Martin Drew

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Martin Drew
Drew at the Appleby Jazz Festival
Drew at the Appleby Jazz Festival
Background information
Born(1944-02-11)11 February 1944
Northampton, England
Died29 July 2010(2010-07-29) (aged 66)
Harefield, Hillingdon, England
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1957–2010
Websitemartindrew.co.uk

Martin Drew (11 February 1944[1] – 29 July 2010)[2] was an English jazz drummer[3] who played with Ronnie Scott between 1975 and 1995 and with Oscar Peterson between 1974 and 2007.[4]

Career

Martin Drew was born on 11 February 1944 in Northampton, England, and started to play the drums when he was six years old.[1] He played his first professional engagement at the age of 13. Studying with drummer George Fierstone gave Drew a solid musical and technical background.

Drew was best known for his extensive work in Oscar Peterson and Ronnie Scott's groups, with which he became an international name.[1] He also played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with many famous visiting American jazz musicians.[1]

Drew was also a member of a trio led by Eddie Thompson. He was often heard playing on BBC Radio 2's Sounds of Jazz programme in the 1970s, which was introduced by Peter Clayton on Sunday evenings.

During the 1980s, Drew and keyboardist John Critchinson played simultaneously with the Ronnie Scott Quartet (the fourth band member was bassist Ron Mathewson) and with the jazz group Morrissey–Mullen. When Morrissey-Mullen disbanded in 1988, Drew led a quintet called Our Band with Dick Morrissey, Jim Mullen (originally Louis Stewart), Critchinson, and Mathewson.[3]

Between 1997 and 2000, Drew led a quartet with Mornington Lockett on tenor saxophone, Gareth Williams on piano, and Laurence Cottle on electric bass.

In 2000, Drew formed the Celebrating The Jazz Couriers quintet with Mornington Lockett.[3] The group played the music of the original Jazz Couriers (1957–59), a group led by Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes. This new band was completed by Nigel Hitchcock on tenor saxophone, Steve Melling on piano, and Andrew Cleyndert on double-bass. The group won the 2002 British Jazz Award for Best Small Group.

The New Couriers band reformed in 2003 with Paul Morgan on double-bass and Jim Hart on vibraphone. Lockett and Melling returned on tenor saxophone and piano.[5]

Musicians worked with

Martin Drew himself compiled this list of people he had worked with (alphabetical by first names):

Stephane Grappelli - Steve Melling - Terence Blanchard - Terry Gibbs - Tete Montoliu - Tommy Smith - Toots Thielemans - Ulf Wakenius - Vic Lewis - Warren Vaché Jr. - Woody Herman - Zoot Sims
.

Death

Drew died on 29 July 2010, at the age of 66, following a heart attack.[2]

Discography

As leader

  • 1978: The Martin Drew Band, British Jazz Artists Vol. 3 (Lee Lambert Records)[6]

As sideman

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-580-8
    .
  2. ^ a b Massarik, Jack (30 July 2010). "Jazz breaking news: Martin Drew Has Died". Jazzwise Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2010 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Drummerworld: Martin Drew". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2007.
  5. ^ "BBC under "April 15" section". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ^ "The Martin Drew Band – The Martin Drew Band (1978, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Oscar Peterson with Harry Edison & Eddie Vinson - Oscar Peterson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 July 2021.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin_Drew&oldid=1217158811"