The Wayne Matthews Trio

This iteration of the Wayne Matthews Trio will feature keyboardist Matt Ratcliffe from Derby and Award winning drummer Neil Bullock; playing a variety of jazz, soul, hip-hop and other urban influences arranging well loved standards and original material.

These three have played together previously in various guises, but will debut as a trio the first time.

Wayne Matthews - Bass

Wayne is an electric and acoustic fretless bassist hailing from Coventry. He has performed in a variety of styles and genres in the UK and Internationally including the West End (The Tina Tuner Show and Get Up Stand Up), TV, radio, gospel, orchestral (Limelight Orchestra), big bands (Crash Collective, Swingshift, Jazz Colossus and Fat Chops), jazz, soul and reggae. He currently runs a weekly Jazz Jam Session in Leamington Spa which to date is in it's 7th year, is also involved with school ensembles, teaches privately and at Nexus ICA and developing young artists with the 2Funky Project Live in Leicester.

Matt Ratcliffe - Piano/Keys

Matt Ratcliffe is an accomplished jazz pianist and a regular performer with his own trio and in other bands across the U.K. He is a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire's highly regarded Jazz course and Director for Education and Participation at Derby Jazz. He leads PLAYJAZZ a monthly jazz workshop for adults Derby Jazz. Matt gained first class honours in jazz piano and studies at Birmingham Conservatoire with the renowned British Jazz pianist Liam Noble and, prior to that studied with Mark Lockett. in his home town of Wirksworth. Other tutors have included Hans Koller, Mike Williams, Pete Saberton, John Taylor and Steve Melling. At university he was in a series of Big Band concerts led by composer Mike Gibbs and was in an ensemble tutored by artist-in-residence international bassist Dave Holland.

Neil Bullock - Drums

Neil bullock turned professional at the age of seventeen, having started playing drums at the age of eight. Neil studied privately with the world renowned drummer Mal Garrett from the Birmingham Conservatoire.
He won a clutch of awards as a teenager, including two Musicians' Union 'Most Promising Young Musician' awards, three 'TV Times Outstanding Drummer Awards', and The BBC Big Band 'Best Drummer Prize' and the Musicians' Union 'Outstanding Musician Award'. At this time Neil was a member of the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO), which he left at the age of twenty one after appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Following a meeting with Danny Gottlieb, (Pat Metheny), Neil went to New Jersey to study with Dave Brubeck's world renowned drummer, Joe Morello, and also studied privately with the greatest exponent of the Moeller technique, Jim Chapin.
Neil joined The Red Lemon Electric Blues Band at a young age and went on to tour with Chuck Berry, played shows as support to Robert Plant and made a record number of appearances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Over the last few years Neil has worked on numerous occasions with the BBC Big Band both live and on radio broadcasts.