User:Paisj/sandbox

Soul Funk Secret

Biography
The London-based band, founded in 2007 by Marco Abbatecola, Jules Pais and Trevor Joseph, has a wide range of influences across nu-soul, rock, funk, disco, latin & jazz and have showcased their talents all over the UK, Europe and beyond. Their performances comprise exciting original songs as well as covers arranged to fill dance floors. As session musicians the band have worked individually on various live shows and recording sessions for: George Michael, Boy George, Sinead O'Connor, Beyonce, Jamiroquai, Galliano, James Taylor Quartet, Tom Jones, The Divine Comedy, Omar, Don Blackman, Chaka Khan, Leon Ware, Carleen Anderson, Push, Paul Weller and many more.

Influences
The band have a wide range of influences and experience across various genres of music. Marco started his career as a bass player in Rome after attending the Saint. Louise Jazz music school in 1986. After spending some time in Florence where he signed with the Disco Magic Record Label he moved to London where he began working as a session musician. Having studied at the Guitar Institute now the ICMP London, Guitarist Jules worked with The Divine Comedy back in the 1990's, moved into contemporary classical scene with Joby Talbot's Billiardman. It was through Joby that Jules met Miggy Barradas, the original drummer with SFS. The pair were part of the North London Soul and Funk scene which included Jam sessions in Camden, Alexandra Palace and Stoke Newington attracting talent including a teenage Amy Winehouse. The same scene fostered musical relationship with keyboard and percussionist Trevor Joseph who would later introduce the pair to Bassist Marco Abbatecola the driving force behind Soul Funk Secret. Initially the band was fronted by ex Push singer James B Coleman and secured residencies in Cyprus as well live dates in Austria and Greece. The band minus James B found the attention of Carl Gustave a musician from St Lucia. Carl had a show in the UK and hired the band as his backing musicians. Carl was impressed and decided to fly the band out to St. Lucia the following year to play the St.Lucia Jazz Festival. What a time did they have in the company of Jeff Lorber, Steel Pulse, Esperanza Spalding to name but a few...

The band then found a new direction with a female singer songwriter Janessa Qua. Janessa helped the band to develop their sound and some initial recordings were made but not released. Janessa had other ambitions elsewhere on the music scene and went on to tour with the Blues Brothers across Europe.

Sulene Fleming became the new singer and soon after joining the band began writing and recording alongside Trevor, Marco and Jules. Sulene's powerful vocals and songwriting background made her an ideal fit with band. An in-demand session singer, she juggles her role in the band with sessions for Quincy Jones, Incognito and Citrus Sun amongst others...