Hi and welcome to the site for the Noel Richards Band. We have been playing together with a few line-up changes, since the late 1980's. The longest serving member of the band - apart from Noel - is Bradley Mason (drums). He has been in the band since 1989. The current line-up is as follows: Sam Richards - keys, Neil Costello - guitars, Brad Mason - drums and Mark Prentice - bass.
This is the line-up that recorded the album 'Road to Berlin' released on the Kingsway label in 2004.
Several guest musicians have played with the band in recent years - Matt Watts (bass), Dave Eslick (Bass), Dan Crack (drums), Chris Stang (guitar), Christoph Bonnen (keys).
The band has played in Brazil, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Finland. Every kind of venue from churches, to stadiums.
Ray butcher/ Freddie Pirotta band: at the Spice of Life, thursday, august 6th £10/£8 8 pm
featuring: Esther Bennett (vox), Freddie Pirotta (piano), David Moses (bass), Pete Hammond (kit) and Simeon Murray (sax) and Paul Pace (vox)
Freddie Pirotta: Piano: a true london great, although he was born in Malta, like Ray, of Maltese origin. He has played jazz piano with some of the greatest in london, including in a tour of Malta with his own little big band, studied with Howard Riley at Goldsmiths college. recent project 'Sweet Thunder' released by 33 records. Ray Butcher: trumpet: has his own cd 'War on the Saints' which is about to be released (Possibly on R'M'B records), all with original music. Plays around birmingham a great deal, and sometimes internationally. Has played alongside Robert Plant, BB King, Princess Diana, Mica Paris, Scott Matthews, Andy Abrahams and many jazz luminaries such as Jean Toussaint and Julian Siegal. 'Fluent and Powerful'- Steve Rubie (606 club) 'Bad' -Mica Paris
ESTHER BENNETT: Vocals originally playing alto saxophone before turning to voice, Esther has been performing on the London Jazz scene for over a decade. Performing
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in club owner Steve Rubie's own words: ''Ray is an excellent Birmingham-based trumpet player and NYJO alumni whose extensive experience includes work with the likes of Soweto Kinch, Jean Toussaint, Tony Levin, Julian Siegel, and renowned soul singer Mica Paris. A highly professional as well as creative player Ray has 'paid his dues' touring extensively with various high profile artists and is now generally regarded as an important figure on the Birmingham Jazz scene. He actually 'sat in' with my band "Samara" here at the Club on New Year's Eve and I was so impressed with his fluent and powerful playing that I offered him a date with his own quintet. The music is an attractive mix of Jazz standards and some originals and is well worth catching. And you don't have to go to Birmingham to hear it!''
