Download Dixie Ticklers musician biogs

Dom James – clarinet and leader
Dom is one of the UK’s leading jazz clarinettists and a prolific composer. He has performed all over the world with various groups and most recently with The Jazz Vipers (New Orleans). Having studied with Mark Van de Wiel, Pete Ripper and Evan Christopher, he has a broad musical knowledge and output. He is the founder and leader of The Dixie Ticklers. His compositions and arrangement have made their way into the repertoires of a few UK big bands and jazz groups. Dom also writes music for media, and has numerous film and television credits.
Daoud Merchant – drums / washboard
Daoud began his playing career in his secondary school and 6th form jazz groups, both of which he became director of upon leaving. Having spent his childhood studying at the Junior Royal Academy of Music, he graduated in 2009 from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was in the winning band for the 2008 Guildhall School Jazz Award, and was awarded a Scholarship for Outstanding Jazz Musicians by Yamaha and JazzWise Magazine upon graduating. Also, in 2010, he was delighted to be nominated for the Musicians' Company Young Jazz Musician Award. Daoud has performed in various venues in the UK and abroad with artists such as John Law, Juliet Kelly, Michael Garrick, Roby Lakatos and Emprical, and has recorded in a variety of genres and ensembles for television broadcast and CD release.
Nicholas Costley-­‐White -­‐ guitar
Nick is a guitarist based in London who studied jazz guitar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Phil Robson and John Parricelli where he graduated with a first class Honours Degree. Nick has had a wealth of performing experience in London, leading his own quartet playing original compositions as well as freelancing in a variety of ensembles including the Dixie Ticklers, and the Tommy Andrews Quintet. Nick has performed in some of the city’s best venues including the Barbican, LSO St. Luke’s, the Vortex, King’s Place, the 606 Club as well as having had the opportunity to perform abroad in countries such as France, Italy, Malta, Sweden and Brazil. In 2011 Nick was awarded the Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarship, and in 2010 won the UK Jazz Radio "Band of the Year" award with the Sam Braysher Quartet.
William Rixon -­‐ trumpet
William Rixon is a London based musician. In 2009 he graduated from the Guildhall School of Music having studied both jazz and classical trumpet with Steve Fishwick, Martin Hathaway, Nick Smart, Noel Langley and Anne McAneney. In addition he took part in studies with visiting professors John Patitucci, Joshua Redman, John Taylor and Phil Markowitz. He represented the school at the 2009 IASJ jazz meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, with David Liebman and they subsequently performed together in a concert back in the UK featuring some of Will's original compositions and arrangements. William writes for and lead various projects as well as playing with some of London's most vital ensembles including the London Jazz Orchestra, Gillespiana and the Gareth Lockrane Big Band. He has also performed and recorded with Katy B, Ghostpoet, Lianne La Havas, Yasmin Levy, Jeremy Warmsley, the Ronnie Scotts Big Band and the BBC Big Band with whom he was a featured soloist on Radio 3. Tommy Antonio – double bass
Tommy is a double bassist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. He is the assistant director of the jazz and gospel choir The London Vocal Project and has performed with artists ranging from Cleo Laine, Bobby McFerrin to Kenny Wheeler. As a composer Tommy writes and arranges for his a capella vocal group The Renegade Vocal Pilots, and commercially for internet based advertising. He is currently writing and producing a solo EP entitled 'Tender Oh' due for release in 2012.