The Cast

Barni Scott

Lead Vocals

Producer of "The SHIRLEY BASSEY Story"

Described in her early career as having "all the ingredients for a full and very rewarding showbusiness career" - ("The Stage & Television Today") - Barni has gone on to become a Multi-Award Winning Vocalist, supporting many named artistes on the cabaret circuit in a vast array of venues and making thousands of live appearances within various fields of the entertainment industry.

During this time, Barni has also done a spot of song-writing and achieved a

First Class BA Honours Degree in English & Drama.

Now combining her performance and writing skills, and in response to many requests from audience members, Barni is very excited to be bringing to life

"The SHIRLEY BASSEY Story"

and is honoured to be sharing the stage with

Musical Director, Mark Dawson

along with a collective of excellent musicians.

Mark Dawson

Keyboards, Arranger & Musical Director

Mark is originally from the north-east, and, despite not having lived there for 25 years or so, many southerners claim not to understand a word he says!

The history of his musical career - the club gigs, the summer seasons, the theatre shows, the pantomimes, the holiday camps, the cruise ships, working with a few famous names - would no doubt interest a few people, but the story of how, in the summer of 2015, he cycled 925 miles to the south of France on a 50-year old bicycle is much more interesting.

Lovely to be working with Barni and this ﬁne set of musicians!

John Porter

Bass Guitar

As a professional feelance bassist of over 25 years, on both double bass and electric bass, John has travelled extensively, touring theatres (Jekyll & Hyde, Annie, Evita, in Germany with The Rocky Horror Show),

cruise ships (including the QEII), residencies (Butlins,Warners)

and worked with artists as diverse as Bucks Fizz, Bonnie Langford

and Vic Damone amongst many others -

not at the same time though, that would have been weird !

This year alone he has toured nationally with the musical 'Avenue Q',

been to Norway and Iceland on Fred Olsen Cruises with a guest band

and to Alaska on Princess Cruises with their house band.

When he is back home in Nottingham, as an established jazz bassist,

he can be seen playing at venues in and around the city.

Jack Polley

Bass Guitar

Jack graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music 2 years ago

with a BMus Degree in Jazz Performance.

Since then he has performed alongside Kerry Ellis in London's West End

and has recorded with Coldcut for their current World Tour.

Jack can often be found performing at

The Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott's and Pizza Express Dean Street.

Currently, he is also a member of the original Hip Hop band, Sumochief

and has had a great time performing at the Love Supreme Festival

following the recording of their second album.

Steve Blythe

Alto Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet

Steve studied Saxophone and Clarinet at the University of Huddersfield,

gaining both a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Arts in Music.

After this he went on to gain valuable experience working as a resident musician

both on land (at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom)

and at sea (onboard P&O Cruises’ ‘Oriana’ and ‘Arcadia’).

Steve has toured extensively around the UK, as well as in Europe and Asia,

with numerous musicals including ‘Chicago’, ‘Starlight Express’,

‘Annie’, ‘Avenue Q’, ‘The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas’

and ‘The Glenn Miller Story (starring Tommy Steele)’.

Other musicals he has worked on include ‘Hairspray’, ‘Cabaret’, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, ’Singin In The Rain’, ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert’.

Alongside his work in musical theatre, Steve loves performing big band music, and since the start of 2017, Steve has been a proud member of ‘The Syd Lawrence Orchestra’, which is still going strong in it’s 50th year.

Steve Hall

Bass Guitar

Steve is an exciting and versatile bass guitar and double bass player

born in Sheffield sometime in the last Millennium.

His musical grounding was in school/county orchestras and bands

with further development of skills in cover and function bands in UK and Europe.

Steve then graduated with vocational honours from

The Musicians' Institute, California, USA.

The last decade has seen him tour with musicals such as

‘Cats’, ‘Fame’ and ‘We Will Rock You’

and most recently with ‘The Magic Of Motown’.

Aaron Liddard

Alto Saxophone & Clarinet

At the age of 16, Aaron turned down a career in airplanes to pursue

a life in music, and joined Slithey Tove (now The Toves) the following year.

He paid his way through a degree in music at Salford college

working as a sound engineer. Then, one night in 1994,

Aaron edged onto the stage with his saxophone, and within months

he was playing in 12 bands.

Aaron was in the Amy Winehouse Band as she became a household name

with Back To Black and he has also shared the stage with Prince,

Bob Geldof, Steve Cropper,Maceo Parker,Beverley Knight,

Jools Holland, Hayley Westernraand Carlos Acosta.

Aaron's TV credits include Len Goodman's Big Band Bonanza documentary and the feature film Legend alongside Tom Hardy and Duffy.

Lewis Daniel

Tenor Saxophone & Flute

A freelance musician and arranger based in South London,

Lewis graduated from the Guildhall School of Music

where he studied Jazz Saxophone.

Recently, Lewis has been touring with the House Gospel Choir

and the Biscuit Horns, playing at various festivals including Glastonbury,

Bestival, the Citadel Festival

and the Manchester International Festival.

