Josh Arcoleo (ts) Ivo Neame (p) Calum Gourlay (b) James Maddren (d)
Born into a musical family in 1989 Josh was lucky enough to start saxophone lessons with the legendary Pee Wee Ellis when he was 13. At 18 he gained a place on the renowned jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music – he has just graduated with a 1st class degree, as well as winning a 2011 Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarship and the Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize. The latter is a recording contract with Edition Records with his debut album to be released in the spring of 2012. He has also received awards from the EMI Music Sound Foundation and MBF Young Talent.
He began touring with Pee Wee when he was 16 with his ‘ Assembly’ and the ’Still Black Still Proud’ band. Venues include the Royal Festival Hall and Barbican, London, Blue Note, Milan, Ronnie Scotts, festivals in Slovakia, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Spain and UK festivals in Derby, Hull, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and Glastonbury amongst others.
In 2011 Josh toured with Kit Downes’ band to showcase Kit’s ‘Quiet Tiger’ album. He has been lucky to work with many established musicians/bands including Jason Rebello, Fred Wesley, Mark and Michael Mondesir, Tony Allen, Linley Marthe, David Berkman, Peter Madsen, Get the Blessing, Friendly Fires, Vanessa Freeman, Tony Remy, Jamie Cullum, Guido May, Gareth Williams, Patrick and Martin Scales and has studied with some great players/teachers – Nick Smart, Iain Ballamy, Pete Churchill, Nikki Iles and drummer Jeff Williams, to name just a few.
