ANDREW WOOD MITCHELL - LEAD VOCALS

He created BFC in the early nineties and ultimately tamed those fearsome independent spirits that we call musicians.

Now it’s all for one and well that’s it really, but seriously Andrew has developed with the aid of the considerable array of talent listed here an amalgam of musicians playing in London who reinforce the strong funk direction of the band.

Whether playing Rare Groove and Classic Funk tracks from the seventies, more contemporary R&B cuts or indeed material from Andy’s own albums under the guise of Andy & the Other One the band lays down a unique perspective on the world of groove.

This desire is largely drawn from the fact that as the bandleader Andrew has concentrated his career heavily in the area of live performances and has appeared on stage with Natalie Cole, Paul Young, Limal, Blue, West Life, Romena Johnson Michael Ball, and Katrina and the Waves. As a regular face with the “Mark Butcher all star band” he has performed several times at the Albert Hall with Steve Harley, Bill Wyman, Ace, Charles and Eddy and Elton John’s charismatic and long suffering percussionist Ray Cooper both providing background vocals and a solo vocal performance.

However he has not confined his music career simply to playing with those marked faces from the past, his recording credits also include a featured vocal on the 1996 Evita film soundtrack and harmonica with Billy Myers as well as highly respected old sweats like Tom Robinson and newcomers Samuel Purdey and former Vivian Westwood model Sara Stockbridge and his television credits include BBC 1's "Bally Kiss Angel"; Carlton television's "The Bill"; LWT's "Park Life", "Andrew Lloyd Webbers 50th Birthday Concert" televised live at The Albert Hall and "The Royal Variety Performance."

But of course like most of his ilk found in the dictionary under the collective noun an “ego of singers” Andrew has had ambitions to promote his own recording career. Starting with the ritual humiliation of talent contests he appeared on Star Search 1988 having slummed it in the Sky One version he went onto appear on the slightly more prestigious Star Search America and Star Search International. This experience brought him into contact with such notable talk show sidekicks as Ed MacMann.

Since his excellent talent show adventures he has recorded several albums with The AM Band touring Europe and appearing live on Greater London Radio and more recently revitalised his solo career in the Twenty First century with albums “Songs from the bottom drawer” and “La La La I’m not listening” released on the bands label Big Funk Ltd (see here).

SPEEDY & VANNIE - BACKING VOCALS

Like many of the names here Speedy has had a close working relationship with Andrew for a number of years and has remained remarkably good natured. She began her career in musical theatre performing with the Afrosax Theatre Company.

With many prominent and lead roles under her belt she found the strains of Sondheim and Hammerstein too hard to bear and chose to escape into the funky and yet cut throat world of sessions working with artists like girl empowered mannequins The Spice Girls powerful soul diva Carline Anderson; bands like Innocence, gold lurex clad performers Imagination and such hair cuts as Michael Bolton.

Brought up on the mean streets of the Caribbean Vannie toured throughout India and the Far East she finally landed on the cold shores of Britain and jumped straight into the vibrant if sometimes jaded live music scene in London. A regular member of the Ten rooms of Posse she has backed artists such as Kim Mazel, Kellie La Rock, Corrie from Damage, Mica Paris, Atomic Kitten and Sonique.

MATTHEW JOHNSON - KEYS & BACKING VOCALS

A recent addition to the hugely successful retro funk act Jamiraquoi Matthew’s meteoric career has taken him from the unlikely soul roots of Bournemouth paying his dues with any number of weird and wonderful acts until he found his way to Peckham where he began to establish himself as one of the funkiest players in town.

Working with British Soul Divas like Beverly Nite, Kim Mazel and Elishah Laverne and supporting major artists including Natalie Cole, Gladys Nite and personnel intensive seventies funk combo Tower of Power, he finally gained the opportunity to audition for Jamiraquoi and won through with flying colours.

Now touring and writing with the band he still manages to fit in gigs with Big Funk when he’s around town sharing his role in the band with the wonderful Allison Pearse whose remarkable talents have found her working with an assortment of artists she likes to describe within categories of cheese. Starting with fromage frei and then moving up the scale to the really heavy stuff. Mmmm Nice. Here are just some of the lucky participants who feature on her cheesemagraph we leave it to you to decide where they fit on the scale: Pete Cox (From Go West), Tony Hadley, Gloria Gaynor, Sarah Jane Morris, Kad Aetwuri, Boy George, Matt Goss and Limahl.

