About Darren

Darren Ashford

Darren has been playing drums professionally since 1991. In that time he has performed with The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), The Drifters (also as musical director), in various West-End musicals (Mama Mia/Joseph) and with pop artists such as The Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Will Young, Phats and Small, Sean Paul, Will Smith, Joss Stone, Lucie Silvas, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Shola Ama, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Guthrie, Romina Johnson, Beverley Knight, Angie Stone, Roachford, Kelle LeRoc, Alex Holland, Me’sha Bryan, Omar, Roy Ayers, Maxi Priest, Carleen Anderson, London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC), Larry Carlton and Mattias ‘IA’ Eklundh.

Darren’s previous teachers were some of the UK’s best: Bob Armstrong, Dave Hassel & Neal Wilkinson.

Darren teaches at all levels; from beginners to the more advanced in a soundproof studio on real drums.

Darren’s recent projects

The Dub Pistols 4th album, Rum & Coke, continues their journey, this time using grooves more as vehicles for a songwriting frenzy which has resulted in their most assured, mature and, yep, commercial album yet. With a startling array of guests, including cool ruler Gregory Isaacs, Beats International’s Lindy Layton, acid house pioneer Justin Robertson and Ashley Slater of Freak Power they’ve refined the multi-hued excursions of previous album Speakers And Tweeters and emerged as a cutting-edge modern pop group without losing the danger, humour and mania.

Check out the Dub Pistols myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thedubpistols

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With their iconic hit of the 90’s ‘things can only get better’,  D:REAM are back with new material for 2009.

Check out the D:REAM website: http://d-ream.co.uk/

and their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/dreamonvol2

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Me’sha Bryan hails from Wolverhampton in The West Midlands. She started singing professionally at the age of 16 and since then has performed in a variety of musical contexts. From theatre (Ragtime in The West End, The Little Shop of Horrors at The West Yorkshire Playhouse…) to session work (Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Beverley Knight, Russell Watson, Heaven 17, The Counterfeit Stones, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, residency at Stanley House Studios recording demos for the likes of Kylie and Victoria Beckham…), she’s already had an eclectic career. More recently, Me’sha has taken to songwriting. Following two successful hour long acoustic sets on BBC West Midlands’ Ben Turner show, she formed “the band of doom”, comprising Me’sha on vocals and acoustic guitar, producer/arranger, Alan Mian on all manner of basses, David Birnie aka “Captain Guitar” aka “Strat Dave” on electric guitar and new drummer, Darren Ashford. Visit the myspace page for upcoming news and gigs around London.

http://www.myspace.com/meshabryan

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Unsigned soulful-singing-songwriting-sensation Alex Holland began playing the violin at the age of 7 and soon after took up the piano. Singing followed naturally around the age of 10 and at 12 Alex fell under the spell of the voices and music of Stevie Wonder and Harry Connick Jr, two artists he considers to be his key influences. After training in the theatre as an actor, singer and dancer Alex got into music production whilst also writing and arranging his own music.

Since then Alex has worked with the likes of Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx, who remixed his song ‘Back Of Your Mind’ after they were jamming in the studio together. ‘Put It To The Back Of Your Mind’ was then released as a 12inch to DJs on Basement Jaxx’s indie label ‘Atlantic Jaxx’. For the last two years Alex has been seriously working the London Live scene with his ever increasing band featuring Darren Ashford on drums, Joseph Roberts on bass, Pete Kershaw on guitar, Emily Holligan and Esther Williams on backing vocals, and of course himself on piano and lead vocals.

Naturally the creative type, Alex is constantly writing new music to share with his increasing fan base. He hopes his music will move, inspire and up lift his listeners.

Here’s what some people at the top of their game are already saying about Alex…

“This guy is !@&^ing AMAZING!!” BEVERLY KNIGHT

“This guy is set to BLOW!! He wont be put to the back of MY mind!” KAT B, Choice FM

‘Put It To The Back Of Your Mind’ is available to DOWNLOAD NOW at itunes

To preview the EP tunes visit Alex’s myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/alexhollandmusic

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