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Trio Whackabass
Organised by Matt & Phred's Jazz Club
Artists include: Jonas Backman, Gavin Barras, Dan Whieldon
Gavin Barras was born in Kendal, Cumbria in 1981. After taking guitar lessons at school he decided to try bass guitar. With some encouragement from his music teacher Gavin then moved on to Double Bass at age 14. Within a couple of years Gavin was studying privately at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Roberto Carrillio (Principle Bass, Halle), Corin Long (Principle Bass, London Philharmonia) and Tom Goodman (LSO). He achieved his grade 8 distinction having only taken up the instrument two years earlier. Gavin studied music at Manchester University between 1999 and 2002 before graduating with a BMus. Whilst studying he was also very active in the local Jazz scene developing his real passion for the music. Gaining great inspiration from bass supremo Steve Berry, Gavin soon became a firm fixture on the gigging circuit performing all over the North West of England.
Gavin has performed at many Jazz Festivals including the London, Manchester, Brecon, Glasgow and Wigan Festivals. He spent 2005 performing with, among others, Guitarists Jim Mullen and Mike Outram, Saxophonists Martin Speake and Pete King, Trumpeters Steve Waterman and Neil Yates and trombonist Barnaby Dickinson.
Since early 2005 Gavin has had his own working trio featuring pianist Dan Whieldon and drummer Jonas Backman. After many gigs The Gavin Barras Trio's first album will be launched in 2007. In June 2006 the trio travelled to the Ronciglione Jazz Festival, Italy where they performed in front of a panel of jazz legends including Jimmy Cobb, Buster Williams and Mulgrew
