Dominic is a autodidact multi-instrumentalist based in London who started playing the sax at the age of 13. With his natural ability on the whole family of saxophones, distinctive sound and unique style has gained a great reputation for his captivating and soulful performances. Playing in original bands around the south of England and London, covering Blues, funk, Soul, Rock 'N' Roll, Afro/Latin jazz, fusion, prog, experimental & folk music etc. Dom decided to go to blues jams around Salisbury and at age 17 and started to play and improvise blues music! This gave him a new enthusiasm for the instrument and brought back self-belief, despite facing more than his fair share of nepotism even then.. Dom was then lucky enough to get involved playing a few gigs with his father’s band. This gave him a fundamental understanding of how to perform in front of a crowd and helped improve his improvisational skills playing rock and blues music.
A quiet time musically came when Dom completed a Honours Degree in Strategic Business over 4 years, with no music scene there (bar a solitary open mike); until the final year where he found some musicians to form a band with called "Deflate the Ego" who played a surprising number of gigs. Dom was able to hone some skills on the guitar during this period (albeit bedroom playing), attended jams back in Salisbury and played the odd gig. At age 22 after completing the degree Dom knew that his interests lay in music and although this was a difficult decision, with no financial cushion and having not even a GCSE in music. He joined a function band in Bristol called "Dysfunktional" where he played all around the country, performing weddings and functions. Over 5 years this taught Dom to perform in many different environments musically and in front of many different crowds. Learning hundreds of horn parts by memory. Providing all the gear (PA) for the band, Dom honed his skills in sound engineering and gained considerable skills in the operation of live PA engineering, where the sound had to be perfect for every situation.
In 2013 age 25 Dom being influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree and various experimental bands has recorded with some world class musicians including (Jimmy Keegan-drummer from "Spock’s Beard" and Colin Edwin-bass player of "Porcupine tree") under the project name of "Dancing for Architecture". Formed by Matthew Richards the musically adventurous, exciting and unique prog/experimental album "Morphology" received hugely positive feedback which ft myself on soprano, alto, & baritone saxophones!
In 2014 having never really played jazz before Dom decided to learn the Real Book by memory. Dom has put the blues into the framework of jazz music creating a unique style. That same year Dom guested at the late night show at Ronnie Scott's and stunned the audience and the fellow musicians on the soprano sax playing "Blue Train" by "John Coltrane", which was only the second ever jazz jam he'd been to, the first being at the Bristol jazz and Blues Festival where he also stunned the crowd playing "Little Sunflower" by Freddie Hubbard. He repeated this process several times on soprano and baritone saxophones various times since playing different tunes causing a sensational reaction with the audience each time.
In July 2015 after experiencing the somewhat insular and hostile musical environment of Bristol Dom took a risk by moving to London whilst acquiring a job at the most famous saxophone store in the world Sax.co.uk, which had many applicants for the opening of the new store. Whilst at this job Dom used his in-depth knowledge of the saxophone, including mouthpiece design and sound, to write highly respected reviews for Sax.co.uk.
Since then Dom has created a massive impression on the music scene in London and made his own way by honing his skills and organically playing with many different great players and bands from many different ethnicities. In 2016 Dom played at "Africa on the Square "with his Afro/Latin band "Nelson & Friends" to an audience of 30,000 people who were captivated by the concert, especially an original tune "Zimu Wangu". Dom has a recognizable and individual style and puts his unique voice down to performing at blues jams and being influenced and listening to blues players such as BB King, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, and of course feeling the blues, rather than trying to copy other jazz saxophonists structured techniques over the years. Also by not being able to go down the standard classical to jazz route that is so often the case.
Dom in late 2020 recorded with one of the UK's leading and most respected blues musicians "Katie Bradley" https://katiebradley.co.uk/playing all the horns and bass clarinet on the album "Soho Heart" Co-written with guitarist "Pete Farrugia". It was released in December and has already had a huge amount of airplay, been featured in the top of the IBBA charts and had stunning feedback and reviews in the UK and internationally!
In addition to this Dom also recorded a single with Isobel Thatcher's band in between lockdowns in 2020 titled "Walking down the Tracks" which incredibly featured 3 family members plus a close family friend Chris Williams on drums. It featured myself on bass clarinet and got immediate airplay by several major radio stations such as "Country Hits Radio", was featured as "Track of the week" by "Blues and Roots Radio" followed by some raving reviews and feedback.
In 2021 "More than Words" another track recorded in 2018 by Isobel Thatcher ft. myself on tenor saxophone reached the final category of the "Blues & Roots Radio International song contest" with entries topping 25000!
A few of the venues Dom has played include: Africa On The Square (2016), Africa Summer Festival 2017, Journeys International Festival 2018, 02 Islington, The Tower Theatre (Folkstone), Broadstairs Blues Festival, The Hard Rock Café London (Back Room Bar), Ronnie Scoots Upstairs Bar, Ronnie Scott's (late night show guest), Ain't Nothing But, The Troy Bar, Orleans Wine Bar, The Pelton Arms, Upstarie a the Ritzy, The Waldorf Hotel London, The Courtyard Theatre Hoxton, The Bedford, The Groucho Club, The Ritz, The Hospital Club, The Half Moon Putney, Rich Mix, The Spice Of Life, The Luna Lounge, Koko, Old Bush Blues festival 2021, The Ram Jam Club, Lost Rivers Elephant, St. Martins Hotel (blind spot bar), Bernie Arts Grant Centre Theatre, Bar 91 (Brick Lane), The A-Train jazz club Berlin, The Spice of Life-Soho, The Water Rats, The Monarch, The Bb Bar Berlin, Artliners, The Fiddlers Elbow, Hootenannies, The Isle of White festival, Swanage blues Festival, Slim Jim's, The Vortex, Hackney Empire (stage 3 Bar), The blues Kitchen (Camden & Shoreditch), Cardiff Town Hall, The Colston Hall, The Jazz Café, BIC, The Old Duke, Camden Assembly, The Troubadour, Hawkfest (Hawkeaster) ect
Dom has played with some of the very finest players in the UK and internationally including: Dre Day (The Drezone), Rick Leon James, David Mrakpor (Blue Lab Beats), Isobel Thatcher (sister), Tom Thatcher (father), Nelson Artivia (Nelson & Friends), Katie Bradley (International Blues Artist, Soho Heart), Dennis Greaves (Nine Below Zero), Jon Onabowu (Cosmic Fusion), Dave Ferra (UK Acoustic Blues Finalist), Jim Ferrie (Jimmy the Dog), Andy Sheppard, Jelly Kebba Susso, Musa Filly Jobarteh, Michael Wedgwood (Curved Air, Caravan), Michael Barnes (Chicago Blues), Williams Cumberbache, Pete Farrugia (Soho Heart), Jimmy Keegan (Spock's Beard), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Matthew Richards (Dancing For Architecture), Felix Pierre (Felix Rabin), Russ Cotee, Barry Barnes (Sinnerboy), Aidan Connell, Ray Drury, Mark Skerrit (ABB), Tim Madden (Coyote Co Jones), etc.
Plus many top musicians he has jammed in the presence of!