Big Fan - Jazz Quartet

Big Fan like to groove: rocking, raw and funky jazz, swinging bebop and edgy Latin all played by five budding musicians from London’s vibrant jazz scene. Meeting through the city’s many jam sessions there was obvious chemistry from the off when guitarist Christian Miller and bassist Mike Flynn first met at Brixton’s buzzing Sunday session at the Effra pub, with rising-talent of drummer Sophie Alloway and the equally prodigeous sax playing of Miguel Ramon completing the line up.

Seeking to combine their collective love of progressive, but accessible jazz, Big Fan infuse music by Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, and Miles Davis, alongside strong original compositions with contemporary grooves and strong solos, all the time playing as a solid unit. Recording their demo in the legendary and atmospheric surroundings of Chelsea’s 606 Jazz Club, all five are strong soloists but equally strong accompanists, while all posses a driving energy, and dare they admit, sense of fun, that fuels their own brand of jazz.

Samples:

Seven Steps To Heaven


Red Clay


Central Line


Band Biographies

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 Basil Hodge and members of the African Jazz All-stars, and sitting in with many great players on the UK scene including Soweto Kinch and Robert Mitchell. Christian also sings classically and currently studies with ENO. He has a particular interest in early and contemporary concert music.

Miguel Ramon – Tenor Saxophone - was born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Miguel studied music from 8 years of age after he was given his first guitar by his father Antonio. At 14 he turned to electric guitar, which he played through school concerts. Miguel’s grandmother Maciana and the music of the records of Paco de Lucia being his first influences, at the age of 16 he began studying with Jim Hall educated guitarist Gabriel Rosales At 20 after he heard the music of John Coltrane, Miguel immediately bought a tenor saxophone, and studied classic saxophone at the U.I.B. (University of Balearic Irelands). passing his free time playing with orchestras and dance bands. From that point on, his musical influences were classic, flamenco, Latin and American jazz. During the buzz of musical life of the summer months on the beautiful island of Mallorca, Miguel worked as horn player for the Blues Devils, Martin Negro Contemporary jazz quartet, American guitarist Mark Rossy’s jazz quartet, and as featured soloist with the Five o ‘clock Big Band and the Apache Band. In demand as a side-man for a number of European and American jazz stars, Miguel Ramon also played in Madrid, Barcelona and London, where he now lives and works teaching guitar and as a studio musician.



Mike Flynn – Electric Basses - has been a devoted to the electric bass for twenty years, mainly self-taught Mike has also received tutelage from great bassists Steve Lawson, Franc O’Shea, Rob Statham and John Goldsby. Spending time in Oxford saw him play gigs with Soweto Kinch, funk-trance band The Egg (on MTV and Channel 5), and in jazz a trio with talented pianist Tom Pilling (Sheena Davis Group) and drummer Mike Bradley. A number of years spent in Brighton saw him perform with internationally renown opera singer Heather Cairncross in a classical jazz sextet, and acclaimed flamenco group Candela. Now resident in London, Mike makes regular appearances at the Effra and Halo jam sessions playing with the likes of pianist Robert Mitchell and drummer Graham Fox among others, also playing bass in 6-piece funk band, Jasco, and up-and-coming Algerian ‘Rai’ band, Ludomix.



Sophie Alloway – Drums - 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).

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To book Big Fan please call Mike on 07939095229 or Christian on 07779108568.