Music is just one brief escape from the construction world.

Jez Murphy

Jez says that playing trombone is like making love to a beautiful woman... whatever you say swiss ;)

Chris "Hossi" Horswood

Christopher comes from a very musical family and started playing piano, trumpet and percussion when he was 6 years old. He was a member of various bands including Sefton Youth Brass Band, Sefton Youth Percussion Group and Sefton Youth Choir. He was also a member of the Boys Brigade and played in the joint Boys Brigade/Girls Brigade marching band.

Christopher started playing big band music when he joined the Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1999 where he played the vibraphone moving onto trombone a year later. Christopher met Phil at KGV College, joining Swingshift in September 2001. He also plays trombone in the Maghull Wind Orchestra.

Christopher graduated from University in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) Media Technology and Computing, and he now works as Systems & Security Administrator for the NHS.

Although Christopher has a great passion for music, he also has several other interests including cooking, model making, salsa dancing and his biggest obsession - all things sci-fi, especially Star Trek. Live Long and Prosper.

Alistair "Mossi" Moss

Alistair stepped into the breach when former member James Sills left to discover africa and has fitted in well to maintain the high standards of the Swingshift trombone section.

Alex Fossi

Alex plays bass trombone in Swingshift and props up the trombone section, and occaionally the bar. He has been playing tenor trombone from the age of 8, alto trombone for three years and bass only since he joined the band in September.

He used to play in a ska band called the "Honey Shop Screamers" and has also played 1st trombone in the University of Liverpool Symphony Orchestra, University of Liverpool Big Band, Cheshire Youth Orchestra, Cheshire Youth Brass Band and Roberts Bakery Brass Band to name but a few.

Alex is currently avoiding the world of work for another 3 years as he studys for his PhD at Manchester University Materials Performance Centre. Before that he graduated from the University of Liverpool with a 2:i MEng in Mechanical Engineering.

Outside of music and academia Alex enjoys fiddling with classic cars, mainly SAABs, Minis and Land Rovers and careering around Europe in bangers. He is also a keen Downhill/North Shore mountainbiker and in an effort to get fit, a bit of cross-country too.

Cliff Ray

Cliff started playing cornet at the age of ten with a local brass band, but after a couple of years was introduced to the trumpet after listening to many of his dads jazz records - his love of jazz and big band music was born.

Over the years he has had many influences, including Al Hirt and Doc Severensen (his dads favourites), but his main influence has been London session musician and trumpet great Derek Watkins. Cliff would dearly love to meet his inspiration because as far as he is concerned Derek is the governor!...

Having been inspired by Derek's playing for over 20 years, his influence is evident on the Swingshift recording of MacArthur Park which features Cliff on flugel horn and trumpet - 'if Derek ever hears it I hope he won't be too upset' jokes Cliff.

Cliff plays a Yamaha custom trumpet and flugel horn supplied by that great music establishment the Music Cellar in Preston, for which Cliff would like to thank John Bennett for all his help and assistance over the years.

Cliff has been lead trumpet with the Swingshift Bigband for the last 3 years and is keen to see the band go from strength to strength, he believes that if something is worth doing it's worth doing well!

Anna Spence

She can play nearly as high as Cliff, which isn't bad for a girl...

Trevor Banks

Trevor has been playing the trumpet since the age of 11, which amounts to a lot of blowing one's own horn!

Over the years, he has gained valuable experience performing with many soul, tribute and big bands as well as performing solo. He currently enjoys playing in Swingshift and in his own band, The Bounty Hunters.

He finds one of the most enjoyable aspects of playing the trumpet is watching the audience appreciate the hard work and talent of the musicians on stage. Trevor says it's the audience who make performing worth while...

Andy "my very own brother" Shotton

Andy started his musical life 30yrs ago briefly on drums, before turning to the trumpet at age 10.

His early musical experiences included his mum, Doreen [percussion and later tuba], dad, Greg [saxophone] and older brother Steve [clarinet], whom he played with in a series of concert bands, brass bands, big bands and ensembles, also later, with the encouragement of Cliff Ray, a number of shows in local Southport theatres.

Phil Shotton [his very own brother] came along when Andy was 16, and it wasn't long before his musical talent was recognised. Phils enthusiasm dragged him out of semi-retirement when he invited him to join Swingshift several years ago.

He thoroughly enjoys being part of the big band sound once again and says that the band is going from strength to strength. Andy believes Phil has a knack of getting the best out of the band, whilst also creating a friendly, hard working group of people with whom he has the privelege of playing.

Andy has three children [all girls] and a very understanding wife, and says its great to be out and about with this very rewarding swingband!

