The Cutting Edge has been playing music for over 15 years; 8 of which in it's current line up.
The band is established on both the wedding/corporate and ceilidh scenes, having played venues from the Riverside club in Glasgow to the Hilton Hotel in Bangkok. No gig is too small or too big.
The band comprises 5 of the top musical talents in Scotland, delivering a unique celtic/rock experience that makes people get up and dance.
Musical influences include Scottish, Latin, Jazz, R&B and Rock.
Accordion wizard George Carmichael began playing at the tender age of five. Classically trained he became interested in traditional music in his teens and after working with the late great jazz maestro John Huband formed his own band recording two albums Setting Sail and Reel to Reel which were engineered by a young Kevin Murray with whom George met up with some years later and who is now gutarist with the band.
After a variety of line ups and instrumentation George met up with Deryck and James and formed The Cutting Edge, taking a no holds barred approach to traditional music.This line up gave George a zest for composing and he has composed many tunes which have been published, played and recorded by many other musicians as well as tracks on the bands albums.
James began playing drums professionally at the age of 19 and later went on to study percussion for two years with the late Ken Mailler. He has won various drumming and percussion honours including: several grade 1 solo drumming awards amd drum corp awards worldwide.
Recording and broadcast performances include: Albany - East West Hames Best 1986, Gathering Of The Clans Tour 1992, Till All The Seas Gang Dry 1993 Paul Anderson - In Full Spate 1994 Badenoch - Caledon 1999 B.B.C. Radio Scotland and Radio 2 and various Regional Radio Stations
Keyboard player Deryck's heritage is steeped in Celtic Tradition, having played Scottish music for some 20 years with some of Scotland's best traditional musicians. A keen composer, Deryck has written many of the tracks on the latest album including the title track "Freefall".
Also a former World Champion Highland dancer, Deryck is often seen leaping off stage, mid gig, and performing a "death defying" sword dance or grabbing the nearest young unsuspecting woman for a demonstration "Canadian Barn Dance".
Television and radio performances include: Michael Barrymore Show, BBC 1 Hogmany Show and BBC Scotland's "Take the Floor".
Calum is a professional musician/songwriter based in Dundee with an enviable arsenal of talent. Bass guitarist, double bass player and an excellent singer in his own right, Calum has the uncanny knack of able to feel comfartable in any musical style from Jazz, Country, Rock, R & B to Celtic folk and as a result, his talent has taken him around the world working and recording with many fine musicians such as Jazz trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar, Pat Kane (Hue and Cry) and Ricky Ross (Deacon Blue).
Calum has played a major role in the production of the new Cutting Edge album "Freefall", writing three new songs - "How Much", "Trains and Tears" and "Here I Go".
He still finds time for his other musical loves, often working with mates in other bands - Havana Swing (Gypsy Jazz Group), The Gerry Culley Jazz Trio and Drew Larg and the Buzzards (R & B).
Kevin is a renouned Composer and Musician based in Scotland. He has featured on the Recordings and Concerts of some of Scotlands Best Artistes. As a Composer he has written for every conceivable ensemble from Full Symphony Orchestra to Big Band and from the best and most able professionals to absolute beginners, as well as for Film , TV and Radio.
Kevin has played with and for: The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Tommy Smith, Michael Marra, Havana Swing, Mafia, John Rae, Phil and Tom Bancroft, Ronnie Goodman and too many more to mention!!.
He has also appeared as a Session player for: BBC TV and Radio, Grampian TV, STV and a few more besides. He currently play's electric guitar, acoustic guitar and mandolin with "The Cutting Edge"