The Skamonics - jazzy ska from its 60s roots and bonkers covers

Leah Thomas is a rising London jazz star. She also runs Blue Flamingo Jazz, and plays mean dirty honking tenor solos. She is half German (but never lets on which half), and plays gospel piano. You can visit her myspace page.

Steve Burnett's powerful alto sax is vital to the Skamonics front line. You would never guess from his ska solos that his other instrument is the bassoon.

Nick Richards, alias "Boneman", began playing the trombone after hearing old ska recordings featuring the legendary Don Drummond. He is currently studying with reknowned trombonists Annie Whitehead (Jazz Jamaica All-Stars, Fun Boy Three) and Malcolm Earle-Smith, and has received advice and encouragement from ska veteran Rico Rodriguez (Prince Buster, The Specials).

He plays a silver-plated Boosey & Hawkes Imperial trombone with an F-trigger which was made in England circa 1970, as was Nick himself.

He's performed with a dub soundsystem, a latino-reggae band and a German classical guitarist at venues as exotic as a beach in Amsterdam, a squat in Russell Square and a tattoo festival in Derby.

Paul Jordanous is an in-demand trumpet player. As well as hitting high notes for the Skams, he runs his own big-band plays in Clarke Tracey's sextet and features in a range of jazz, funk and latin bands.

Drenched in the blues, Frank Cooke has played guitar in bands in Cambridge and London. He also plays in the Astrojets in which surf guitar gets down and dirty with 60s R&B, and in a rare modern setting )at least for the Professor 70s band, the Electric Cucumbers. He has a sideline in repairing guitar amps, and never uses the same vintage amp twice at gigs.

Veronica Martell is the band's singer and tickles the odd ivory substitute. Veronica is an experienced vocalist who has sung jazz, soul and rock across London. Her other gig is with the City Lit Acapella group, but she would rather be Bruce Springsteen's backing singer.

Holding down the bottom end is the band's veteran, Nigel Stanley on bass guitar. He is old enough not only to remember when some of the band's tunes were hits the first time round, but also running away from the skinheads who loved them.

He also plays jazz in the City Lit Big Band and the Brent Jazz Orchestra; and soul, blues and 60s Britpop in One More Heave

Nigel writes many of the Skamonics arrangements. It's how he keeps the bass parts easy to play.

One of the most versatile drummers on the London jazz and ska scene, Mark has worked extensively with ska legends, free improvisers, classic big bands, latin groups and singer-song writers: basically everyone. He regularly plays with The Trojans and Annie Whitehead; and co-leads Anglo-South African jazz group - the Dan Wilson Mark Huggett project. He has performed live with Prince Buster, Jason Rebello, Jean Toussaint and Dudley Phillips. He plays blues on the London pub circuit with Big Road