Saxophonist

Alec Wares

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About Alec

A professional musician for the last 35 years, playing in all genres of music from jazz trio to full symphony orchestra.
Alec Wares's profile picture
Saxophonist
Manchester
Public liability insurance of £10 million

Graduated as a percussionist from the Royal Northern College of Music in1985, then spent the next 14 years as a professional woodwind player (with some percussion thrown in too). As well as touring theatre, played in the house band for S4C's "Galu Gari" show. Toured Norway with "The Monroes" pop band in 1986. Worked with Ray McVay's band for 2 seasons at Blackpool Tower Ballroom, shows at Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Wythenshawe Forum, pantos at Birmingham Hippodrome, tenor sax with "Supersax 2", MD and tenor sax with the Big Shot Swing Orchestra and Little Big Shot Band, baritone sax with Martha and the Vandellas touring band, tenor sax with "Midnight Hour" soul band, "Blast Off" function band, solo work with backing tracks.

Encore badges
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
Encore expert
Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy
Member of the Encore community forum
Most booked in region, 2022
Top 10 booked musician of 2022
6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
100 gigs
Legendary: 100 bookings through Encore!
Musicianship
Genres:
Musical theatre, Film / TV music, Ambient, Deep house, Drum 'n' Bass, Electro-Swing, Garage, House, Jazz, Blues, Cabaret, Jazz fusion, Latin jazz, Modern jazz, Postmodern jukebox jazz, Swing, Easy listening, Originals, Light music, Pop, Acoustic, Covers, Funk, Funk rock, Motown, Soul, Top 40, Vintage, Rock, Britpop, Pop rock, Rock 'n' Roll
See all genres
Instruments:
See all instruments
Event types:
Private event, Wedding, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Corporate event, Charity event, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Composer, Orchestrator, Transcription, Fluent improviser, Fluent sight-reader, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching
See all skills

Alec's Song list

JAZZ STANDARDS
All of Me
All the Things You Are
April in Paris
As Time Goes By
Autumn in New York
Autumn Leaves
Black Orpheus
Blue Bossa
Body and Soul
But Beautiful
C Jam blues
Corcorvado
Days of Wine and Roses
Desafinado
Don’t Get Around Much Any More
Easy to Love
Four
Girl From Ipanema
Green Dolphin Street
How Insensitive
In a Sentimental Mood
Long Ago and Far Away
Lullaby if Birdland
Meditation
Misty
The Nearness of You
Night and Day
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Out of Nowhere
Polkadots and moonbeams
Satin Doll Straight no Chaser
Summertime
There Will Never be Another You
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Wave What a Wonderful World
LOVE SONGS
a Million Love songs
All for love
All of Me Loves All of You
At Last
Can't Take my Eyes Off of You
Careless Whisper
Clown
Dilemma
Do I Love You, Indeed I do
Endless love
Everything I Do, I Do It For You.
From a Distance
How Deep Is Your Love
How Long Will I Love You
I Just Called to Say I Love You
I will always love you
If I Aint Got You
I'll Be There
Just The Way You Are
Killing Me Softly
Kiss From A Rose
Lean on me
Let's Stay Together
Make you feel my love
Natural Woman
Perfect
Say a Little Prayer
The one
Thinking Out Loud.
To Love Somebody
Truly madly deeply
Unforgettable
When a Woman Loves a Man
When I Fall in Love
When I was your man
Wind Beneath My Wings
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Your Song
POP
All Summer Long.
Bad Girl
Baker Street
Bang Bang
Billie Jean
Blinding lights
Call Me Maybe
Can't Stop The Feeling
Dancing in the Moonlight
Dancing queen
Despacito
Domino
Don't Start Now
Don't Stop Believing
Don't You Worry Bout a Thing.
Do The Walk of Life.
Escape (Pina colada Song).
Forget You
Galway girl
Gimme gimme gimme
Girl on fire
Happy.
Here Comes the Sun.
Hold My Hand
Jive talkin
Jubel
Just Got Paid
Kokomo.
Locked Out of Heaven
Love on Top
Mama mia
Million Dreams
Mirrors
Money money money
Moondance
Promises
Rather Be
Red light spells danger
Rockabye
Rosanna.
Soak Up The Sun.
Señorita.
Shut Up and Dance
Skate.
Star man
Sugar
Summer of 69.
Summer Nights.
Surfin USA.
Symphony.
Tears in Heaven
Time of my life
Titanium
That's What I Like
Uptown Funk
Valerie.
Wouldnt it be Nice
You should be dancing
You win again
SOUL/MOTOWN
As
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Dancing in the Street
Forget You
Higher and Higher
I Heard it Throught the Grapevine
I Wish
Lean on me
Long Train Running
Man in the Mirror
Never Too Much
Play That Funky Music
September
Signed Sealed Delivered
Smooth Operator
Soul Man
Stand By Me
Superstition
Take Me to the River
Tears of a Clown
You are the Sunshine of my Life.
You to me are Everything
SAMPLE HOUSE/DANCE SETS
(30m each)
How deep is your love
Jubel
Infinity 2008
Head and Heart
Higher love
Baker Street
Hot stuff
This girl
Two can play at that game
Mr Saxobeat
One Kiss
Sacrifice
Make me feel good
Regardless
BED
Ride on time
This is real
Everybody's free
One touch
Smile
Finally
We found love
Freed from desire
Promises
Symphony
Don't stop the music
Rhythm is a dancer
Lonely
Show me love
Heaven on my mind
OTHER SONGS INCLUDING
The Man with the Red Face
Titanium
Lies
Dance monkey
Sacrifice
Afraid
What’s love got to do with it
I got you
Morning
Make luv
Go bang
Shine
Sun goes down
Levels
I want it that way
No time for tears
Closure
If your girl only new
Where a I belong
Do me right
If you wanna
Push it right
Goodbye
Carry on
Nobody else
Come with me
2am
Lights go down
Na na na
Better off without you
Higher love
Lonely
Cola
Miss me much
Love line
Out of my head
Timeless
Oh my
Set me free
Want no other
How would it feel
Unforgettable
Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