Lewis enjoys playingin a range of ensembles

from Big Band and Classical

to Pop styles.

Zeb Tonkin

Trombone

Haling from Norfolk, Zeb studied Trombone at Wells Cathedral School

and the Royal Academy of Music. Since graduating, he has appeared at

many major venues, festivals and events across the world,

performing and recording with artists such as McFly,

Sophie Ellis Bextor, Eliza Doolittle, KC & The Sunshine Band, Mick Jagger,

Frank Stallone, Chronixx, DJ Yoda, Dan Crohl, Reeps One, Eitan Frielich

and Jason Donovan.

Most recently, he has performed with the legendary RnB group TLC.

Currently, Zeb is also a full-time member of the Hackney Colliery Band whose latest album reached #3 in the iTunes Jazz charts.

Outside the freelance world of Trombone, Zeb is a writer, arranger and rapper, working very closely with up-and-coming Hip Hop artists including Lazy Habits, Dizraeli

and Solomon OB.

Mike Collen

Guitar

Mike has been a freelance musician for over 15 years,

working around the world with many great artistes and on many shows.

These include

Lee Mead (Joseph), Glenn Carter (Jesus Christ Superstar),

Elio Pace (Weekend Wogan), PP Arnold (legendary soul singer),

Roger Wright (original Simba in The Lion King),

Debra Stephenson (BBC Impressions Show)

and Ray Lewis (original Drifters vocalist).

Most recently he has played for the ‘Cats’ UK tour and

‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ for Kilworth House Theatre.

Steve Wilson

Drums

Steve is originally from Newcastle where he began his career

as a young lad on the north-east club circuit.

Now living in Bristol, he went on to perform in theatre productions,

onboard P & O cruise ships and with various European tours.

Steve also spent several years on the Function, Jazz and Latin scene in London

whilst conducting further studies at Drumtech.

Steve is a busy freelance drummer in the South West where he also runs

a successful teaching enterprise'.

Brendan Musk

Trumpet

Brendan is a freelance Trumpeter based in Tottenham, North London.

Originally from Bathgate in Scotland, Brendan moved to London in 2012

to study and pursue a career in music.

Since arriving in London, Brendan has played everything from

classical music through to pop, jazz and funk with a host of groups and bands.

During the last year Brendan has toured with the

Nile Rodgers' tribute show, "The Hitmaker"

Carolyn Lawford

Alto Saxophone & Flute

Carolyn enjoys working as a freelance musician,

a role which has seen her play in many theatres across the UK,

including London's West End.

Recently she has worked on the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,

spent much of the Summer at Kilworth House Theatre in

West Side Story and Thoroughly Modern Millie,

and is looking forward to her 15th pantomime season at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Carolyn has also spent time working with the Royal Shakespeare Company,

Stratford-upon-Avon, and touring the UK with the Carpenter's tribute,

Voice of the Heart.

Somehow all of this happens despite the commitment of a husband,

three young children and two cats!'

Ian Maclean

Tenor Saxophone & Flute

Before settling in the Nottingham area of the East Midlands,

Ian studied Jazz Saxophone with the London Guildhall Schools of Music.

Amongst the many highlights of his musical career, he has enjoyed the role of Bandleader at Centre Parks for 20 years,

made several television appearances with The Blues Brothers

and has been a regular performer on board cruise ships and in pantomime.

Ian is also a skilled exponent of the Piccolo, the Guitar and the Clarinet

and both composed and performed the clarinet feature

on the Miss 600 hit, "TWIST".

Jamie Pimenta

Trombone

Jamie started playing the trombone at the age of 9 in London.

Following his two years as the principal trombonist

of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra,

Jamie joined the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Since leaving the Guildhall in 2014, Jamie has enjoyed performing

a wide range of musical styles with various ensembles

including orchestras, pop bands, big bands, musical theatre productions

and chamber groups at some of the UK’s top venues.

Ellie Smith

Trombone

Ellie has been a trombone player since the age of 9 and studied

Jazz Performance

at Trinity College of Music in London.

She has gone on to teach piano, violin and vocals

in and around Manchester

Ellie enjoys playing alongside other Jazz musicians

in various Jazz ensembles and big bands,

performing at Jazz Festivals and functions

for many different occasions.

Paul Taft

Guitar

Paul is a widely experienced guitarist, arranger, composer,

teacher and band leader based in Liverpool.

He enjoys playing as both

a performing and recording musician

in many fields of the music industry.

Neil Morley

Trumpet

Having worked within many areas across the music business,

Neil's trumpet-playing has taken him far and wide.

Neil has been fortunate to play with many well known artists

including

Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Cleo Laine, Jack Jones,

Petula Clark, Cliff Richard

and also the remarkable Dame Shirley Bassey herself.

Neil is therefore doubly excited

to be performing those famous signature numbers

as part of the fabulous band on "The SHIRLEY BASSEY Story".