The Musicians Behind the Music

Guy Barker: The Musical Vision

At the centre of Teddy's album was Guy Barker, who served as conductor and musical director.

One of Britain's leading jazz musicians, Barker is a trumpeter, composer and arranger whose career includes collaborations with John Dankworth, Gil Evans, Lena Horne and Bobby Watson.

His own recordings, including Timeswing, Soundtrack and The Amadeus Project, helped establish his reputation as a composer and arranger. He was awarded an MBE for services to jazz.

Barker's musical direction brought together an experienced orchestra capable of giving Teddy's favourite songs the rich Big Band arrangements they deserved.

A Remarkable Orchestra

The orchestra featured some familiar names from the British jazz scene.

Clarinetist Alan Barnes is an established international performer, composer, arranger and bandleader, recognised for his extensive contribution to British jazz.

Guitarist Nigel Price has performed with artists including Van Morrison, David Axelrod and James Taylor's band, alongside hundreds of appearances at Ronnie Scott's.

The brass section included trombonist Barnaby Dickinson, whose recording and performance credits include Sting, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Quincy Jones.

Fellow trombonist Callum Au has built a successful career as a composer, arranger and orchestrator, working on projects involving artists such as Michael Bublé.

Accordionist Mark Bousie brought experience from both recording sessions and musical theatre, including West End productions of Evita, Carousel, Oliver!, Miss Saigon and Les Misérables.

The Musicians Behind the Sound

Pianist Jim Watson is one of Britain's established jazz and session musicians. His career includes performances and recordings with Sting, Katie Melua, Kurt Elling, Chrissie Hynde, Richard Bona and Zero 7. His solo album Calling You Home further showcases his work as a musician in his own right.

Harpist Jean Kelly has worked across classical, orchestral and contemporary music. Her performances include appearances at Buckingham Palace and Highgrove, alongside collaborations with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Rod Stewart, Paloma Faith and Sir James Galway.

Violinist Alison Dods, a member of the Tippett Quartet and the theatre ensemble Gogmagogs, has performed with artists including Paul Weller, appearing as solo violinist on his album Heavy Soul.

The album also featured violinist, arranger and composer Sonia Slany, who sadly died in 2021.

A respected figure in London's music community, Slany contributed to recordings and performances involving Laurie Anderson, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Courtney Pine, as well as numerous film soundtracks. Her contribution to Teddy's album remains part of her musical legacy.

Saxophonist Graeme Blevins, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, brought extensive experience in jazz, education and studio recording.

Woodwind player and arranger Colin Skinner has worked with some of Britain's established Big Band institutions, including the BBC Big Band, Glenn Miller Orchestra and Syd Lawrence Orchestra.

The recording also benefited from an accomplished group of vocalists.

Iain Mackenzie has performed with the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra and BBC Big Band, as well as musicians including Kenny Wheeler and Abdullah Ibrahim.

Vocalists Katie Birtill and Emma Kershaw brought experience from concert performances, theatre and studio sessions, adding further depth to the arrangements.

Bringing the Album to Life

Behind the scenes, the recording benefited from an experienced production team.

Engineer Jeremy Murphy, associated with AIR Studios, specialises in large ensemble recordings, film and television scoring, and jazz and Big Band sessions.

The team also included Steve Price, a Grammy-winning engineer, mixer and producer with more than 25 years of recording experience.

Taken together, the album credits reveal the remarkable breadth of talent behind Songaminute. Teddy was supported by leading British jazz musicians, accomplished London session players, orchestral performers, arrangers and recording engineers. Some are celebrated names in their own right; others have spent decades contributing to major recordings and performances, often away from the spotlight.

Their collective experience spans concert halls, jazz clubs, West End theatres, television orchestras and film studios. Under Guy Barker's musical direction, they brought that experience to an album built around one man's lifelong love of singing.

The result is a recording that stands on its own musical merits, while remaining inseparable from the extraordinary story behind it.

For Teddy, who had spent his life singing in clubs across the Midlands and Lancashire, recording with an orchestra of this calibre was a fitting celebration of his love of music.