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The Biography

"Feedback we received was great. Everyone really enjoyed the music very much... Thanks again for helping make the evening a great success."
Cathy - the Bride

City Strut is a collection of great musicians who have been working at the top of the business for years. They have played togerther all over the world from Stadium tours to the most intimate jazz clubs. They love music and performing and this is clear when at any performnace (please read the testimonials).

The singers are the stars of any live performance, and City Strut has the privilege of working with some of the best in the UK including: Jessica Greenfield, Simon King, Niamh McNally, Brendan Rielly, Rachael Calledine and Nina Ferro.

The recordings feature Brendan and Rachael, but any singer who performs with City Strut is of equal standard. We will let you know which singer is available with links to hear them.

The Singers
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Brendan Reilly Brendan Reilly
Brendan is regarded as one of the best male singers on the music scene, and is regularly compared to greats such as James Brown and Stevie Wonder. Very few people deserve such accolades, but in his case, it is truly deserved.

His versatile style has also recently seen him providing backing vocals for Hard Fi, and now a lead singer position in BasementJaxx
Rachel Calladine Rachael Calladine
Rachael began singing professionally at the age of 17 and since then has toured the world with Us3, been a backing singer with the Spice Girls, and had her own music featured on an album by world famous DJ Giles Peterson.
The Horns
Bob McKay


Bob Mckay - Sax/ Flute

Few musicians are as highly regarded as Bob. His professionalism and passion for music, has ensured his status a leading session musician for over 30 years.

It would be far easier to write about who he is hasn't worked with, but to pick a few: Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Georgie Fame, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Donna Summer, Jamie Cullum Need we mention more!

Nick Smart Nick Smart - Trumpet
Nick is the current arranger and lead horn players for legendary funk band The James Taylor Quartet (their version of Starsky and Hutch was the best!). His versatile sound has taken him all over the world with groups including Spiritualized and Lady Salsa.

He is equally as respected a jazz musician and is a senior jazz educator at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall.
Patrick Johns Patrick Johns - Trombone/ Backing vocalist
Patrick is one of the most versatile musicians around, doing everything from singing with orchestras to arranging bavarian oompah music.

He is a seasoned horn section leader and arranger and performs with many leading function bands, as well as the increasing popular Ska act The Dualers.
The Rhythm Section
Jenny Carr

Jenny Carr - Keys and Backing Vocals

Jenny has an almost telepathic musical understanding with lead singers that make their harmonies and timings as perfect as any studio recording.

No stranger to the big stage herself, she was the backing vocalist and keyboardist for Jason Donovan's world tour at the height of his fame in the 90's.
Oli Savill
Oli Savill - Percussion
If you know anything about percussion in the UK then you'll know about Oli. An authority on both Brazilian and Cuban styles, he is an in-demand teacher and session musician for all styles on music.

He has featured on hundreds of recordings and his impressive list of credits include: Sly and Robbie, LuLu and Tom Jones.
Gareth Stapleton
Gareth Stapleton - Guitar
As the band leader, he works tirelessly to make every aspect of the music, performance or arrangement perfect, and will be regularly seen doing funny arm and hand signals on stage.

He has been performing, composing, arranging, and leading soul, jazz funk, and disco bands for over 14 years and has played at venues from the Jazz Cafe to Alexandra Palace.
Scott Stapleton
Scott Stapleton - Drums
Scott is a percussion extradionaire who is as skilled at playing disco grooves as he is latin beats.

He regularly travels Europe performing samba, and won the 'best samba group' award with the London School of Samba at the 2006 Notting Hill Carnival.

His collaboration with the bass player 'Bill', has lasted for 16 years and explains why City Strut have such a sweet groove.

Grahame 'Bill' Hill
Grahame 'Bill' Hill - Electric Bass
Give Bill a groove, whether it's funk, R&B or soul, and he'll 'sit' on all night. Not concerned with histrionics or ego, he has been likened to 'Bernard Edwards' of Chic, for his exceptional sense of time and taste.

Bill's eclectic musical tastes have seen him dressed as a snowman performing Robbie Williams songs to three thousand people. Not many musicians can claim that!








City Strut Function Band