MICHAEL BROWN - GUITAR

Beginning his career in the mid eighties as a member of the Funk Rock Rock act Roachford, Michael became a leading light on the soul and gospel scene. His reputation has spread far an wide including the United States gospel scene and he has worked with practically every major gospel artist still alive and ministering.

In this country he is often found backing up the London Gospel Community Choir, whilst he has clocked up a vast number of sessions and tours with artists that include (here we go again) Chaka Khan, Micca Paris, The Lighthouse Family, So Solid Crew and Blue.

A relatively recent addition to the band his vibrant some might say blinding personality is matched by the truly vibey funk power of his guitar playing.

WAYNE NUNES - BASS

Like most of the musos in the band Wayne actually became part of the bands he has worked in rather than simply dotting in and out as a session musician.

A consummate pro he began his career in great stead playing with Eighties legend Eddie Grant (obviously Eddie wasn’t a legend in the eighties as he was regarded as an outstanding newcomer at that time.) Whilst working with an assortment of band such as the Foundations and as a member of the house band for the 921 Club and MTV’s Base Lounge he ultimately found his place in the dark avant-garde dance moods of influential Birmingham maverick artist Tricky.

THE HORN SECTION

As if there wasn’t a enough hot air around with three singers BFC has chosen to increase the level of CO2 production and spittle with a three piece brass section. Mind you Earth Wind and Fire tracks sound a little minimalist without horn arrangements.

These three young (well compared to Andrew) funksters have fired up the bands performance since they joined forces to create a truly tight section. So tight they seem to merge into one. (Musically that is) With dance moves inspired by Max Wall they reach new heights in choreography and between them Trevor Mires (trombone), Chris White (Tenor Sax) and Simon Finch (Trumpet) have each earned themselves a reputation as windy professionals.

Among the many credits to their name are jazz giants Weather reports Peter Erskine and Jean Toussaint. The James Taylor Quartet, Lemarr, George Benson, Ray Charles, The Mavericks , Andrea Boccelli, soul man Billy Preston and LWT favourites Dudley Moore, Victoria Wood, Ron Atkinson and Michael Barrymore.

PERRY MILLIUS - DRUMS

As a juvenile Perry began his career in the raucous assembly known as Bad Manners. Following this he began his long association with Wayne Nunes touring with Eddy Grant and then embryonic British soul boy band The Passendas. In addition to this Perry has gone on to tour and recorded with artists that include Aswad and Gabriel, as well as working with Wayne as regular members of Britrap artist Tricky's band and Jamelia. Wayne and Perry are also involved in several recording projects for film soundtracks and underground dance tracks as well as being regular members in the house band for Hackney's 291 Club and The Stratford Theatre company.

TINA LYLE & MARK TOWNSON - PERCUSSION

Another addition to the band in the Twenty First Century, Tina came to BAWB entirely conversant with the moods of Van Morrison having played with song writing legend for ten years. When not under the spell of his Gallic charms she has also performed with Tom Jones Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Elkie Brooks, Mari Wilson, Hazel O’Conner, Roger Daltrey and Womack and Womack. In her addition to her credible credits another permanent fixture on the LWT circuit and can be seen pounding her congas for the likes of Brian Connoly, Frank Ifield and Shirley Bassey.

Another extreme talent Mark shares the BFC gig with Tina as both are very busy people having worked extensively in the London Club scene he has also been seen jangling his bells for a vast number of bands around the United Kingdom.

THE DANCERS

Since 2000 Big Funk has extended the line up when the event require visuals a little more colourful than session musicians dressed in black welded to their respective instruments to support Andrew in his presentation of the show.

On these occasions Andrew calls upon the shimmying talents Della Buhujoo and her company POUT UK. Talents which have been employed on programmes such as Channel 4’s Richard Blackwood Show, The Big Breakfast, BBC1’s Top of the Pops and Channel 5’s Pepsi Chart show. Della’s dancing skills have been employed by such artists as Lionel Ritchie, Dane Bowers, Brian Harvey and Sarah Brightman.