Born: March 29, 1986 Primary Instrument: Drums
Johnny Hunter is a northern UK-based drummer who comes from a background of both the Avant-Garde and the more mainstream Jazz. He has performed or recorded with such esteemed musicians as Benn Clatworthy, Mick Beck, Nat Birchall, Jamil Sheriff, Jamie Taylor, Pete Fairclough, Walt Shaw, Richard Wetherall and Frank Grime to name a few. He is also heavily involved in the Reggae and Dub scene.
He is currently playing with Marley Chingus, Liverpool-based quartet playing heavy modal Jazz inspired by John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and the like; the Dub Jazz Soundsystem, a mash-up of heavy Dub and psychedelic modal Jazz; Skamel, a Ska/Jazz/Dub ensemble inspired by the French Reggae group Raspigaous; and his own “chordless” quartet set up to explore the freedom and limitations of having no chordal instrument. He is also the house drummer for the Matt & Phred’s Jazz jam night.
Johnny also works as an arranger and, as well as arranging and orchestrating music for others, he leads a big band playing entirely his own Ska & Jazz arrangements.
“[The Johnny Hunter Quartet] have quickly become one of the most exciting emerging bands in Manchester.” - Efpi Records, Jan 2013
Skamel live review - http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/skamel-hoochie-coochie.html
Skamel album review - http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ian-white-ten-nick-walters-tpt-johnny.html