When not blowing his trumpet Andy also enjoys riding his Harley Davidson, fitness training, music, reading, travel, red wine and Stella!

Andy is currently seeking a gay friend for intellectual conversation, sharing ideas and maybe more...

Allan Robinson

Allan comes from Oxford and was born into a musical family, his father was a saxophone player and band leader. Allan started playing trumpet aged 11 in his father's and other local bands.

On leaving school at 16 he moved to London to join the Vic Lewis orchestra (the British version of the Stan Kenton Band). After a year he joined the Ken Mackintosh Orchestra for a 6 year stay touring all of the UK plus stays at the Empire Ballroom Leicester Square and Cunards Flagship QE2.

After leaving Ken he moved North as a member of the trumpet section with the resident band at the Tower Ballroom Blackpool also doing gigs with the British version of the Maynard Ferguson Band and the Sid Lawrence Orchestra. He then formed his own band for residencies with Mecca Dancing, Pontins Holidays and EMI Ltd.

In 1982 he became a Musical Director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line where he stayed for 12 years backing such singers as Jack Jones, Vic Damone and Lou Rawls amongst others.

Allan really enjoys working with the Swingshift Big Band because of the dedication and enthusiasm of Phil and all the members of the band.

Tom "will play gigs for food" Sykes

Tom was born in Huddersfield and started violin and piano lessons at an early age. After developing a childhood interest in jazz, he went to study it at degree level at Leeds College of Music, where he achieved a First.

Tom then went to work in Granada, Spain for a year before doing a PGCE. In 1993 he moved to the Southport area to work for Sefton Music Service as a peripatetic violin teacher, and also became involved in the jazz programme, directing the Sefton Youth Jazz Workshop until July 2005.

In 1998 Tom was appointed as a Lecturer in Music at Liverpool Community College, where he still teaches on a variety of music courses and is responsible for HE Music. He completed a MA in Music (with the Open University), which he passed with Distinction in 2005, and is currently studying (part-time) for a PhD at the University of Salford.

Matt "twiddles" McGrory

Matt started his musical life as a trombonist, way back in primary school. In high school he met Phil when they played in various bands together including the Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra. It was here that he also met several other dubious characters who have now taken up residency in Swingshift. Matt started gigging around Liverpool and the northwest area at the age of about sixteen, leading him on to play with bands such as Jools Hollands Rhythm and Blue Orchestra and Harry Connick Jnrs' Big Band.

Following an injury which forced Matt to stop playing trombone, he made the switch to all things fretted. Matt plays in many different ensembles and different styles ranging from jazz, blues and rock through to soul, folk and acoustic fingerstyles. His musical influences are wide and include Martin Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Bert Jansch, Eric Clapton, Django Reinheart to name just a few.

In his spare time Matt enjoys tinkering with his now, some say quite extensive collection of instruments, (the pickups off this guitar on the body of that one??) reading and socialising with friends over a bottle or three of red.

Jez "is that a marquee in your garden or are you just pleased to see me" Finch

Jez has been playing drums with Swingshift since 2002, and says that being involved with this band has been the most rewarding experience in his playing career. From early teens his drum heroes have been Buddy Rich, Kenny Clare, Steve Gadd and Billy Cobham. A varied selection but all deeply rooted in jazz and fusion.

In his early 20's Jez played with various show bands up and down the country, with a few tours to Europe thrown in for good measure. Great times but no security and little money and so Civy Street beckoned!

Although big band music had always been a major influence in his life with regard to listening and watching the great performers in concert, he never ever dreamed that he would actually get the chance to play in one!

Jez is very proud to be part of something which gives so much pleasure to those of you who come to watch us and thanks you for your support.

John Watkinson

John has been playing bass for longer than he cares to remember and since 2001 has brought his unique blend of muscianship, drive and consistency to the Swingshift rhythm section. His musical experiences on both bass guitar and bass trombone, range from symphony orchestra's to ska bands, big bands to pit bands and everything inbetween.

John plays a custom built Overwater fretless five (thanks to Chris, Laurence and the guys up in Carlisle for a super job) and uses Barefaced Bass Cabs (for which credit and many thanks goes to Alex) and EA amplification.

A designer by profession and graduate of Falmouth College of Arts (2:1 BA Hons in Graphic Design) and now Managing Director of Bassman Designs, John is also responsible for the graphical direction of the band, including the production of promotional material, the design and build of the website and the CD album artwork, not to mention providing the PA and sound engineering on the gigs.

John likes nothing better than to lay down a solid foundation for the rest of the band to build on and the odd pint of the black stuff...