Jonathan Enright

Jonathan studied trombone at the Royal College of Music with Arthur Wilson. As a freelance player, he has performed and recorded with many artists, including Tito Allen,  Orlando Watusi, Adalberto Santiago, Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers, Roberto Pla, Snowboy, Alex Wilson, Finn Peters, Jason Yarde, Dennis Brown, Max Romeo, Bootsy Collins, Kesiah Jones,  Tony Christie, Badly Drawn Boy, Elbow.

TV and radio appearances include BBC Later with Jools Holland (Gregory Isaacs), BBC Blue Peter (Grupo Folia), ITV Man O Man (house band). MTV (Rockers HI-Fi). MTV,  Channel 4 Jo Whiley Show, BBC Radio 1 Steve Lamaq (all Lo Fidelity Allstars), BBC Radio 1 Andy Kershaw (La Clave), BBC Radio 4 Kaleidoscope (Jesus Alemany's Cubanismo), ITV South Bank Show (Elbow).

Jonny formed Grupo X in 1997.  The band started out as a Latin soul/ jazz ensemble, appearing frequently at London's Jazz Cafe.  Grupo X's 2001 debut album (on Jonny’s own label Loft Recordings), "X-Posure", was nominated for a Latin Grammy.  Grupo X's pioneering crossover musical style gained global radio play and support from DJs, including Gilles Peterson, Snowboy, Spinna, Bobbito and Louie Vega.

Grupo X have also had success in Japan with their ‘Brand New Love EP’. Further acclaimed albums "Food For Your Latin Soul" (2006) and "Grupo X Remixed" (2008)  featured the hits "Sunshine", "X-Perience" and "Whatever You Dream".   In 2007, Grupo X’s track "Jonny's Bugalu" featured on the DSW Shoes TV commercial across the USA.
Championed by BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne and Craig Charles, Grupo X's latest album, "As Hills Go By" (2011), has been described as: "epic, rootsy, and with singer Lisa Millett out front, often spine-tingling" (Blues and Soul Magazine).
The album's lead single, "Waiting All Day" ("beautiful"-Lauren Laverne) and follow-up "Make it Alright" (Jazz FM DJ, Christian Bragg's "Hot One") have had airplay throughout the UK and around the world.

Grupo X have collaborated with many internationally-renowned artists over the years, including "Mr Bongo" Jack Costanzo at 2003 North Sea Jazz Festival. They have played UK shows with Ubiquity Records' Dave Pike, Bobby Matos and Johnny Blas, as well as performances with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, NY salsero Jimmy Sabater (Fania Records) and "El Trombon Criollo", Jimmy Bosch. In 2009 Grupo X toured the UK with "The King of Latin Soul", Joe Bataan and Stones Throw Records' James Pants, followed by an appearance at the 2010 Vintage Festival with Joe Bataan.
Jonny has been an ABRSM Jazz Examiner since 2000 and began teaching at Leeds College of Music in 2004.  

www.grupo-x.com