Dean'o plays Clarinet, Soprano, Alto, C Melody, Tenor, Baritone sax's and started playing from a very early age. As well as Clarinet & all Sax's, Dean'o also plays and experiments on "EWI" Electronic Woodwind Instruments with bands. Dean'o started playing recorder at school at the age of 6 years, at the age of 10 years he started on Clarinet and studied both Clarinet and Theory of music until the age of 15 when he then started to learn the finer points of playing Sax. Although not a truly accomplished pro musician, Dean'o has gigged with most bands in the South of England with an excellent reputation as a improviser and a session musician and until recently returning to the UK, was formerly living in Eire (South Ireland). A session musician for countless years, Dean'o has gigged with many known musicians and some not so known. Dean'o has his roots firmly planted in Soul / Jazz / blues which goes a long way to describing his melodic soulful approaches to melody lines, has been described as one of the South's premier Sax players, and is always in demand with Soul & function bands in the region. Soprano sax is a particular love of Dean'o, and this really does come across in many of the numbers he has in his set, the almost crying melody's of the Soprano, are a testament to this, and the envy of many a fine sax player. Dean'o has for years studied improvisation and the art of this most unusual music form, which bears witness to his playing, which is unusual, with melodic undertones. Dean'o was first introduced to sax from a very early age, and has been playing ever since, Royal School of Music exams for theory, under his belt complimenting the soulful playing and filling in for the general tone of any band. Dean'o has had the honour to have played for & with the following known musicians, whilst working as one of the south of Englands, leading session musician's.
In Alphabetical Order.
Andy Comley
Ben E King
Bob Pearce ( Blues Man Of The South )
Curtis Mayfield
Edwin Starr
Eric Bell ( Thin Lizzy )
Frank Dixie
( Brilliant Local Talented Entrepreneur Having "A Bad Bad Day" )
Geno Washington
Gloria Gaynor
Helen Craythorne
Herbie Armstrong ( Lead Guitar & Vocals for Van Morrison )
Jimmy Ruffin
Katie Holmes
Kenny Young ( Writer of ) "Under The Boardwalk"
Laura Vane
Mo Woods
Nick Beggs ( Kajagoogoo )
Peter Van Hooke
Ray Drury
Rod Demick
Uno Annalon
Amongst bands, I have had the privilege to have played with the following local Groups.
Aitch Brothers
Amorilo
Big Red
Boy's White Teeth
Darren Vern Band
Function
Harry Hammersmith & The Flyovers
I Am Ted Bovis
Impulse
Jack's House
No Previous
October & "Uno"
Perry / Ellis
Pub Idles (Gemini)
Rufus Stone ( Ex Member )
Skimmer
Steam Machine
Stoned Soul Picnic
Sunflower
The Bloody Nice Blokes
The Cheese Doctors
The Mustangs
The Noise Next Door
Tongue In Groove
