Bad Girls Groove is truly a special band – each singer can sing both lead and backing vocals, and each musician has a story to tell. There’s no space for a complete history but by way of example…….
Sophie Ray, one of the Bad Girls, trained originally as a classical vocalist at Nottingham University; however you’ll soon find out that her soul-influenced vocals are a far cry from her classical roots. Having played venues such as The O2 Academy Islington and St Pancras Old Church, as well as numerous festivals across the UK, Sophie always looks forward to doing her funky thing at the Pizza Express. As well as singing, Sophie composes, plays keyboards and can sometimes be persuaded to accompany herself singing all 5 octaves of Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’You” !
Next up is the mysterious Mr.T (sax and percussion) whose formal music education is a BA in Jazz Studies and an MA in Electro – Acoustic Composition. His first band Burlesque were signed to Arista Records in 1976, and produced two albums ‘Acupuncture’ and ‘Burlesque’. He has played with Ginger Baker - enough said! (But does say Ginger still owes him £40…!)
Roger (leader and guitarist) , on the other hand, has not been to any music colleges or universities – in fact he was thrown out of Nottingham University for “wasting his time and tax payers money playing in a rock band…”. . He has however spent many years with his ears clamped to the radio listening to the likes of Roberts Johnson and Cray and travelling the wastelands, dancehalls and honky-tonks of Texas and Louisiana in search of Magical Music…so to make up for his very Bad Behaviour he proposes a really cracking set list for the Pizza Express show including something old (think Bill Withers and Lynda Lyndell), something new (think Jill Scott) borrowed (think Sly) and definitely something blue – (think Aretha and Slim Harpo) .
It definitely promises to be a very BAD night… be sure book your seats now!
