Stories of our work
Led Bib
The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award is one of the most prestigious awards available in UK jazz. The award of £4,000 is given annually to an emerging individual jazz musician or group showing talent and innovation. Over the past twenty years it has been awarded to many leading jazz musicians and groups, providing crucial help at the start of their careers. 2009 Mercury Prize nominees Led Bib received the award in 2005.
Mark Holub, band leader, composer and drummer is still on a high from the nomination of the band’s recent album Sensible Shoes as one of twelve Mercury Music Prize Albums of the Year 2009. “The Prize is something we can put after our name. It was a great experience and great exposure.”
“ The award was very important. It means you can go out and say you’ve gotten this award and been recognised as having something other people don’t. The award was the beginning for us. Thank you!”
His love of music didn’t start with jazz or the drums. Brought up in New Jersey, USA, he began on the clarinet at school with a traditional classical background. At 11, he then took up the drums and began to develop an interest in more experimental music and jazz. He moved to England at 18 to study at Leeds College of Music, moving on to study for a Masters Degree at Middlesex University. It was here where he formed Led Bib with Liran Donin on electric and stand up bass, Toby McLaren on Rhodes and piano with Chris Williams and Pete Grogan up front as the two duelling alto sax players.
2010 is set to be another exciting year for the group with UK dates booked until December and European dates planned for the summer and then again towards the end of the year. There is also talk of a new album later on in the year. Mark claims there is no big plan for the band but their ambition and hunger for bigger things is clear so watch this space! To find out more visit Led Bib's official website and MySpace page
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