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My initiation into jazz was at school in
1957 on hearing Ken Colyer's Maryland/The World is Waiting for the
Sunrise. A combination of Colin Bowden's driving drumming and
watching the drummers in local bands, encouraged me to take up the
drums.
I joined several bands, which never really got going, and for
about five years in the 70's gave up because of the lack of
opportunities. Eventually I joined the Easy Street/Boulevard
Jazzmen, led by Brian Mays. This lasted until Brian had to retire.
It was at this time that I met John Bright, a fine banjo player. In
the 90's I started to play with the Liberty Hall Stompers a South
Essex band, led by Leo Davis, which included banjoist Ian Grant. Ian
leads the Superior Brass Band on bass drum, with myself on snare
drum; the different disciplines of a parade band make a nice change.
In 1997 I had a 'phone call from Robin Burgess asking me if I could
help out at Loddon in Norfolk and after a few weeks was invited to
join Redbeans 'n' Rice permanently.
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