Big Fan - Band Members

Big Fan are: Christian Miller - Jack Beeche - Mike Flynn - Sophie Alloway

Christian Miller – Guitar

Like many, Christian started guitar as a rock/indie player; but classes with Dave Cliff and Phil Robson alerted him to the possibility of playing jazz on the thing. While studying Astronomy at UCL, he moonlighted as a guitarist in and out of the studio, building an eclectic CV which ranges from hip-hop to opera, from African highlife to free improvisation. Christian has continued his jazz playing through gigging frequently at venues including the Spitz and the Bull’s Head with artists including leading British jazz pianists Robert Mitchell and Basil Hodge and members of the African Jazz All-stars, and sitting in with many great players on the UK scene including Soweto Kinch. Christian also sings classically and currently studies with ENO. He has a particular interest in early and contemporary concert music.

Jack Beeche– Alto Saxophone, Scary Tempos/Noises

By his own admission Jack is "yet another Aussie muso living in London." Growing up in the Blue Mountains and after messing around with Piano and Guitar for a few years he picked up the Saxophone and fell in love. Jack moved to Canberra to study jazz at the ANU with John Mackey, Miroslav Bukovsky, Eric Ajaye, Mike Price, Col Hoorweg and Dave Panichi.... After 4 years of playing, studying, gigging and generally having a blast he moved to Byron Bay to play in soul band for six months and see pretty much all of the east coast..... (he's now addicted to the beach). So when you love the beach where do you go next???? London!!! Jack now living in London playing, teaching, seeing loads of great music and being another typical Aussie.

Mike Flynn – Fretted & Fretless Electric Bass - Occasional Slapping

Born in London, via-Stroud, Oxford, Brighton and now living in Brixton, Mike has been playing bass guitar for 23 years. Though mainly self-taught Mike has studied privately with great bass players Mike Mondesir, John Goldsby, and Rob Statham, playing music from across the spectrum of styles; from full-on rock bands to piano jazz trios, even a little classical opera group - playing countless live gigs and numerous recording sessions, has made him a very versatile bassist. As well as holding it down with Big Fan Mike has played with some amazing musical talent in the last ten years including live performances with members of Skunk Anansie, The Egg (playing live on MTV and Channel 5), Portishead, opera singer Heather Cairncross, Soweto Kinch, Robert Mitchell, Tom Pilling, Mike Bradley, Robin Banerjee (Amy Winehouse), Lauren Dalrymple (Jazz Warriors), Mamadee Kamara (Courtney Pine, Andy Sheppard) Dylan Howe, Cheb Nacim, Shannon Harris (Wheatus, Lilly Allen), Franc O'Shea, Ben Sarfas (Lou Rhodes) and dozens of superb jazz, rock and world musicians.

Sophie Alloway – Drums - Satanic Funk Onslaught

Sophie spent years playing along to albums by Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and others, before starting lessons at 16. These lessons exposed her to the players she lists as her main inspiration today - Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Peter Erskine, Ian Thomas, etc.Sophie is currently heavily involved in the London jazz scene; as the house drummer at several jams, running her own residencies and gigging with various jazz and rock groups. Her current groups feature in-demand bass players such as Neville Malcolm (Incognito, Gabrielle, Billy Cobham, Tom Jones, Us3), Sam Burgess (Tim Whitehead, Dave O'Higgins) and Mike Mondesir (Jeff Beck, Billy Cobham, Whitney Houston, Courtney Pine).