Jon Couzens started playing drums when he was 13 and learned snare drum rudiments from jazz musician Don Bailey of The Southampton Allstars Jazz Band. He continued taking drum kit lessons at school, before joining his first band at the age of 16 called The Script. After playing a few gigs and experiencing some 8 track recording sessions, he was offered a job in a more creative band and developed a less restrictive style of playing before continuing his journey in various acid- jazz formations, both giging and recording. A life changing experience came when he recorded with John 'Rabbit' Bundrick (The Who, Free, John Martyn) at the tender age of only 19 summers and thus his apprenticeship started to flourish, learning a lot from The Who's keyboardist. Rabbit had a heavy influence on his musicianship and the two would be up hours playing, composing and of course, talking about life on the road with The Who (it was Rab who threw the tv's out the hotel windows)!'In 1989, the stickster was offered a record deal recording and playing live with The Chosen as a percussionist for London,Ocean & Coastal Records, distributed through EMI. However, after initial success, some disputes between the band and the record company emerged and consequently The Chosen were dropped!Jon continued his journey through session work and later set up a teaching facility, Realtime Drum Studios, gaining a sponsorship from Natal Percussion.
He has worked with many artistes & bands including Ian Herron (Go-West), Freestyle and Leon, playing in the UK and european music festivals, with Peter Bursch in Germany, tutored by Herb Quick (Chukka Khan) and recorded the title soundtrack for Cannes Award Winning Film 'Triads, Yardies and Onion Bargees'.Currently he is recording, playing live, doing drum clinics and is Director of Beat CF Events. Jon set up Beat CF Events, which is raising funds for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust through high profile music events.2007 was a very successful year, working with Joshua Jones, Craig Blundell (Celine Dion,Bruce Dickinson,Mike Rutherford), Steve White & Damon Minchella (Paul Weller, The Players), Jason Bowld (Pitchshifter,This Is Menace), Pete Lockett (Peter Gabriel,Bjork) and Dave Mackintosh (Dragonforce).Jon is currently recording a new album with Peter Leon, due for release next year.Jon Couzens plays Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drums & Zildjian K cymbals (Live) Roland V Drums (Rec) and Natal (Percussion).www.justgiving.com/CFTRUSTGENETHERAPY..
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