STEVE ‘DAKIZ DAVIS is a professional percussionist, composer and has been active both in Europe and the UK in these fields. Steve is a Belfast native and is well-known for his jazz drumming and free improvisational style. At the age 12 he developed a strange fascination with hitting things to make them sound. He has maintained this obsession since then. STUDIES He obtained a BA (hons) degree in contemporary music at Leeds University in 2000 and a Distinction in a Post-Graduate Diploma Jazz at Trinity school of Music London in 2003. Steve received an Arts Council Scholarship to study at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, New York. PERFORMING In 2003 he toured with the European Jazz Orchestra, playing 25 dates throughout all the member states; Denmark,Switzerland,Italy,Germany and so on. For the past three years, he has lived in London and played drums with some of the best musicians in London’s jazz scene, including DJANGO BATES and JULIAN SEIGAL. These and many other projects are still his focus. He is currently working with DAVE KANE and PAUL DUNMALL on DJANGO BATES and BRIAN IRVINE. Recently, he worked with MICHAEL BUCKLEY (Ireland) and MIKE NEILSEN (Ireland). TEACHING Steve is currently lecturing at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. He is teaching Performance/Composition. Steve also teaches at the “Sligo Jazz Project.” www.mu.qub.ac.uk