Ashley Slater
Encyclopedia
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961. At the age of about 6 months, Ashley and his parents moved to Hanford
on the edge of the Death Valley
in California.
In 1977, he moved to Edinburgh
, Scotland on his own, and there joined the regimental band of the 1st battalion the Royal Scots as a bass trombonist. He also got his first taste of minor stardom whilst standing in for the lead singer of Northern Irish R&B band Otis and the Elevators.
In 1983 after leaving the army, he attended the National Centre for Orchestral Studies, after which he joined the anarchic big band collective Loose Tubes
. Over the next few years he was the bass and tenor trombonist of choice for the likes of George Russell, Carla Bley
, Andrew Poppy
, El Sonido de Londres, Billy Jenkins
, Django Bates
and Andy Sheppard
. During this time he also worked as a session musician recording and arranging for The The
, Fairground Attraction
, Julia Fordham
and the Rolling Stones.
After a gig at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London with Loose Tubes, Slater was approached by Rob Partridge, the then head of the Antilles Label on Island Records
. At this time Ashley and a fellow loose tuber, John Eacott had also been singing and writing songs for their funk band project called Microgroove. Their USP was an electric tuba played by Oren Marshall. They released one album called The Human Groove in 1988.
In 1993, shortly after Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim, had remixed one of Microgroove's tunes, ("Walkin'") they teamed up to form Freakpower and went on to have a top three hit single in the UK with "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out
". Freakpower released two albums, Drive Thru Booty and More of Everything for Everybody, also on Island records. As Cook's Fatboy career took off, Slater also went his own way and released music through Skint under the alias Dr. Bone. He also contributed vocals to and topline EDP's Sweet Music.
He has also recorded with Dimitri from Paris
and Rui da Silva
and has contributed vocals to Fatboy Slim's albums, and Krafty Kuts
. After a break of about five years from playing the trombone Slater was lured back by Gary Crosby
from the Jazz Jamaica All Stars. Since then he has toured with Sam Rivers
, Hermeto Pascoal
, Roy Nathanson
's Jazz Passengers, Hugh Masekela
, Dub Pistols
and his own band BigLounge. He also recently appeared with Elvis Costello
and Debbie Harry
at the London Jazz Festival.
In 2011 Ashley formed an Electro-Swing act called Kitten & The Hip, feat Kitten Quinn on lead vocals. The debut single "Dont You Worry" has been signed to Hed Kandi, and is out soon.
With Freak Power
With others
Hanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
on the edge of the Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
in California.
In 1977, he moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland on his own, and there joined the regimental band of the 1st battalion the Royal Scots as a bass trombonist. He also got his first taste of minor stardom whilst standing in for the lead singer of Northern Irish R&B band Otis and the Elevators.
In 1983 after leaving the army, he attended the National Centre for Orchestral Studies, after which he joined the anarchic big band collective Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes was a British jazz big band/orchestra active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to bethe focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz...
. Over the next few years he was the bass and tenor trombonist of choice for the likes of George Russell, Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, Andrew Poppy
Andrew Poppy
Andrew Poppy is an English composer, pianist, and record producer.-Biography:From 1974 to 1979 he studied music at Royal Holloway College and Goldsmiths College University of London, studying piano with Susan Bradshaw and earning a B.M...
, El Sonido de Londres, Billy Jenkins
Billy Jenkins
Billy Jenkins is an English blues guitarist, composer, and bandleader.Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period he followed as a member of Ginger Baker's Nutters. For several years, he ran Wood Wharf Studios...
, Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
and Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, George Russell and Steve Swallow.-Biography:Sheppard was born in Warminster,...
. During this time he also worked as a session musician recording and arranging for The The
The The
The The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member.-Early years :...
, Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
, Julia Fordham
Julia Fordham
Julia Fordham is a British singer-songwriter based in California. Her professional career started in the early 1980s, under the name "Jules Fordham", as a backing singer for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde.-Career:...
and the Rolling Stones.
After a gig at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London with Loose Tubes, Slater was approached by Rob Partridge, the then head of the Antilles Label on Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. At this time Ashley and a fellow loose tuber, John Eacott had also been singing and writing songs for their funk band project called Microgroove. Their USP was an electric tuba played by Oren Marshall. They released one album called The Human Groove in 1988.
In 1993, shortly after Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim, had remixed one of Microgroove's tunes, ("Walkin'") they teamed up to form Freakpower and went on to have a top three hit single in the UK with "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out
Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out
"Turn on, Tune in, Cop out" was the biggest hit single for Norman Cook's dance-jazz group, Freak Power, released in 1993 as a single. The song features a smooth jazz sound and the baritone vocals of lead singer Ashley Slater...
