The day I knew I was going to get my first drum kit, my parents strongly suggested I go for lessons. My first teacher was Freddie Wells in Luton, and studying with him was the best thing I could have done. All of my playing is rooted in the principles he explained to me. Later I also studied at Drumtech, and also with Michael Butler. As I have an unquenchable thirst for musical knowledge, I will always remain a student myself.
As a professional musician, I thrive on variety and versatility and regularly perform a wide range of music, including Brazilian (samba, samba reggae, batucada, maracatu, baiao, forro, bossanova, etc), Cuban (son, guaguanco, mozambique, Afro/Cuban 6/8, bolero, etc), flamenco (bulerias, solea, rumba, tangos, alegrias, etc), jazz, eastern european, ceilidh; as well as the staple european diet of funk/ hip-hop/ rock/ pop/ indie/ punk/ reggae/ blues/ folk/ shows etc... (Many of these styles will often be blended within one context... with such a diverse source of cultures and styles to draw from, ideas are never lacking. Also, I feel confident I can handle most situations.)
I have appeared on many albums, including Matinee and The Valentine tapes by Sharkboy (Nude Records), Sweet Infection and "Stay" by Mella Faye and the Big Band. I was the drummer for seminal British blues band Lenna & the Snakemen (two albums, countless gigs in Europe and the UK), and I toured and recorded with Chicago bluesman Lucky Lopez Evans (ex Howling Wolf). I recorded an album and played many gigs with Philadelphia bassist Dave Hadley (ex Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley). New York guitarist Stuart Daye (ex Alice Cooper and Don Cherry) used my drumming on his solo album, and I back Austin Texas based fiddle player Eamonn McLaughlin when he crosses the ocean. I have backed american 60s star PJ Proby on a live TV show on C4, and I have also worked with magician Paul Zennon, and performed with "Ruts" guitarist Paul Fox. My regular playing situations have included Bazeado, a Brazilian outfit (album "Requebra Nega" on Mr Bongo records; recent festival appearances in Belgium, Holland and Norway), and Mezzrow and "Bitches Brew (with trumpetman/ producer/ songsmith Rupert Cobb). In the jazz world I have worked with Julian Nicholas (ex-"Loose Tubes"), Dick Heckstall-Smith, Kelvin Christiane, and Byron Wallen amongst many others. I also occasionally play in tribute bands to "Ella Fitzgerald", The Who, "Free", and classic English punks The Ruts. I also work regularly with 40's jazz outfit "Rockin' in Rhythm".
As a member of indie rock group "Cat Ballou" with Nick Roughley ("Blow up", "Kowalski"), I co-ran our own record label, "Bionic Vinyl", on which we released a number of singles to critical acclaim.
As well as drumkit I have played timbales with Calavera a Cuban/flamenco fusion outfit. We have toured in France, and played new years eve 2000/2001 at the Burj Al Arab, a 7 star hotel in Dubai. I also play cajon (flamenco percussion instrument) with flamenco group Candela.
Playing as a professional musician gives me the opportunity to travel widely and appear in places as diverse as the Glastonbury and Edinburgh Festivals, the Brixton Academy, the Jazz Cafe, the Casino de Paris, and the Caribbean (playing on a millennium cruise). I have recently toured the Med and also South America on board a cruise ship.
Other freelance recording includes work for Island Records, Sony Records, and a number of projects produced by Pete Brown (songwriting partner of Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in "Cream"). I record and perform with various projects led by producer Chris Phillips, including the band "Runaway" and the singer Daisy Hicks. I also do recording sessions for producer Ben Albu. I played drums on the theme tune to the Clive Anderson travel series "Our Man in.." on BBC TV, and have played incidental music for C4. I have many other TV credits Including ITVs The Beat hosted by Gary Crowley, The Pier on C4, and BBC "South Today". Over the years my playing has appeared on very many radio shows. Selected highlights include Radio1 The Late Session, BBC London Live with Lisa LAnson, and The Black Session on Radio France.