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Richard Dray

Got the jazz bug at an early age, thrilling to the sounds of Bird, Diz and Monk. He spent his teenage years in the clubs of Soho listening to the great names of British Jazz including Tubby Hayes, Joe Harriott, Ronnie Scott and John Stevens. Friendship with Alexis Korner lead to an interest in the Blues and when, many years later, he took up the drums he worked around the pubs of North London in various Blues bands. There followed a spell with Essex band Snagge working the London clubs including Kashmir’s and Taylors, before joining up with jazz singer Gill Ward. Since then he has worked with many local musicians including Martin Hathaway, Geoff Collins, Dan Banks, Ron Spack and groups Alto Egos and Real Time, He has worked most of the major jazz venues in Essex as well as visits to the Cambridge Jazz club, the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, No.10 in Mayfair and The Pizza on the Park Knightsbridge. As well as his work with Interplay, Richard gigs with various big bands including the Sid Bolan band. Currently he studies with Trevor Tomkins and Tristan Maillott.

Gear

Gretsch drums: 16;12;14 Yamaha snare Roy Haynes Model Cymbals: Spizzichino 20" ride + various Bosphorus and Istanbul. He endorses Agner drumsticks


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