User:Mattwates

Matt Wates (born in 1964, London) took up the alto saxophone whilst at Sevenoaks School. His first public performance was with school band Winged Fingers. He also joined local band The Tangle Brothers. In 1985 Wates won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, in Boston, USA, and having graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1988, he returned to London and became active on the professional scene. As a sideman he has appeared with Bucky Pizzarelli, John Colianni, Humphrey Lyttelton, Georges Arvanitas, Helen Shapiro, Don Weller, Bobby Wellins, Dusko Goykevich, Duncan Lamont, Ian Shaw, Norma Winstone and Peter King. He has recorded with Paz, Roadside Picnic, Itchy Fingers, NYJO, the Michael Garrick Big Band, Sax Appeal and Jamie Cullum. His main project is his band, the Matt Wates Sextet, with whom he has recorded 9 albums on the audio-b label. In 1997 Matt won the Rising Star award in the BT British Jazz Awards, and in 2001 the Matt Wates Sextet won the Best Small Group award.