Simon Bates, Saxes, with Terry Hutchins Qrt

Renowned for his awesome technique and versatility, Simon is as at home leading bands on TV shows as he is in a local jazz club - the reason that the Royal Marines asked him to become their Professor of Saxophone!

Playing all musical genres, Simon has performed around the world in a wide variety of settings from the Q.E.2. and Eiffel Tower to Ronnie Scott's and the Albert Hall. He is also a respected band leader having led the 9 piece band on the Johnny Vaughan Tonight Show and many other TV bands. He has been Musical Director for many well known artists including Bette Midler, Rick Astley and Alexander Armstrong. A highlight was conducting the BBC Singers, The Orchestra of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and assorted celebrity singers for BBC Radio 3's In Tune Christmas Special.

Pop

He is in great demand on the London session scene - his playing features on countless adverts, film scores, theme tunes and pop recordings. Simon has appeared live and recorded with a wide variety of bands and musicians including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Elvis Costello, Jamie Cullum, Bette Midler, Shane MacGowan, Sister Sledge, Lulu, Rick Wakeman, Dizzee Rascal, The Sugarhill Gang, Chaka Khan, Emma Bunton, Seal, Eddie Floyd, Billy Ocean, Tito Jackson, Cilla Black, Mary Wilson, Alfie Boe and Carleen Anderson.

Jazz

Simon is recognised as one of the country's leading jazz saxophonists and appears regularly at respected UK venues including Ronnie Scott's, The Jazz Cafe, 606 Club, The Bull's Head and the finest jazz clubs and festivals worldwide. He performs regularly with many of the jazz world's biggest stars including John Dankworth, Jamie Cullum, Peter Erskine, Steve Gadd, The Ronnie Scott's All Stars, John Etheridge, Jim Mullen, Don Weller, Eddie Daniels, Cleo Laine, Simply Swing, Dave O Higgins and Sax Appeal.

Television

Simon appears frequently on television.  You may have seen him in programmes such as The Paul O'Grady Show, The Parkinson Show, Channel 4's Big Breakfast, GMTV, This Morning, Movie Mania and he ran the 9-piece band on the Johnny Vaughan Tonight Show.  Simon has also performed with many Strictly Come Dancing stars including Aljaz & Janette, Brendan Cole and Anton Du Beke.

Soloist

Well known as a performer in many different musical genres,Simon has featured as a guest soloist with large ensembles including the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, The Royal Marines Big Band and the bands of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards.

Getting Started  

Simon started to learn the violin at school but the draw of his father's old clarinet was too much, and he started to have lessons. With the intense competition of his twin brother, (now a successful freelance French Horn player), Simon progressed quickly and achieved Grade 8 on the clarinet at the tender age of 12. He started to play sax at the age of 14 and got his first paid gig in the same year. Whilst studying for a classical music degree, he turned to jazz and improvised music and studied Stravinsky by day and played Charlie Parker by night in London's clubs and bars.