Our Family
We are a 7 piece band of gifted musicians and vocalists who absolutely love to share our passion with the world.
John Saltwell
BASS PLAYER / SONGWRITER / PRODUCER
I am the bass player, songwriter and producer of Soulfusionseven. I have been blessed over the years to have worked with some amazing musicians, from the Uber Cool Barry White, and Santana, the Disco Diva’s, Boney M and Touchdown, to many pop artiste’s including Paul Weller and Simply Red, playing on stages alongside The Brand New Heavies and Paul Young, the coolness of indie bands such as The Perfect Disaster and The Jesus and Mary Chain to name a few I have had many magical moments bestowed upon me giving me the opportunities to have travelled the globe whilst doing my day job, made some lifelong friends, met many inspirational people along the way.
I just play a groove, keep it musically honest and in the end, hopefully create some magic that will inspire those who play along side me and those who are willing to listen...
Arabella Rodrigo
Vocalist
With a career spanning opera, musical theatre, jazz, soul and session singing, Arabella brings a wealth of stage experience — and a serious love of great music — to the band.
Born in Northampton, Arabella moved to London at 18 to train as a classical singer at the London College of Music. While there, she discovered a passion for jazz and musical theatre alongside her classical training. In 2003, she was invited by jazz pianist Eddie Harvey to perform at the Ealing Jazz Festival, marking her professional debut, before completing her studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.
Her early career saw her performing across opera and musical theatre, with credits including Zorro the Musical, Nine, Turkish Delight the Opera and Gutter Press the Opera. In 2010, she took her career overseas, moving to China to perform at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau — by day as an opera-singing gondolier, and by night as the lead vocalist with a casino floor band. Yes, really.
Since returning to the UK, Arabella has continued to work across an eclectic mix of live and recorded music. She has toured as a lead vocalist with Back to Bacharach, performed as both a soloist and choral soprano on BBC Lent Worship and Songs of Praise, and built an extensive career as a session singer.
Her recording work has taken her to Abbey Road Studios for film and video game soundtracks, with credits including Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and, most recently, Mufasa.
Arabella loves bringing power, personality and plenty of vocal fire to the stage.
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Andy Kennedy
Keys / Piano
Andy learnt classical piano from the age of seven, and still loves to play that kind of music. He got involved with bands while at secondary school in Northampton in the 1970’s - during that time acquiring a love for soul, funk, jazz and disco music. His musical influences include Chic, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Schubert, Santana, Brian Eno, Brahms, Ravel, J S Bach, Bud Powell and Errol Garner. Andy spent his early years working with guitarist Adrian Utley (who went on to form trip hop band Portishead) and Graham “Coach” York, now occupying the drum seat with Mike Westbrook’s west country based big band. Andy, Adrian and Coach toured the UK backing Motown acts The Elgins and The Marvelettes. Andy was a founding member of St Anthony’s Fire featuring singer Natasha Atlas, a band which did UK gigs in the mid 80’s, notably on a support tour with fellow Northamptonians Bauhaus. He played keys for a number of years with Thabani, a London based afro-soul band featuring Zimbabwean born Thabani Nyoni on vocals. He has a beautiful wife and two grown up children, and loves allotment gardening and cycling. He completed a philosophy and politics degree at the Open University in 2014. His musical philosophy can be summed up in two famous Ellington quotes: “it don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing” and “there’s only two kinds of music - the good kind and the other kind”!
Jaro Kulha
Saxophonist
Jaro is a saxophonist with a degree in classical saxophone performance but he loves playing funk, soul and fusion. He had performed with various bands and worked on a number of musical projects. Jaro’s career has found him playing on cruise ships and gigging around UK and Europe. He’s been exposed to many styles and music genres whilst working with artists worldwide.
Richard Hollman
GUITARIST / SONGWRITER / PRODUCER
Richard is a guitar player and a new addition to the SoulFusionSeven songwriting team. He has many years of experience and has played on numerous recording sessions in just about every genre you can think of. He has also gigged extensively over many years and was a founding member of Oxford based band Melting Point.
“I am so pleased to have met with John and the SoulFusionSeven collective. It’s not often you meet kindred spirits and writing with John has been fantastic. I am influenced by all types of music and have played everything from Folk to Free Form Jazz! (via Blues, Pop, Rock and Soul). I like it best, though, when things are funky, jazzy, and groovy - this, to me, is the essence of SoulFusionSeven”.
Robbie Buckle
Drums / Percussion
Robbie’s been playing drums since the tender age of 10, and has gigged regularly with bands both locally and abroad namely, The Agency, Three Apostles and The Vokes, growing up and having your father as a drummer was inspirational for a young boy, Robbie spent a lot of his younger days immersing himself in and around funk and soul, Robbie’s love for music had him listening and loving Nate Smith, James Brown, Prince, The Roots and many more, Robbie comes with great pedigree and the credentials to match and is a great fit for SF7.
Paul Baker
ManAger / Bookings / Promotions
Paul originates from South London and now lives in Stevenage, he’s been a DJ for many years playing various venues across the UK and currently has 2 shows on Getyagrooveonradio every Tuesday and Friday. He also manages Soulfusionseven and is in charge of the day to day running of the band. His eye for detail for the style of music Soulfusionseven play is essential to the sound of the band as is his knowledge of soul funk and jazz.
Bookings : soulfusion7band@gmail.com