Aaron Liddard

Born and raised in rural Hertfordshire, the son of liberal and creative parents, Aaron Liddard’s initial foray in to the world of music came via one of the most eccentric of instruments, the tuba. From this unusual starting point and via brief dalliances with both the piano and guitar, he settled on the saxophone, discovering a natural affinity with his chosen instrument that would influence his existence to the present day, taking him on a truly varied and fascinating voyage of discovery. 



Receiving school music lessons from the classical composer Nicholas Sackman and renowned choral director Dr Charlie Beale provided an initial enthusiasm, but it was Liddard’s discovery of the Buntingford Jazz Club that truly ignited a spark, absorbing the intricate and dexterous guitar playing of Jim Mullen and the mellifluous tones of Alan Skidmore on sax. It was at this club that Liddard improvised for the very first time, in front of his newly discovered heroes.

Further intrigue for the alternative, more technical aspects of music creation were developed at Harlow College on a sound engineering course, which eventually led to a job at Cambridge Modern Jazz Club, where Aaron discovered the brilliance of artists such as Andy Shepard and Django Bates.

But it was a decade spent in Manchester from the early nineties to noughties that the saw evolution of Aaron Liddard from an aspiring player to a master musician. Swiftly developing a reputation in the city’s burgeoning music scene as prolific jammer with an insatiable appetite for live performance, Aaron became so in demand that at one point he was performing regularly with 15 local bands! Highlights of these heady days included a long stint as tenor sax and percussion for batucada ensemble Inner Sense, whom he became acquainted with in his role as sound engineer at Manchester’s iconic live music venue Band On The Wall, not to mention the formation of Latin hip hop group Nylon Jungle, who headlined Manchester Jazz festival in 1999.

After some time spent teaching in Moss Side (where his student’s included members of The Happy Mondays), Aaron moved to London, where one fateful evening he impressed the musical director of a then up and coming singer called Amy Winehouse with his baritone sax. From there on in Aaron formed a musical bond that led him to become a touring member of the inimitable vocalists’ band, lending his skills to a plethora of live performances and recordings including ‘Later…’ with Jools Holland, a show-stopping turn at The Brit Awards and a prominent appearance in the video for Amy’s worldwide hit ‘Rehab’.

After the tragic event of Amy’s passing, Aaron’s subsequent work included a triumphant spell touring with another of the UK’s finest singers, Beverley Knight. It was in this position that he was able to perform with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic saxophonist Maceo Parker, as well as the iconic artist Prince, during his now legendary 21 days at the 02 Arena. Aaron describes the moment that Prince hushed the rhythm section to better hear the riff he had come up with during a jam session as one of the highlights of his professional life!

Aaron Liddard’s rock’n’roll credentials are equally as strong: being key member of The Stargazers since 2007 led to Bob Geldof asking him to join The Boomtown Rats on their comeback tour and two albums.

photo credit - Bianca Florenza

Despite flourishing in such diverse musical experience, Aaron’s love for jazz and blues has never strayed far from his heart. In 2014 he joined Sheila Tracey's big band alongside Duncan Lamont Snr (known for his work with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles) and Ronnie Hughes (a long time collaborator with Ted Heath).

Aaron was also part of The Sugaray Rayford Band for ten years, culminating in the artist’s Grammy nominated In Too Deep on which Liddard wrote the horn arrangements. The band won Blues Blast Magazine prize for Best Blues Band in 2019. Liddard has also recorded for Johnny Rawls, Walter Trout and Douglas Avery.

Aaron Liddard is an adept musical director, curating and producing the large-scale big band album ‘Dark Humour’ by The London Jazz Collective and directing a series of UK concerts for Michael Henderson, bass player for Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis. Their sold out show at London’s Royal Festival Hall was met with widespread critical acclaim, including a rave review in The Financial Times.

Aaron released his debut solo album Nylon Man to critical acclaim in 2022. Blues and Soul magazine put Aaron on their cover along with a three-page feature and four-star review. American jazz website All About Jazz made Corean Castaway (tribute to Chick) their ‘Song of the Day,’ and JazzFM’s Rouhangeze Baichoo made Thru Your Eyes (a modern take on The Great American Song Book) ‘Song of the Week.’

Features ran in London Jazz News and North East Online. Interviews followed with London Jazz Live, BBC Manchester and Radio Northumberland. The album was  reviewed by Jazzwise, Bebop Spoken Here, Blues Matters, Midwest Record, Wall Of Sound, and The Jazz Mann. Over thirty radio DJs played tracks from Nylon Man, including stations in in the UK, USA and Europe.

Aaron Liddard is touring Nylon Man with his quintet. Shows are inclusive, reflective and celebratory. Audiences often get involved, spontaneously clapping, singing along and dancing.

“All Aaron Liddard’s music is beautiful”

— Flora Purim