If you need more time, please let me know and I can adjust the quote

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

I work exclusively from an ipad, so there is always a playlist ready to use between sets.

How much time do you need to set up?

Normally set up takes no longer than half an hour.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

If there is a particular style you would like, please let me know and I’ll try to accommodate.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Absolutely. I bring the tracks and the PA system. All I need is a power supply to plug into.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

If there is a particular song you would like, it may be possible to play it if I am given sufficient notice. This gives me time to obtain the backing track and the sheet music, if needed.

Alec's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£312.50
Up to 1 hour£375
Up to 2 hours£500
Up to 3 hours£625
Alec
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5
76 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Alec's Reviews

From Encore customers:

AC
Amy C
25 days ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Alec was absolutely fantastic I had the best time he was amazing definitely recommend him his playlist was brilliant and he definitely got everyone up dancing and enjoying themselves!! Thank you so much 😊

Reply from Alec
25 days ago

Thanks, Amy. Glad everyone enjoyed it. Cheers

KC
Kirsty C
28 days ago
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5 out of 5

Can not complain! Everything was great! Thanks Alec

Reply from Alec
28 days ago

Delighted to be part of your day. Thanks

LW
Laura W
2 months ago
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5 out of 5

Excellent performer Thankyou Alec x

Reply from Alec
2 months ago

Thanks, Laura. Glad you enjoyed it

CB
Conor B
2 months ago
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5 out of 5

Alec is amazing at what he does, and helped to create memories for the venue I work at.

Reply from Alec
2 months ago

Cheers, Conor. Have a great Christmas

Read all 74 reviews

From other customers:

PP
Paul P
4 years ago, for a Concert in Higginshaw Rd
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5 out of 5

Thanks for all your hard work on the concert. You played with great style and we got many positive comments throughout the evening. Look forward to hearing you again. Cheers. Paul

CA
Chris A
4 years ago, for a Private event in Portland St
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5 out of 5

Many thanks for your professionalism from start to finish. Your sax playing was fantastic and really added to the atmosphere of the evening