Rare Groove Ensemble - The Band
Ruby Wood - Award-winning Vocals!
The Rare Groove Ensemble is fronted by Ruby Wood - an amazing singer who you can't fail to be excited about. Recently awarded the YAMAHA/Classic FM Jazz Scholarship for vocals, Ruby's talent is becoming Nationally renowned! (Read more here..) (..and here)
Ruby's soulful vocals are the perfect lead for our funky and smooth sounds, and our versions of your favourite party tracks will leave you wondering why they didn't sound like that in the first place!
A graduate of the presdigous Leeds College of Music, Ruby is also involved in many other musical projects including singing in soul/hip-hop band Extra Curricular.
Thabo - Vocals
Can anyone rival Thabo for energy and natural ability in creating an extraordinary atmosphere?! We don't think so. The one-man-party that is our other lead vocalist has a voice that is sure to make you sit up and take notice - although you'll probably already have been drawn to the dance-floor by Thabo's rhythm and charisma!
Thabo is an amazing singer who has to be heard to be believed. Lemar? Anthony Hamilton? You haven't heard anything yet!
You can also hear Thabo in Extra Curricular, and in forthcoming solo projects.
Mark Cowley - Saxophones
Providing our horn section is the sax player Mark Cowley. Also a graduate of Leeds College of Music, Mark is a horn player with over a decade's experiance of playing music all over the world. You just can't ignore the exciting solos and funky grooves which punctuate our set.
As well as being reedsman for the Rare Groove Ensemble, and also being a member of Extra Curricular, Mark regularly gigs in many other different groups up and down the country, including blues/rock band The Daybreakers and classic jazz groups.
Aidan Shepherd - Keyboards/Piano
The first member of the rhythm section, Aidan, is a piano player extrodinaire, with skills and musicality that are truly awesome. Aidan finds sounds and rhythms that fit the party vibe to a tee, and fills the roles of guitar, rock-organ and piano all himself!
Another graduate of Leeds College of Music, he is a talent in any genre he turns his hand to.
Along with our bassist and drummer, Aidan expertly produces grooves you'll be sure to recognise, and which are guarenteed to get your feet moving. He is a must for any good party!
Jack Button - Bass
Jack's funky bass is a must for the party atmosphere of the Rare Groove Ensemble. With seemingly no effort Jack creates a new and exciting twist on the tunes we play - we challenge you not to want to dance when this driving force of the band kicks in.
Jack's gigging experience in so many different styles has a huge influence on the music we produce. Solo projects, larger bands such as Extra Curricular, and 3 years studying at Leeds College of Music are just a small part of Jack's impressive CV!
John Arnesen - Drums
John keeps the whole show together with his rock-steady drum beats. A musician who works in bands all over the country, John is a much sought-after drummer who, rumour has it, could play blindfold and still not miss a beat.
The Daddy of the band, John's experiance provides a solid base which will keep the dance-floor filled all night. Along with Jack and Aidan, this rhythm section is a formidable unit!