New York, NY (Top40 Charts) "It is fantastic that you are doing so well......with my very best wishes for the future" - Rt Hon
David Cameron MP, Prime Minister
�Parliament has lost a promising young politician, but the world has gained a rare musical talent who will contribute so much to our musical pleasure.� � Michael Connarty MP
�Ed�s got a beautiful sound on both the alto & tenor�a sweetness and earnestness in his approach that makes his music so listenable and refreshing.� � Dave Koz
�A sax scandal�.thats all we need in Westminster! Good Luck Ed� - Anon
� No.1 in the US Independent Pop Charts
� No.1 on the Independent Mainstream Network
� No.3 on the US Adult Contemporary Billboard Indie Chart
� Played in excess of 25,000 times on US
Radio Stations
Hear the song: https://soundcloud.com/ldpromos/feel-it-in-your-genes/s-uurWA
Watch the video on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnnQrfCFEjQ
�When word gets out about Ed�s album he is quickly going to become a lot moe famous than the politicians he used to work for� �
David Davies MP
Ed Barker, who until just over a year ago, used to run an MP�s office in Westminster, has finally hung up the political gloves after achieving record successes in the US pop charts. After studying Law at Nottingham University and taking his place amongst the Parliament elite, it was his first love of music, and the saxophone in particular that would get the deciding vote.
�He�s a fine man, a fine musician &
Simple Truth is a wonderful album. We are very proud to call him one of our own.� � John Hemming MP
�Young, energetic and unafraid�..listen & look out� � Dr Richard Niles
Running a parallel life as a political speech-writer and researcher working in the House of Commons for various MPs, including the current Attorney General, and as principal saxophonist for Britain�s
National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Ed was asked to be the featured soloist for
George Michael on his Symphonica Tour.
�I�d go to work in Parliament at 9am, run the office, write speeches, have a meeting with
William Hague or
David Cameron�s press team and then turn into Ed the jazzman and play in Wembley
Arena with
George Michael or in one of London�s top jazz clubs!�
As a result of this exposure, Ed found himself playing all over the world, most notably with LA's Dave Koz,
Gerald Albright and the late Ricky Lawson, who used to drum for Michael Jackson. In the meantime, he started putting together his own solo album, featuring all his favourite artists from around the world, including: Laurence Cottle on electric bass; Ben Butler - New York based guitarist for
George Michael; Richard Niles on guitar - LA based former producer for Ray Charles; BBC Strictly Come Dancing singer, Lance Ellington; Keyboard player - Chris Eldred; and Jasper
Morrissey on drums.
�He really was a delight to work with and we shall miss him. Clearly of man on many talents but I�m glad he has followed his heart�..I�m sure he won�t regret it�
� Dominic Grieve QC MP, Attorney General
The debut US smash hit single �When You Smile� convinced Ed to leave behind the grubby world of Westminster and pursue the cleaner life of Rock �n� Roll, although he claims the two callings are not so different: -
�Writing speeches and writing music, for me, feel like similar skills. You have to understand your audience and reflect what they want to hear in what you write but you also have to innovate, deliver a new message and capture the public's imagination and not play the same old tunes or deliver the same old lines. I loved comparing the two jobs and I learnt so much about how to understand an audience by being involved in both songwriting and speech-writing.�
And to prove that its not always hot air bellowing through the halls:-
�I also set up an MP jazz band which was great fun and I played with them at various events. We actually rehearsed in a room at the top of the Palace and our rehearsals could be heard, floating down the Corridors of Power. Nobody seemed to know where it was coming from.�
�Ed is a fine saxophonist, pianist & arranger�.and a mind that one rarely sees.� � Nigel Hitchcock
�He put together a jazz band to play at a reception on my last day as Deputy Prime
Minister which put all his values, commitments and sheer joy together.� � Lord John Prescott
�NOW IT�S A FAMILY AFFAIR...
Following the massive stateside success of his debut album �Simple Truth�, Ed Barker relocated to Hollywood to pursue his dream of being a jazz musician. But even in California you can get homesick��
Missing his family and friends, it was from the other side of the world that Ed finally decided to realise another long term ambition and make a record with his sisters. It became an obsession. What could be simpler? Annabelle, a Leicestershire based midwife, Eloise a London based estate agent and Ed, a musician living in Los Angeles.
�It was the worst possible time in my life to try to coordinate a project in Britain when I lived on the other side of the world, but it suddenly seemed like something I needed to do!� - Ed Barker
And so it was, with the germ of an idea and following an endless barrage of �WhatsApp� messages over the course of a couple of hours, Ed persuaded his sisters to come onboard and within a month, they had written and recorded the song, engaged the help of choreographers and dancers, found a venue and filmed the brilliant video that accompanies this upbeat and fun filled funky dance track. Inspired by TV�s �Downton Abbey�, the shoot included mansions, costumes, maids, castles and butlers. Unbelievably, Ed�s sisters even got him to dance!
The recording features some of the best musicians around including
Ian Thomas (Drums), Laurence Cottle and Goatious Foot (Bass), and Mark Jaimes and Richard Niles (Guitar), Ed enlisted the help of legendary producer Keith Bessey to help him put everything together. Combined with the sublime saxophone playing of Ed himself this is a tune to lift your spirits and keep you smiling.
