Pete Wareham

Pete Wareham is a British saxophonist known for his group Acoustic Ladyland and Polar Bear. He is a member of the London-based jazz collective F-IRE.

Career

Wareham graduated from Leeds College of Music in 1997 and later continued to pursue post graduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Wareham played tenor and baritone saxophone in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during 1997–1999. His continued success as a saxophonist lead to many notable performances, including appearances at New York's Blue Note Club, London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and a support slot for Roy Ayers in 2004.

Wareham formed Acoustic Ladyland in 2001. The band was originally intended, as the name suggests, to be an acoustic improv band reinterpreting the music of Jimi Hendrix. They became a distinctive group of improvisers with a contemporary rock and roll attitude. Acoustic Ladyland won the BBC Jazz Award Best Band 2005 and were also nominated for Best Album. In July 2011, Wareham announced the band's final performance before re-forming with the same members under the new name Silver Birch.

Discography

With Acoustic Ladyland

• Camouflage, Babel Label, 2004, BDV2449
• Last Chance Disco, Babel Label, 2005, BDV2555
• Skinny Grin, V2, 2006, VVR1043688
• Living With A Tiger, Strong & Wrong, 2009, SAW0001

With Polar Bear

• Dim Lit, Babel Label, 2004
• Held on the Tips of Fingers, Babel Label, 2005
• Polar Bear, Tin Angel, 2008
• Peepers, The Leaf Label, 2010, BAY 74V
• In Each and Every One, The Leaf Label, 2014, BAY 90V
• Same as You, The Leaf Label, 2014, BAY 90V

With Melt Yourself Down

• Melt Yourself Down, The Leaf Label, 2013, BAY 85V
• Live at the New Empowering Church, The Leaf Label, 2015, BAY 98V