SoundStorm was originally led by Dan Somogyi and Steve Harris. Steve, who tragically lost his battle with cancer in January 2008, was best known, aside from his amazing legacy of education work in Dorset, the Midlands and Ireland, for his work with funk-jazz improvisation ensemble Pinski Zoo in the early 1990s, and then his own, seminal Dorset-based improvisation collective, ZAUM, which received rave reviews in the national press for their four albums. ZAUM were described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz as 'the most exciting live band in Europe' and received the Guide's esteemed coronet, its highest rating. Dan co-wrote Steve's obituary in The Guardian in collaboration with esteemed jazz journalist John Fordham. Steve's funeral was attended by over 300 mourners, including many of the musicians and teachers whose lives he had touched over the years.

You can read Steve's obituary in The Guardian here: Steve Harris Obituary - The Guardian

Acclaimed jazz writer, Brian Morton, one of ZAUM's greatest champions, wrote an obituary for The Independent, which you can read here: Steve Harris Obituary - The Independent

Steve's website contains many tributes plus information about his music: www.steve-harris.info

Since Steve's death, Dan Somogyi has been running SoundStorm on a solo basis, utilizing employed and freelance musicians, and a small back-up team. Dan achieved a History Degree and studied for a PhD whilst teaching at Oxford University, before making his hobby his profession and joining Jazzeast, the jazz and world music development agency for the East of England, in 1999. He moved to Dorset to establish SoundStorm in late 2001. Amongst his music publications, the Guide for Music Promoters was published by Arts Council England/Jazz Services in 2002. 

Dan can be contacted via daniel.somogyi@bournemouth.gov.uk or 01202 451512