SEEKING
Band to Join.ABOUT
Age 65, feeling like I'm 25 (in my head, at least), but I can still play a two-hour set without a break (but with a few aching bits after!). I gigged regularly for a variety of bands when younger, but more recently, I was the regular drummer for a covers band in England, and the "dep" drummer for Quiet Wish - their music was progressive alt-rock/ambient "sound-scaping", - quite ballsy in places. The track "Stone Wall" typified what they sounded like - it takes a while to get going but worth hearing it to the end. Sadly, QW called time on their music-making - at least for a while, but i think there is still some on Spotify, if you want to check it out. I also kept my hand in playing for the Surrey Jazz Jam, playing a wide range of stuff from the jazz repertoire, and also with a modern jazz quintet - Gang of Five.
Now, with my permanent move to the Isle of Man in late 2020, while practicing hard to resurrect any technique I might have had, I have connected with a few like-minded musicians in the hope of playing (and gigging in future) some more unusual stuff from the jazz/fusion repertoire. But in addition to this, I hope to get involved in Manx music-making more generally.
Regardless of "genre", I'm happy to listen to, and learn from anything if there's musicianship involved. I'm a fairly quick learner of new music - I can work through a music score, but don't sight read, and have had studio/click-track experience. I can also count up to 3, 5, 7, 9 etc as well as 2,4,6,8. So if you live on the Isle of Man, and need a drummer sympathetic to the music, and the venue size (I play at a volume suitable for the venue, rather than having an audience leaving a gig bleeding from the ears!) and who's just as happy to play at "1 or 2", rather than just Spinal Tap's "11".... do get in touch.
- Screen name:
- john307268
- Member since:
- Nov 26 2015
- Active within 1 month
- Level of commitment:
- Committed
- Years playing music:
- 35
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
Influences
I don't think it's a good idea to state musical influences - it tends to give a false impression of what might be expected from a musician. I'll happily listen to and enjoy everything from Alfa Mist, to Led Zep, and will have a go at anything (except thrash metal!). I will own up to my limitations too, if I feel that I'm not able to achieve what you're after.
If it helps, I regularly listen to Snarky Puppy, Shubh Saran, Jacob Collier, Adam Neely, Lydian Collective, everything ever recorded on the Blue Note or Verve record labels, Portico Quartet, Kiasmos, Vulfpeck, Esbjorn Svensson, Mammal Hands, Go-Go Penguin, Underworld, Marcin Wasilewski Trio and the like...
Instrument experience:
- Drums:
- Advanced
EQUIPMENT
A Brazilian Odery Eyedentity kit - 10"/12"/14"/20" maple shells, Tama Sound Lab Project 14" maple snare, all with Evans G1 heads, and a variety of Sabian cymbals. Gibraltar hardware, a DW5000 kick pedal, various bits of percussion, Shure PGA drum mics through a Souncraft EPM6 mixer, and will acquire electronic drum/sample pads if required. I have my own transport, and all my own teeth! For rock gigs, however, I will have to borrow some hair!