MICK SHOULDER

MICK SHOULDER:            Double Bass / Electric Bass / Guitar 

 

Mick began at about the age of nine by playing classical guitar and indeed not much else until Punk exploded onto the scene in his mid teens.

 

He ended up as the bass player in 'Citizen Kane'. The reasoning being;, "if you can play guitar, then you must be able to play bass" He soon figured out that he enjoyed it more than playing guitar. After some dodgy haircuts and a failed recording contract the band split and reformed a few years later. This time, just to play some blues for fun. It was during this period that Mick became enamoured with Rockabilly, took up double bass and started to get into the jazzier end of RnB. They eventually split up for good eight years, two albums and 1500 gigs later.

 

A brief respite was in order to regroup and practice. During this period Mick dug out his guitar, practiced his jazz chops, learnt to read music and performed a lot of gigs as a jazz guitarist.

 

A return to bass guitar was followed by a brief sojourn and minor reord deal with metal band, 'Voodoo Guru' and then Mick joined 'The Whisky Priests'. The next year was spent endlessly touring Europe with the odd jazz gig at home when time allowed.

 

 

Mick left after a year to join Frank Zappa tribute band 'Wagga Jawaka'. This was a labour of love for the next three years. When 'Wagga' finally folded he decided to concentrate solely on Jazz.

 

Many gigs throughout the North East followed with his own quintet and many of the regions finest players. He was part of 'The Dave Borthwick Trio'. The band which recorded the first album on the 'Jazz Action' label which has since went on to chronicle the cream of the North East's talent.

 

He formed 'Djangologie' at the start of the century, (Who also recorded on the 'Jazz Action' label) who after a short hiatus have gone on to forge a national reputation on the Gypsy Jazz circuit and were selected as one of only twelve bands on the first 'Northern Line' scheme. Mick also still indulges his passion for guitar by playing his Maccaferri copy with the band when one of their regular guitarists is unavailable. He has since went on to form 'Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche'. Another gypsy jazz outfit, this time with Mick taking over lead guitar duties.

 

He is also a member of the 'Paul Edis Sextet' A piano player with a growing national reputation, the band has recorded two albums. The first of which gained third place in the 2012 'Jazzwise' poll. Also with the 'Ruth Lambert Trio', an intimate vocal/guitar/bass outfit  that won the 'BBC Introducing' Jazz section and is featured with 'Musicians Unlimited' big band.

 

In his "spare time" he does the occasional gig with the 'Mick Shoulder Quintet' playing the music of the Jazz Messengers/Jazz Couriers/Horace Silver. The nine piece 'Mick Shoulder Little Big Band' playing  a cross between Rockabilly and big band and his funk/improv/dance outfit 'Tug'

 

As well as this, he is a composer, arranger, teacher, plays with a variety of local outfits and also performs as a theatre musician.

 

Mick has worked and played with

 

David Newton Trio, Greg Abate, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams, Jim Mullen, Tony Kofi, Mornington Lockett, Tim Garland, Julian Siegal, Dave O'Higgins, Gerard Presencer, Pete Churchill, Steve Waterman, Nigel Price,

Alexander Bone, Dave Cliff, Tommy Whittle, Mark Nightingale, Daniel John Martin, Christophe Brunard, Ben Castle, Dennis Rollins, Tim Whitehead, Harry Beckett, Jason Yarde, Frank Brooker, Vasilis Xenapoulis, Lennart Anderson, Roy Williams, John Barnes. He has also been featured with numerous large ensembles, such as ‘Voice of the North’, 'Durham Alumni Big Band'  ‘Dave Connolly Big Band’, Musicians Unlimited, John Miles Big Band and Jools Holland