Simon Bates

UK based saxophone and clarinet player Simon Bates is known and respected for his stylistic versatility and instrumental prowess. His playing is in great demand on the London session scene, appearing on countless adverts, film scores, theme tunes, TV shows and pop recordings. He directs his own Big Band and several smaller ensembles including the Simon Bates Organ Trio.

He has appeared live and recorded with a wide variety of bands and musicians including Elvis Costello, Jamie Cullum, Lulu, Rick Wakeman, Chaka Khan, Seal, Beverley Knight, Heather Small, Kylie Minogue, Dizzee Rascal, Cilla Black, The Zappatistas, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Eddie Daniels and Steve Gadd and has been the Musical Director for many artists including Rick Astley, Alexander Armstrong and Bette Midler.

Simon appears frequently on British television. He was the Musical Director for 'The Best Christmas Ever' ITV show, featuring Alexander Armstrong and Alfie Boe and you will have also seen him in programmes such as The One Show, Lorraine, Strictly Come Dancing, the Paul O’Grady Show, GMTV, This Morning, The Big Breakfast, The Parkinson Show or running the 9-piece band on the Johnny Vaughan Tonight Show. And on Radio, where he has featured on many programmes including BBC Radio 2’s Wogan Show and on BBC Radio 3 where he conducted the BBC Singers and The Orchestra of Academy of St Martin in the Fields for their In Tune Christmas Special.

Simon is the Professor of Saxophone for the Royal Marines and British Army Bands and has featured as a guest soloist with many major ensembles including the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Royal Armoured Corps Big Band and the bands of Royal Marines and the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards.

Simon is proud to be a Yamaha Custom Saxophone artist