Pete Long

Pete's career began fairly inauspiciously at the age of 18 deep within the bowels of the Nat West bank in Marble Arch putting bank statements into envelopes. An unfortunate incident involving a picture of a lady and a horse being accidentally sent to the Convent of the Sacred Heart along with their financial records led to a re-think and a few days later, Pete had enrolled at the Royal London College Of Music. After a couple of years of hard study, ruthless self-denial and curry, Pete was out on the road with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Having the unusual inclination to play modern jazz on the rather "old-fashioned" clarinet led to several works for clarinet and big band being commissioned.

As part of the award winning Sax Quartet, Pete toured Brazil, Venezuela, North Africa, Russia and Europe, working with, amongst others, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Chick Corea and Supersax.

It is Pete's baritone sax and oboe that can be heard on "Handbags and Gladrags", the theme for the comedy series "The Office".

A five-year stint playing and arranging for Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, saw Pete working with Tom Jones, Norah Jones, Solomon Burke, Dr. John, Lulu, Georgie Fame and Lionel Richie, to name but a few, and producing arrangements for John Cale, Texas, Sir Paul McCartney, Candi Staton, Marti Pellow and Chrissy Hynde. Pete is also the first musician in Europe to use the Tubax commercially, on a Ringo Starr track, and much more recently with The Guillemots.

Over the last couple of years, Pete's career has divided into three distinct streams- as an educator, working in masterclasses and as soloist with young musicians all over Britain, from the furthest point of West Wales to the orchestra at the Royal Academy. In conjunction with this work, Pete has helped develop a new series of student woodwind instruments with a leading UK Manufacturer. As a jazz soloist, Pete has appeared with resident trios in the provinces, and has often been caught at Ronnie Scott's, in London's West End. It is however, as a bandleader and orchestrator that Pete spends most of his time currently, with work being divided between directing the Big Band at Ronnie Scott's, and putting together bands of all sizes and styles for clients on a bespoke basis. In the course of this work, Pete has provided musicians and arrangements for Seth MacFarlane, Will Young, Joss Stone, Dionne Warwick, Claire Sweeney, Jane MacDonald, Humphrey Lytlleton, Sir John Dankworth, the entire cast of Emmerdale (!) and a host of others.

Listen to Pete Long's Goodmen on Radio 3

Peggy, Duke and Benny

Pete's Website