GOLDMASTER ALLSTARS

Malcolm is the founder of, and double bass player for the Goldmaster Allstars.
It began as a teenager when he started to go to clubs with friends in his local area. This was a period when he developed a great love for Jamaican music. Born in Orsett, Essex, Malcolm began playing bass in 1982 because his ambition was to get into a band.  Malcolm also plays keys and the hand drum.  He has been previously involved with a heavy metal band named Tallon, and has obviously been involved with the Goldmaster Allstars since the beginning in 1998.  Malcolm’s favorite band is the Skatalites and favorite artist is Don Drummond.  The personal highlight of his journey with the Goldmaster Allstars so far has been backing Alton Ellis at the Jazz Café in Camden, London… and Malcolm has played Water Polo for the South East of the UK.

Bradley was born in Southend On Sea, and plays the trumpet for the Goldmaster Allstars, sings, and also plays piano.  He began playing at the age of 10 after growing up watching his parents playing in bands.  Joining the band in 2003, he has been previously involved with many other bands, however states that the most prolific, and most important is the Goldmaster Allstars!  Bradley’s favorite bands/artists are “all of the good ones”! and “some of the bad ones”! Best musical experiences include playing with N.Y.J.O  and being around fantastic musicians. Teacher by day and musician by night, Bradley admits that he loves his involvement with music, and has more hair on his face than on his head!

Glenn was born in Westcliff On Sea, Essex and is the Engineer/Producer for the Goldmaster Allstars. He started playing the drums at the age of 11, quickly followed by Keys.  He began engineering at 16 and has now been working professionally for the last 51/2 years.  Joining the Goldmaster Allstars in 2008, he has also been involved with other bands such as Phase 5 and Silver Needles. Glenn’s best musical experience was playing in a local park in front of 5000 people, and enjoys any Goldmaster Allstars gig as they are usually “a good laugh!” Glenn is 6ft6” tall; and is also known as “The Ox”.

Alex plays guitar for the Goldmaster Allstars and began playing at the age of 16 (because it was lighter to carry than a piano!).  Alex also plays Bass, Piano and Stylophone.

Alex Joined the Goldmaster Allstars in October 2008, but has previously been involved with other bands such as Parallel Breakers, Bootsale Band, Hookah, Point Down, No Land and Mount Avenue.  His favorite bands are Blind Melon and The Mars Volta, and he is also a fan of Curtis Mayfield.  Alex’s best musical experience was meeting James Brown, and he has ridden an elephant (Alex, not James Brown!)

Born in Barking, Jason has been playing Tenor Saxophone for 20 years Harmonica for 12 years, and also plays piano.

Jason has been involved with other bands such as Souled Out & Cuban, and joined the Goldmaster Allstars in 2001.  His favorite bands are the Skatalites and Tommy McCook is his favorite music artist.

Jason is a Black belt 1st Dan, and his best musical experience was Falmouth, Notting Hill Carnival and a gig in Paris with Alton Ellis.

Ali was born in Dagenham, Essex, and has played Saxophone for the Goldmaster Allstars since their first gig when he joined the band during rehearsals.  He began playing Sax when he was 14 when he needed to take up a second instrument for his GCSE.  Ali has also been playing piano for 22 years, guitar for 16 years and bass for 13 years.  Other bands he has been involved with include Lipstick Traces, Obie One and Horn.  The Skatalites and Stevie Wonder are just two of his favorite artists and Ali’s best musical experience was playing alongside Alton Ellis at Camden’s Jazz Café.  Since becoming a professional musician he works for his local council emptying wheelie bins in his spare time!

Playing Piano and Flute for the Goldmaster Allstars, Ben admits at the age of 7 he heard someone playing and “just liked the sound”.  He also plays percussion, and prides his “perfect pitch!”

As a teenager he played with other bands such as Fluid Slinky and Spontaneous Groove and about 10 years ago he was involved with reggae band the Full Hundred, Mikey Melody and Elvis Da Costa.  In 2006 Ben joined the Goldmaster Allstars and his best experience so far has been playing at the Brixton Academy.

Favorite bands include Roots Radics and Black Uhuru, and favorite artists Barrington Levy and Dennis Brown.

Maria  is the Goldmaster Allstars vocalist.  Maria has previously been involved with bands such as Clusterfunk, Ultra Violet and Taste Experience, but mainly in solo projects (she appeared as featured vocalist on Sasha's trance track "Be As One") Maria also featured as vocalist on Robert Miles track ‘One and One’ which reached no.3 in the UK charts and no. 1  in all of Europe and Japan. Favorite artists include Stevie Wonder, Sia, Jewel, The Carpenters, Kate Bush, and she is also a fan of dance/trance and folk music.

Amongst many favorite experiences during her career, those that stand out have been  four times on Top Of The Pops,  supporting Kylie Minogue, and her first gig with The Goldmaster Allstars! 

Born in Rochford Essex, Zac plays drums for the Goldmaster Allstars, and his nickname StickyPalms derives from his precise skill of never dropping a drumstick!  Zac admits that he began playing when he was 7 years old because he always had an interest in making loud noises!

Also playing keys and Alto Sax, he has been previously involved with other bands including Melvin Beddow Big Band, Killing with Style, The Breakdown and Tallowah; but joined the Goldmaster Allstars during the summer of 2007.

Zac’s favorite band is Steel Pulse and his best musical experience was Ska Splash 2008, and leaving after his A-level music performance exam!

Born in Rochford Essex, Barry is the ‘on road manager’ for the band and also deals with merchandise sales.  As well as this Barry drives the band Van and Lorry for the Gigs and venues.  Joining the Band in 1999, Barry has known Bass player Malcolm since junior school, and his favorite band is obviously the Goldmaster Allstars!  Barry’s favorite artist is Johnny Clark and the highlight of his musical experiences have been the Goldmaster Allstars performing at the Jazz Café Camden with Alton Ellis, performing with Alton Ellis in Paris, and Bug Fest. Barry has been involved from the very early stages, and will find a gig; wherever in the world it may be!

Born in Barking, Martin plays drums and percussion for the Goldmaster Allstars.  Having had 2 years of drum lessons between 1978-80, he didn’t take up drumming until he left school in 1984, and hasn’t stopped yet! Martin Joined the Goldmaster Allstars in 1999, and has been previously involved with many bands; including doing a West Coast USA tour for 3 ½ weeks, and performing with Iowaska amongst many others.  He joined the Band in 1999.  Martin’s favorite artists include The Police and Paul Weller, and his most memorable experience musically was backing Alton Ellis in France at the Jazz Café & backing Jello Biafra at a gig in Sanfransico.

Known as “Boneman” for his instrumentals on the trombone for the Goldmaster Allstars since 2003, Jamie was born in Rochford Essex.  Jamie was 7 years old when he began playing with his local Brass Band and also plays piano, along with being involved with classical orchestras in London and soul/funk band OTB Soul.  Jamie’s favorite bands are Tower of Power, and of course Goldmaster Allstars!

Backing Winston Francis and the Pioneers at the Ska Splash 2008 has been one of Jamie’s best musical experiences.

Jock has been a member of the Goldmaster Allstars since 2001 and is the band guitarist.  Born in Edmonton London, he began playing at the age of 8 when ‘punk happened’.  He also plays bass, and has been previously involved with other bands including Loss of Kontakt, Silver Needles, Iowaska, Pissed off Bastards, Final Diners, Room 237, Art Geko and the Lizardmen. Jock’s current favorite artists are Jay Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots, and Tom Waits. The USA West Coast Tour in 2002 with Iowaska has been Jock’s best musical experience, and if you look closely, you would find that he has little fingers that are double jointed!