Formed originally as the house band for the legendary Stray’s Coffee Shop in Newark, P.R.S. have been playing since 2017 – so they needed a break…

They went into Mount Street Studios in Nottingham the day before LockDown in November 2020, not knowing whether there would be a civilisation to play for when they came out or whether Donald Trump would have crowned himself Emperor and outlawed jazz altogether…

Panic stricken they recorded 22 tracks in 6 hours. Further panic set in, when they listened to them back – the result is this 14 track CD. The 8 rejected tracks were the subject of a controlled explosion – those who heard the aforementioned tracks are in long term therapy…

The resulting CD consists of ‘first takes’ with on-the-spot arrangements. There were no take-2’s. Maybe there should have been. But life’s too short – playing live is what it’s all about. Isn’t it?”

GET STRAYIN' LIVE ON CD HERE...

P.R.S started out playing as a sort of ‘house band’ for a family owned coffee shop in Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire, which is owned by the band’s bassist Mat Short.

Initially the idea was to provide a trio to back various artists playing sax, trumpet, keys and vocals at Stray’s.

Not surprisingly, the band kept getting enquiries to provide music outside of this environment and P.R.S. was born. Now enjoying regular (well, pre-Covid anyway) gigs at The Pelican Club in Nottingham, The Masons Arms in Louth, The Bees Knees in Laneham, plus many private parties.

PRS have just finished producing their first recorded album, aptly entitled Stray’in Live, which is a tribute to their good friend, sax player Rick Woolgar, who sadly passed away early in 2021.

About Potts, Rodda and Short…

Drums

Si Potts

PRS is driven by drummer Simon Potts, who cites his influences as Buddy Rich, Art Blakey & Max Roach to name a few.

Having worked as a session drummer with the BBC at their Maida Vale and Paris Studios playing with both big and small bands, Simon’s love of jazz was fuelled by his father, a jazz trumpeter, who led his own band for over 40 years.

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Simon has worked with many artists including Jamie Cullum, Digby Fairweather, Stacey Kent, Jacqui Dankworth, Barb Jungr, Denny Illett Jr. and Johnny Mars (American blues harmonica player not to be confused with Johnny Marr guitarist from the Smiths!)

“You can hear the music in Si’s solos – he’s unreal…” – Jan Kopinski – Saxophonist

Geetar

Steve Rodda

Steve Rodda picked up his first guitar in 1976 (we know, he doesn’t look old enough!) and has been playing jazz gigs since the late nineties, with strong Django Reinhardt influences apparent in his sound.

Having been previously picked up by a record label in the 80’s playing jazz, blues and ska, Steve went off to “get a proper” job – but over the last 20+ years has become a mainstream name on the Midlands jazz circuit, known best for his work with Alan Walker’s Decent Chaps and also with John Illingworth in their guitar duo Double Take.

He has also just completed recording Trio de Cordes →, which is a gypsy jazz style trio of guitar, double bass and violin.

Bass

Mat Short

The third member of P.R.S is Mat Short on bass guitar.

Originally playing alto sax from his late twenties, having been taught improvisation by saxophone supremo Jan Kopinski, Mat also spent a couple of years under the watchful eye of jazz trumpeter Nathan Bray, until he switched to playing bass in 2015. This ‘change’ in direction came about after the death of his father, who left him a Fender Jazz Bass – Mat has never looked back!

He cites his musical influences as wide ranging as Stanley Turrentine, Pat Sprakes, Ray Brown, LTJ Bukem, Duke Ellington, Janek Gwizdala and Steely Dan.

Mat owns the small coffee shop chain Stray’s, where the band first started playing and is as passionate about playing bass as he is about making and drinking coffee.

PRS work with a huge mix of musicians including saxophonists, flautists, trumpeters, keyboard players, guitarists and vocalists, both male and female.