". Freakpower released two albums, Drive Thru Booty and More of Everything for Everybody, also on Island records. As Cook's Fatboy career took off, Slater also went his own way and released music through Skint under the alias Dr. Bone. He also contributed vocals to and topline EDP's Sweet Music.
He has also recorded with Dimitri from Paris
Dimitri from Paris
Dimitri from Paris is a French music producer and DJ of Greek origins. His musical influences are rooted in 1970s funk and disco sounds that spawned contemporary house music, as well as original soundtracks from 50s and 60s cult movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, La Dolce Vita and The Party,...
and Rui da Silva
Rui da Silva
Rui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
and has contributed vocals to Fatboy Slim's albums, and Krafty Kuts
Krafty Kuts
Krafty Kuts is an English electronic music, dance music and breakbeat producer and DJ.His Debut album - Freakshow was released in 2006 on his Against The Grain label and contains guest artists Tim Deluxe and Ashley Slater from the UK band Freak Power...
. After a break of about five years from playing the trombone Slater was lured back by Gary Crosby
Gary Crosby (bassist)
Gary Crosby OBE is a jazz double bassist, music arranger, educator and Executive Artistic Director of...
from the Jazz Jamaica All Stars. Since then he has toured with Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers
Samuel Carthorne Rivers , is an American jazz musician and composer. He performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano....
, Hermeto Pascoal
Hermeto Pascoal
Hermeto Pascoal is a Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist. He was born in Lagoa da Canoa, Alagoas, Brazil. Pascoal is a greatly beloved musical figure in the history of Brazilian music, known for his abilities at orchestration and improvisation, as well as being a record producer and...
, Roy Nathanson
Roy Nathanson
Roy Nathanson has a varied career as a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, actor and teacher. He is leader and principal composer of the Jazz Passengers, a six piece group that he founded with Curtis Fowlkes in 1987. They have toured Europe many times and played at major festivals in Finland,...
's Jazz Passengers, Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
, Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols are a London based dub music and big beat band, founded by ex-club promoter, Barry Ashworth, in 1996. The other members of the band were record producer and bassist Jason O'Bryan, Brooklyn producer and lyricist, T. K. Lawrence on vocals, Jap Slut guitarist John King, and turntablist DJ...
and his own band BigLounge. He also recently appeared with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
at the London Jazz Festival.
In 2011 Ashley formed an Electro-Swing act called Kitten & The Hip, feat Kitten Quinn on lead vocals. The debut single "Dont You Worry" has been signed to Hed Kandi, and is out soon.
As leader
- The Human Groove (1988), with Microgroove
- Big Lounge (2002)
- Cellophane (2008)
With Freak Power
- Drive Thru Booty (1995)
- More of Everything for Everybody (1996)
- "Kitten & The Hip" (2011)
As sideman
With Loose TubesLoose Tubes
Loose Tubes was a British jazz big band/orchestra active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to bethe focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz...
- Loose TubesLoose Tubes (album)Loose Tubes is the debut album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the Loose Tubes Limited record label as an LP in 1985...
(1985) - Delightful Precipice (1986)
- Open LetterOpen Letter (Loose Tubes album)Open Letter is the third album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the EG label in 1988.Allmusic gives the album 3 out of 5 stars.-Track listing:# "Sweet Williams" – 8:54...
(1988)
With others
- Billy JenkinsBilly JenkinsBilly Jenkins is an English blues guitarist, composer, and bandleader.Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period he followed as a member of Ginger Baker's Nutters. For several years, he ran Wood Wharf Studios...
, Scratches of SpainScratches of SpainScratches of Spain is an album by the English guitarist and bandleader Billy Jenkins, featuring the Voice of God Collective. It was released on the Babel Records label in 1987.-Track listing:# "Monkey Men" – 6:15# "Cuttlefish" – 6:09...
(1987) - Carla BleyCarla BleyCarla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, The Very Big Carla Bley BandThe Very Big Carla Bley BandThe Very Big Carla Bley Band is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley released on the Watt/ECM label in 1991.-Reception:...
(1991) - Iain BallamyIain BallamyIain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
, Mirrormask: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2005), Molecular Gastronomy (2007) - Dub PistolsDub PistolsDub Pistols are a London based dub music and big beat band, founded by ex-club promoter, Barry Ashworth, in 1996. The other members of the band were record producer and bassist Jason O'Bryan, Brooklyn producer and lyricist, T. K. Lawrence on vocals, Jap Slut guitarist John King, and turntablist DJ...
, Back to Daylight from the Album Rum & CokeRum & CokeRum & Coke is a 2009 album by British dub band Dub Pistols. It features guest appearances from Ashley Slater , Lindy Layton and DJ Justin Robertson.-Composition:...
(2009)