Hi, I've been playing drums since I was quite short. Having played with a number of bands in Cornwall, including the first drummer to play with Zambula, I moved to London where I studied Jazz and Popular Music at Goldsmith's College. Whilst at college I played in many bands and sessions, including the first ever Spectral Recording for Dolby at Townhouse Studios in the late 1980s. (This was a new technique in analogue recording pioneered by Dolby to compete with the new digital technology.) At this time, I took lessons with Charlie Charles, the drummer for the Blockheads, and played drums in Charlie's band, Charlie Charles and the Crown Jewels. I played in various musical projects with Bill Bailey, and also joined an agency that got me working with bands such as Boney M and George McCrae. Throughout this period, I played with the London School of Samba and studied with Frances Seriau of Drumtech and then more importantly, went on to study with Bob Armstrong for several years, which is possibly the best thing I ever did! Throughout the 1990s I was involved in a number of bands including The North South London Big Band, 10 Days to Live, and Adrian Borland (The Sound).
Now based in Cornwall, I have recorded drum tracks for various albums with Dare Mason at the VIP Lounge, including two albums for Noctorum, and Neurotica for Brix Smith. I gig regularly with undoubtedly Cornwall's finest blues band, Blues Connection, who now have two albums available through their website bluesconnection.co.uk. Also I play with St. Keverne Band (probably the best silver band in the south west) and Sambaceltica, a samba band of 40 or so players that performs at various avents around Cornwall. And I am in a band called Rosebud Choir, which happens to be the best band in the world, which is nice. They have a new CD, available through itunes, called God Shaped Hole which is also nice. And I teach drums to around 200 pupils per week throughout Cornwall.
About the SIX, yes SIX, tracks on this site.
First up is my arrangement of Mission Impossible by Lalo Schifrin. It was recorded at the V.I.P. Lounge by Dare Mason who did a sterling job of plumbing into Cubase, a track that modulates between 5/4 and 4/4 and a baseline that is in 3s against 4! The Guitar was played by diamond geezer, John Knight. He also played the Fender Rhodes piano on guitar via his synth! Thanks to Lalo Schifrin for his compliments and permission.
Hulum is by Amal Murkus who has very kindly let me use it here. Hulum originally appeared on Amal's debut album "Amal", which is widely available. Click on her icon below to hear more of her beautiful voice, and the songs from her new album Na Na Ya Na Na.
The third track is from Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis, who have kindly given me permission to use it here. I have added drums to their track, notably using two different snare drums for the different sections. You can hear more of Kristi's music on her Myspace site, by clicking her icon below. Do not live another day without buying their latest album called taxidoscopio!
Next is White Blues from Chet Baker. This tune was first recorded with trumpet, piano and bass, but no drums, so I couldn't resist adding a drum track. As an exercise in authenticity, I used drums and cymbals that were contemporary with the original recording and the drum tracks were recorded using analogue equipment and matching reverb.
The fifth and sixth tracks are from Rosebud Choir and you can hear more of them by clicking on their icon below. Their latest CD, God Shaped Hole, is now available on iTunes. Hurrah!
Live long and prosper MX
Here are some clips starting with a short. The drummer in this film is yours truly. For this I had to play an original 1920's kit with a huge bass and suspended cymbals. Weird, but great fun.
This next clip is introduced by Buddy Rich's daughter and features Dave Weckl, Vinne Colautta and Steve Gadd. This is fantastic, not to be missed.
Some wise words from Jim Chapin.
Jim is the world's leading authority on moeller technique.
Here's Steve Gadd with the drum part for
Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon. Hypnotic!
