SAXPAK is a group of saxophones whose origin goes back some ten or eleven years when their musical director, Ted White, was working freelance with the BBC Television Orchestrations Department. He wrote some arrangements for the diversion of his music student sons and their friends who wanted to utilize the instruments they had assembled but found that there was no repertoire for a group using the entire range of the saxophone family.

This bizarre collection of arrangements came to the attention of Simon Rattle who conducted them as a novelty on one of his less serious concerts with the London Sinfonietta on the South Bank in London. They were well received by a large audience and the members of the orchestra who performed then decided to keep it going.

They managed to get together in between busy schedules with the various London orchestras and play a number of venues around town as Saxpak. There is currently a vogue for the saxophone and the group is unique in using the entire range of the family from sopranino to bass.

All the arrangements are written especially for them by Ted White and, although light-hearted to the point of being skittish, they demand a very high standard of technical skill. There are more than 50 numbers in the book covering a large area of the light classical field as well as popular tunes like Rudy Wiedoeft’s Valse Vanite (feature for alto), Frankie Trumbaur’s Bouncing Ball (tenor). Harlem Nocture (soprano), Flight of the BumbleBee (bass) and the traditional She Walked Through the Fair (baritone).

Tim Holmes

Tim Holmes’ versatile activities encompass performing with jazz bands such as Kups and Itchy Fingers, and playing and recording with all the major London and UK orchestras. His West End credits include Wonderful Town, Carmen Jones, Guys and Dolls and Oklahoma. As well as belonging to Saxpak, Tim is also a member of Michael Nyman’s band and the Steve Martland Band. He is a former student of the Royal Academy of Music, where he won the Buffet Crampon saxophone prize and the Louise Martin clarinet prize.

David White

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, who recently awarded him the honour of an ARAM, David White entered the professional music world as a soloist, premiering and recording works by British composers such as Roger Marsh and Carl Davis. An early interest in jazz led him to the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Keith Tippet’s Centipede and the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra. David’s current activity lies with freelance work for major London orchestras as well as the West End musicals. He has recently launched the Cornish Sinfonia, whose inaugural concert will take place in June.

Jamie Talbot

Jamie Talbot began his career as a Jazz musician, performing with Gil Evans, Shorty Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Frankin, Natalie Cole and Quincy Jones, John Dankworth’s sextet and Clark Tracey’s quintet. He has recorded numerous film soundtracks and accompanied pop artists such as George Michael, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Grace Jones and The Spice Girls, to name but a few. Jamie is currently playing in the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new show Whistle Down the Wind.

Peter Ripper

After being a member of the Scots Guards Band for ten years, he started a freelance career touring worldwide with major bands such as The Four Tops, with whom he made several recordings. He became the principal saxophone and bass clarinettist of the former BBC Radio Orchestra and BBC Radio Big Band as well as being a regular player with the London Saxophone Quartet. Peter is much in demand as a session musician for radio, television, film and musicals, including Cats, Evita and Starlight Express.