Alan Bateman - biography
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Alan was born in Swindon, Wiltshire in 1963. He took up the Clarinet at age 11 and Alto Sax at 13 and eventually after hearing Louis Armstrong's 16 bar intro to Samantha in the film High Society, took up the Trumpet at age 26!
He is completely self-taught on the trumpet apart from one lesson when he first borrowed his brother Jim's old school Trumpet.
He has been mesmerised by Louis Armstrong's genius ever since & cites several of Louis' recordings as goals that have driven him from strength to strength i.e. West End Blues, Potato Head Blues, Cornet Chop Suey, Weather bird Rag & When youre Smiling (The high bit in Ab yes! That one)
Alan's older brother Ian was first to bring an instrument into the family home in 1970, when he was issued with a Trombone by his music tutor because he had long arms.
Alan's twin brother Jim is also a musician and played the guitar & trumpet at school. For a short period all three brothers played in the same jazz band with Alan on clarinet and sax, Jim on trumpet & Ian on trombone.
The band won a commendation at the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in 1980. Unfortunately Ian was too old to participate, so the twins had to go it alone, hence the name "The Gemini Jazzmen".
Jim no longer plays trumpet, but now teaches guitar full time in & around Swindon. Ian has gone on to bigger and better things & is now one of the most respected trombonists in Europe.
Married with two sons and a daughter, Alans family commitments usually keep his musical exploits fairly close to home.
Up until July 2009, Alan worked full time in the optical disc industry & worked for EMI for 17 years at their CD manufacturing facility in Swindon. Working as a trouble shooter /process engineer in disc production, he also worked at other sites in the EMI group in Holland & South Africa.
Even though Alan was working full-time, he still revelled in the occasional opportunities that arose to help out with professional bands that were in need of a trumpet player or reedsman.
Alan was a founder member of the Antique Six jazz band, playing trumpet, he held this post for some five years. Their first gigs were in local pubs in and around the Cotswolds & Midlands playing in local pubs and jazz clubs to an ever increasing audience. In 1998 Alan was forced to stop playing completely after his wife Denise was diagnosed with MS.
"The Antiques Six" have continued to grow and are now an established and sought out band on the jazz circuit.
Alan still plays with most of the band members at other jazz functions & occasionally still deputises in the band on trumpet.
In recent years Alan has found the time to pursue his passion for playing jazz again, he has been Trumpeter for Terry Lightfoots jazzmen and also regularly deputises for Enrico Tomasso with Acker Bilks Paramount Jazz band.
He has also worked with the bands of Kenny Ball, Pete Allen, Tony Pitt & Neville Dickie, as well as many other popular players and bands.
Alan still plays reeds when required, and has added soprano, baritone & tenor sax to his arsenal of instruments.
Alan has a forceful style when playing the trumpet and prides himself on laying down a strong lead.
Players that have influenced Alan so far include:- Louis Armstrong, Kenny Ball, Pat Halcox, Denny Ilett, Mike Cotton & Rod Mason.
Although Alan is a relative newcomer to the trumpet, he continues to gain new admirers and is always receptive to a new melodic tune to extend his repertoire. He always gives 110% regardless of the audience numbers.
He First met Dave & Sylvia Hewett via a Terry Lightfoot engagement, and they have helped put in a good word for Alan here and there ever since.
Alan has played at "Sylvie's Place" both with Terry Lightfoot's Jazzmen and The Tony Pitt Allstars.
Alan & Ian are currently sounding out musicians to perform the classic Armstrong All-Stars recordings, so keep an eye out for that!
