Band Members

As Dodgey Practice has been going almost 20 years the lineup has changed a little over time, but the wealth of experience, good looks and charm is ever present and means we’re the only band to book for your event!

Phil on Vocals

Phil started his music career at the young age of 13 as a brass band percussionist. His vocal career started in 1991 when he joined a professional touring band called Denim. He joined as the drummer but it was quickly noticed that this boy could sing and soon ended up lead singer from behind a drum kit. The band had great success touring Europe throughout the 90’s.

From the time on the road touring Phil learnt the bass guitar which then led him to join another band as the bass player & lead singing front man.

Phil has also had great success as a solo singer playing functions all across the UK.

He joined Dodgey practice fulltime in 2012 as the front man & lead singer, With Phil’s experience of how to front a band to get everyone on a high & reading an audience along with his extraordinary power and vocal range covering anything from the deep soul classics to the Bee Gee’s you will be truly blown away.

Helen on Vocals

Helen started her singing career at the age of 3, winning a prize at a local children’s party ….

Several years on and after various choral and folk performances she joined the very successful Westcountry band Goldrush playing in local pubs and clubs, performing a variety of Fleetwood Mac, Bacharach and Seekers covers; this led to performances on local TV and radio. Other bands were to follow as lead vocalist in Savoir Faire and Time and Motion. Helen successfully auditioned for Dodgey Practice with a rendition of Sade’s ‘Smooth Operator’ and her first gig was at the Turf Locks, Exeter.

Helen has enjoyed performing at various charity events, private weddings, functions and outdoor festivals with the Dodgey crew. She also loves to sing jazz standards as Nancy J with her quartet and is a big fan of jazzy funk band Incognito and their ethics, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Jamiroquai. Her main influences include Chaka Khan, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé and Alicia Keys.

Christina on Vocals

Christina started singing in school at the age of 5. From 12 years old she was the youngest member of her choir to travel to Europe and accompanied the philharmonic Orchestra. She continued to sing and song write. Christina started with Dodgey Practice in 2010. She then took 2 years out to go travelling and has now rejoined the band and couldn’t be happier.

Guy on Trumpet

Guy started playing the Cornet in the Lyme Regis Junior Band aged 9, at the time he held the record for the fastest person to become lead cornet, and fondly remembers marching down the high street playing with the band whilst it set off all the car alarms. At this early stage, he also got the opportunity to travel with the band to the USA to play at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Time with Devon and Dorset county orchestras gave Guy further opportunity to travel, including trips to Ireland and Canada.

He can’t quite remember when he joined Dodgey, but thinks it was around 2006.

Dan on Sax

Dan started out in music at 10 years old on clarinet, and soon added saxophone and flute. This saw him in a range of groups while at school and college including Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra, a number of jazz groups, quartets as well as bands for stage shows.

After a break from music to focus on his career Dan vowed to get back into a band after completing his Masters Degree, and found… Dodgey! That was 5 years ago, and Dan is loving being back on stage.

Rob on Guitar

Rob has been playing guitar with Dodgey since their very first ‘gig’ and has witnessed many personnel changes resulting in the tight outfit they are today. Previous to this he worked with bands in Britain and Europe often supporting acts such as jazz legend Humphrey Lyttelton, soul singer Edwin Starr and songster Labi Siffre. Rob has an eclectic taste in music and his early influences include Barney Kessel, Albert Lee, Johnny Winter and Nile Rodgers to name but a few.

An avid collector of instruments Rob has some 15 guitars although he chooses to use a Fender Telecaster when he’s on stage with Dodgey along with a Fender Blues Junior and a minimal selection of ‘stomp boxes’.

Rob regards it as a pleasure and a privilege to play with a great group of musicians who approach all aspects of their music with the upmost professionalism.

Dave on Keys

As a toddler Dave used to play pretend piano at the table. He began piano lessons at the age of nine and over the years has developed into a versatile keyboard player. His first band experience was with the show band Network, progressing to covers band Time and Motion whilst at the same time performing original material with jazz quartet Funktion and subsequently was a member of the Blues Bros tribute band Shotgun Blues.

Dave has been in Dodgey virtually since it started and can remember when most of the band were doctors and nurses! He is an integral part of the rhythm section and also provides backing vocals. Likes funky jazzy stuff like Incognito, Jamiroquai & Stevie Wonder. His keyboard heroes are Joe Sample, Matt Cooper & Jamie Cullum. His pride and joy in his recently acquired Nord Stage Piano, so much so that he has purchased a red tie to match!

Ralph on Bass

The most recent addition to the band, Ralph began playing bass in 1987. Already playing drums in the legendary ‘Strange But True’ which reached the dizzying heights of the school end of term disco, Ralph switched to bass having been influenced by the bands of the era such as: Level 42, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Spin Doctors, Rage Against The Machine, Primus to name but a few.

Ralph went onto study Jazz Rock Composition at Bournemouth & Poole College where he immersed himself in Jazz & Jazz Fusion. Influences such as Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Victor Bailey became the order of the day and he soon found himself gigging around the Bournemouth area in various Jazz Funk projects.

Now based in Devon, Ralph has played in a variety of bands since moving to the area, including AJ’s Caravan band, Mama Stone’s band, disco band Tight Squeeze and enjoys appearances at the local Teignmouth Jazz Festival. Outside of playing bass with Dodgey Practice, Ralph plays Keyboards in Disco Dance band Uncle Jam.

Ralph is now in his second year with Dodgey Practice and relishes every opportunity to demonstrate his wealth of bass playing experience whilst slipping in some smooth grooves and trading fills with drummer Stuart.

Stu on Drums

Providing the delicious groove and general percussive awesomeness, drummer Stuart Martin joins the Dodgey Practice team. Bringing with him over thirty years experience of playing with various bands, artists and theatre shows in the southwest, plus gigs around the UK and into Europe.

His musical journey has led him to study privately with Andrew Small (Kylie Minogue, Jamelia, Massive Attack, Il Divo) and the legendary Dave Weckl.
Fuelled with a passion for new techniques he incorporates the latest technology in his set up to ensure the very best authentic sound.

Get in Touch