Alex Merritt - Jazz Saxophone (Tenor/Soprano) and Clarinet - London, Birmingham and Cambridge, UK

Alex Merritt Biography - Jazz for Weddings, (Corporate) Functions and Parties

Alex graduates from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 2009. He plays clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophone and is an active composer. Drawing on classical composers and the contemporary European scene as much as the modern jazz greats, he cites influences as diverse as Messiaen, Debussy and Benoit Delbecq as well as Warne Marsh, Jimmy Giuffre and Sonny Rollins.

Alex is currently leading a London- based quartet playing his original compositions – made up of Kit Downes (BBC Jazz rising star in 2008), James Maddren (also touring with Gwilym Simcock) and Calum Gourlay. He is involved with numerous other jazz projects in Birmingham such as the Huw Rees quartet (runners-up in the Dave Holland Award in 2008). He is a member of the Cobweb Collective and has broadcast with the BBC Big Band on Radio 2, performed at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival as well as numerous gigs and events around the UK.

Tony Dudley-Evans describes the jazz scene at the Conservatoire in 2009 saying ‘…the edgy style of the compositions and the rapid move between composition and improvisation is something that characterises the best bands…’.

Alex plans to be based in London and is looking forward to recording his first CD before the end of the year.