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Pete Lukas

I was Born in Karvina in the former Czechoslovakia, August 5th, 1963, I was always interested in music from an early age. When I was 10 I was given a clarinet, which was not my first choice, I wanted a saxophone but the price was prohibitive so I played the clarinet until I was 15, when I was given a school saxophone to practice and start having lessons.

Whilst at art college in Cambridge, I was first exposed to jazz, and bought my first saxophone, I started having lessons with Kevin Flanagan an American who used to play with amongst others, Tommy Chase in the 80's, he hipped me to Bird, Rollins, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Hank Mobley and Coltrane, luckily the college where I was studying had a music department, so I was able to take advantage of their sizeable jazz collection and get to know the music of some of the greats. Since then other influences include Sonny Stitt, Jackie McLean, Charles McPherson, Cannonball Adderley, George Coleman, Pepper Adams, Gary Smulyan, Harry Carney, Monk, Victor Feldman, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Blue Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn amongst many others.

After moving to London in the late 80's, I began studying intensively and started playing at various venues, some of the musicians I've played with over the years include, Dominic Howles, Colin Oxley, Steve Fishwick, Bob Martin, Richard Busiakiewicz, Simon Purcell, Arnie Somogyi, Jeremy Brown, Dave Chamberlain, Steve Brown, Matt Skelton, Paul Eldridge, Tristan Maillot, Alison Bentley, Leon Greening, Matt Fishwick, Matt Home, Eryl Roberts, Mark Fenby, Kate Williams, Sebastian de Krom, Olivier Slama, Gideon Marcus. Riaan Vosloo, Julian Bury, Eriko Ishihara, Pete Whittacker, Julie Walkington, Jonny Gee, Ed Benstead.

Over the years I've played both alto and tenor but 3 years ago I got my first baritone and subsequently I felt that for my first CD I'd play it exclusively. Deciding who to use as sidemen for the recording wasn't a difficult choice, over the years I've had the opportunity to hear and play with these artists and I knew they would fit the bill perfectly, no matter what kind of material was put in front of them. These musicians are heavily steeped in the bop tradition, as you'll discover if you listen to any of the tracks, Steve Brown, Dominic Howles and Leon Greening are a truly solid, swinging rhythm section, who lay down a great groove that makes playing with them such a pleasure.

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15
Album Review

Gergo Borlai: The Missing Song

Read "The Missing Song" reviewed by Jim Worsley


The Missing Song has been heralded as a tribute to Gergo Borlai's nine most influential drummers still alive and performing today. This is much more than just listing them and perhaps covering one of their songs. Borlai composed eight of the nine new songs on this album. He plays them all in the manner, or mindset, of each drummer. The thought process, and level of preparation was meticulous for every drummer and every song. The drum kit, cymbals, sticks, pedals, ...

113
Album Review

Pete Lukas: Arrival

Read "Arrival" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Pete Lukas marks his arrival on CD with his sails set firmly in the mainstream. He plays the baritone saxophone, having gravitated to the instrument from alto and tenor. Lukas, a web designer by profession, first became interested in jazz when he was in Cambridge , England studying art. He upped the intensity of his musical studies when he moved to London in the late 1980s, and then began to play gigs.

Lukas not only chose some ripe tunes for ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Missing Song

Blue Canoe Records
2020

buy

Arrival

Bopcentric Music
2007

buy

Gary

From: The Missing Song
By Pete Lukas

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