I love my job.....

Since first picking up a pair of drumsticks at 9 years old, all I ever wanted to do was make a living from playing drums, and after a four year stint studying at Leeds College of Music, that’s exactly what I’ve done for the last fifteen years (I know, I don’t look mid thirties, I’ve led a charmed life!!!).

In that time, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the countries finest musicians, including on the Jazz front Alan Barnes (BBC Big Band/Bryan Ferry), Derek Nash (Jools Holland's’ Rhythm & Blues Orchestra), Bruce Adams (BBC Big Band/Scottish Radio Orchestra) & Lee Gibson (BBC Big Band & Concert Orchestra), and more recently on the rockier side of things with Julian Hutson

Saxby (Sensational Alex Harvey Band), Alan Bray (Joss Stone) & Alex Bowler (Cliff Moore). I’ve worked with numerous different bands over the years, in venues ranging from pubs & clubs through to major festivals (Glastonbury & Ribfest) as well as Birmingham N.E.C.& London Excel, with each and every gig being just as exciting as the last. I’ve also devoted a large portion of my time to

education, with me teaching Drummers of all ages and standards for the last 10 years, culminating with me currently being Drum Kit Performance lecturer at University College Falmouth (Cornwall), as well as writing my own monthly tuition column for the always excellent DRUMMER magazine. I also have my first drum kit tuition book “Sticks In Motion” being published in the latter part of 2010, with a series of workshops & clinics planned for early 2011 to support.

Gigs wise, my main gig is with the superb Swans In Flight, featuring the incomparable song writing talents of Hugo Montgomery-Swan, along with the lovely Joy Russell, Julian Hutson-Saxby and most recently my favourite bassist Kevin Sanders, with who I also work with in several other bands I regularly play with. Highlights for Swans later this year include an appearance at this years Rhythm Festival at Twinwood Arena in Bedfordshire (August), Acoustic Avalon in Leicester (October), and a main stage

performance at this years Guitar Nation show at London Olympia with special guest, one of Rocks greatest bassists Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake/Thin Lizzy).

Playing wise, I love all types of music, and strongly believe in the old Louis Armstrong phrase that there are only two types of music: good & bad, regardless of style!!! Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to play Jazz with some of the worlds finest Jazz Musicians, Rock with some of the worlds finest Rock musicians, Reggae with an actual Reggae band in St. Lucia, as well as making people dance, feel, and enjoy music all over the world, and have met many, many fine musicians and friends along the way…….