Aaron Liddard
Aaron Liddard solos with passion and soul, lifting the energy as he performs.
Born a few years after the summer of love to unorthodox parents, Aaron
grew up in small-town Hertfordshire. He was taught by composer Nikolas
Sackman and Dr Charles Beale. After studying the tuba, piano and
guitar, Aaron tried his luck with the sax. He became a regular at the
Buntingford Jazz Club where he could be found sipping orange juice and
lemonade, listening and waiting his turn to play. It was at the jazz
club where he first improvised in public. And he was in good company.
Jim Mullen and Alan Skidmore were regular guests, and the young
schoolboy was encouraged to get up and sit in.
From 1993-2003 Aaron developed his playing and composing style in
Manchester. He studied with Bill Leader, Jan Kopinski and Andy Scott,
quickly becoming a hit in the town's dance-orientated live music
scene. He played on live BBC radio, performed for TV, recorded on
vinyl, put together his own bands and ran weekly jazz and funk jams.
In 2003, Aaron moved to London. Now he is in high demand as a soloist
and with his horn section The Cream Horns. He's jammed with Prince,
swapped riffs with Maceo Parker and Ronnie Cuber, he plays on one of
the biggest selling pop albums of recent history (Amy Winehouse: Back
to Black: Reissue). Aaron has made numerous TV performances including
The BRITS, Top of the Pops and Later with Jools Holland, and he's
appeared in pop videos (Rehab; Beverley Knight Live at Albert Hall).
When not performing live, Aaron records with artists from jazz to pop,
reggae to samba, smooth to rock'n'roll. His compositions have featured
on albums, TV adverts and pop singles, and he runs his own band
DrumCake.
Professor of jazz at Blackheath Conservatoire, Aaron is an endorsee of
Yamaha Custom Pro saxes, Yamaha flutes, and Rico Reeds.