martin elliott

I turned professional in December 1978 and since then I've been lucky enough to play for many great musicians and singers, plus I have travelled all over the world.

Over the past 30 years or so some of the jobs I've had include playing for: Michael Nyman, Gary Numan, Michael Ball, Shirley Bassey, Bucks Fizz, Petula Clark, The Nolans, Alice (Italy), London Saxophonic, Franco Battiato(Italy), The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Soweto String Quartet, Sacha Distel, Ute Lemper, Matt Munro, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and many others, plus I've played in theatres for: "Grease", "Cats", "Les Miserables", "Chess", "Whistle Down The Wind", "The Beautiful Game" and I've played many TV, radio, album (recently for John Barrowman and Will Martin) and film recording dates.

A couple of TV jobs that I'm most pleased to have done are: playing on the theme tune of "Blue Peter" (when it had a slapped Fender Jazz...I'm sure you remember that...) and playing my fretless on the show "Bottom" as part of the "Bum Notes". During the late '80s I played in the orchestra for "New Faces", plus I regularly played in the house band for "Wogan". I have also been involved as a co-producer with the Michael Nyman Band, for the piece "After Extra Time" and London Saxophonic, for the CD "An Eye for a Difference".

In 1997 I had the unusual and privileged opportunity to perform a modern opera - "Dirty Tricks", with music by Paul Barker - that was accompanied by solo bass guitar. I have also recorded a "concerto" for bass guitar written for me by the Spanish composer Chema Rivas.