Meet the Band
Swingamathing is a 6 or 7 piece band, singer, trumpet, sax, clarinet, guitar, double bass and percussion...
Vocals: Suzanne Tomlinson
Suzanne’s past careers vary considerably from running a Domestic Violence Helpline to teaching mathematics at an Adult Residential College but in 2005 she decided to quit the rat race and devote herself to her love of music. Suzanne combined this with her teaching qualifications to start a new career and now runs OPUS School of Music alongside Helen (sax). She teaches singing and piano
Suzanne explored singing a variety of genres of music; folk, ABBA, Choral, Trad jazz,; she consistently won awards for her high standards in Music Theatre exams. However, Suzanne really started to find her own style whilst training with Tina May (Jazz Diva) and also with Anita Wardell (Be Bop queen).
Suzanne’s real passion is for anything Jazz or Swing and when she and Simon (trumpet) decided to put Swingamathing together, they knew they were onto something good! Suzanne admits singing with Swingamathing is the best thing out; the music she loves alongside some of her closest and talented friends. What more could she ask for.
Trumpet: Simon James
Simon (Too Funky) James has been playing music for as long as he can remember. He is passionate about swing, jazz and funk; playing in a wide variety of bands. With Swingamathing, he plays trumpet and flugel horn but with other bands he is often seen giving it some on keyboards, trombone, or even tambourine!
Saxophones, clarinet and flute: Helen Madden
Helen is an experienced performer, composer/ arranger and teacher. She has played with a variety of bands since graduating from Leeds College of Music in 1995 and is currently musical director at OPUS School of Music.
She is also an examiner for London College of Music with books about to be published by Rothco music which are included in the New Jazz exam syllabus. She composes and arranges in many styles but has a particular love of all things jazz and swing!
Helen is currently musical arranger for swingamathing.
Saxophones: Penny Millen
From an early age Penny was singing and playing various instruments, then at the age of 12 she got her hands on a tenor sax – and it was love! Her early career was spent with the BBC in London, working in radio production, qualifying as a sound engineer, and recording in studios and on live broadcasts.
She continued to play the sax and studied singing with jazz diva Tina May. In 1996 she became a full-time musician and teacher; qualifying as a music tutor, working with young musicians and also adults with special needs. Her recordings include a jazz session for Radio Two, and some commercial CDs of children’s songs.
Penny moved north to Barnsley in 2006 and continues working around the country playing theatres and clubs. In addition to Swingamathing, current projects include her own groups Sax Factor and Roadhouse ’59 and top Sheffield funk band the Grey Cooper Love Party.
If it’s unusual, dangerous or stupid, Penny will have a go. Life is for living, and the very best things in life are free - hurrah!
Guitar: Dave Kirkwood
David is our newest member & came to the band with a love of American "roots" music; especially West Coast blues, 40/50's style rhythm 'n' blues and Jazz.
His main influences are Charlie Christian, Freddie Green, Tiny Grimes, T-Bone Walker and more recently Alex Schultz.
As part of the rhythm section he's there to keep the music tight and swinging.
He has a simple philosophy to creating a great sound; a hollow-bodied Jazz guitar, straight into an old-style valve amp.
Double Bass: Mark Laksevics
Mark was born at an early age into a very musical family…his father was 2nd thimble in the Derek Guyler Washboard Allstars and his mother sang in the bath.
Introduced to the Bass guitar at borstal by default (all the other instruments had too many strings!) he took to it like a duck to custard…developing a unique style, which earned him the accolade ‘ NME’s most promising underwater bass player of 1985”.
Mark’s love of Belgian acid jazz fusion influenced his decision to take up double bass and soon he could be seen in Rotherham’s premier jazz venues, regularly playing with his big instrument…but was eventually asked to stop by the police…or join Swingamathing. Mark has never looked back….due to the severe crick in his neck.
Mark cites Howling Jimmy Jefferson, Larry ‘Big Face’ Eddison and Toots ‘Enormous Face’ Sellimans as his major influences.
Drums and Percussion: JRT
JRT- Jonathan Rawson-Tetley. I was privileged to have been raised into music by the late great pianist Chuck Fowler. Learning drums from his drummer John Firminger at the age of 8, I went on to study percussion under Steven Kahut and I can't begin to thank them enough. My influences since include Gene Kruper, Billy Cobham and Steve White. I have enjoyed working with Simon Mark and Helen for many years playing funk soul and blues before finally meeting Suzanne and forming Swingamthing.