Short bio
Gary Husband is one of a rare breed of musicians in that his expression is divided equally in his capacity as a drummer and a keyboardist of international repute. His classical roots, his quest and development in the improvisational, jazz and jazz/fusion areas - not to mention his tenure in the pop, rock, funk and blues circuits - are all evident inside Garys distinct and far-reaching musical personality. His solo album and DVD output has also reinforced his status as a critically acclaimed writer and arranger in the contemporary music world.
For close to four decades Gary has worked alongside a vast and eclectic range of celebrated musicians including John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce (Cream), Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy), British pop/funk band Level 42, Billy Cobham, Al Jarreau, Mike Stern (Miles Davis), John Wetton (King Crimson), Chris Squire (Yes), Andy Summers (The Police), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Robin Trower (Procul Harem), and with producers Sir George Martin (Beatles), Trevor Horn (Grace Jones & Art of Noise), Quincy Jones (Michael Jackson), Jerry Hey and James Guthrie (Pink Floyd).
Further associations and performing/recording credits include his work with Randy Brecker, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, fusion/jam band Gongzilla, Germanys NDR Big Band, Soft Machine, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride, Eddie Van Halen, Dean Brown, Bob Berg, Nguyên Lê, Joe Lovano, Charles Tolliver, Bireli Lagrène, Peter Erskine, Ron Sexsmith, drum n bass protagonists Lemon D and Dillinja.
As an internationally established drum clinician he has performed alongside Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Terry Bozzio, Billy Cobham, Simon Phillips, Omar Hakim, Ricky Lawson, Todd Sucherman, Paul Wertico, Denny Seiwell and Bernard Purdie, and most recently has been developing a series of motivational videocasts in drumming.
His alter-ego as a pianist/keyboard player brings an extra dimension to his musicality at the drums. Indeed, he has been the keyboardist & second drummer in John McLaughlins 4th Dimension since 2007. Gary continues to devote a substantial proportion of his time recording and performing worldwide across many styles of music.
Full Bio
Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England - Studied classical piano under Ms. Fanny Waterman while gaining experience backing visiting Alan Wakemen, Malcolm Griffiths and others from London in local clubs, (playing drums or piano).
Also gained experience performing with an ensemble led by Pat Evans in a very "visual" and "free" form of improvised music around this time. First professional position playing drums -one nighters, dances, broadcasts etc. with Syd Lawrence Orchestra, aged 16, stayed eighteen months. Other freelance session work, composing for B.B.C./Y.T.V. jingles etc. Cabaret work with Lulu, The Bachelors, Matt Monro, Frankie Laine, etc.
Following the move to London, live work in the area of jazz & jazz/rock included Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia, The Jim Mullen/Dick Morrisey Band, Marion Montgomery, Mike Carr Trio, Paz, Gary Boyle Band, Ronnie Scott Group (on piano), Gordon Beck Quartet, Mo Foster and Ray Russell's "R.M.S.", Gil Evans Orchestra, Ian Carr's Nucleus, Jeff Clyne's "Turning Point", Mike Mower Orchestra, 20Th Century Blues (on guitar).
Around the late 70s, established a musical partnership with guitarist Allan Holdsworth working in a group that is still evolving to this day, many albums and international tours later.
Following the successful launch in 1982 of Allan Holdsworth I.O.U. in the U.S., work with many others included stints with Jeff Berlin, Eddie Van Halen, Bunny Brunel Band, mostly in California.
U.K., 86, joined Nikki Squire's ("Yes" type) group Esquire, but was soon back in the U.S. with Holdsworth.
In late 1987 was approached by bassist Mark King to join his Level 42 on drums and throughout the almost five year association was featured extensively also as a writer and piano/keyboardist on three album recordings.
In 1989 performed as "house" drummer for band and orchestra, (under baton of George Martin), formed for the Prince's Trust Rock Gala, Backing (Along With Level 42) Mica Paris, Alexander O Neal, Mike & The Mechanics, John Farnham, Spandau Ballet, Will Downing, Andy Bell, Swing Out Sister and others.
Around late 80s, wrote, arranged and recorded for Channel 4 U.K. the ident for Bastille Day Paris 200. Also the soundtrack composition for the French T.V. launch of the T.G.V. train.
Performed with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta in a special double drum clinic by Zildjian at London's Astoria Theatre also during the late 80s, ...received standing ovation for a duet.
In March 1990, the Gary Husband Quartet performed a successful week long engagement at Ronnie Scott's Club performing piano and "lead" keyboards in this band). Upon leaving Level 42 in March 92, joined legendary bassist Jack Bruce for touring/recording U.S./Europe performing both on drums and keyboards. Remained with him working in a trio format that eventually featured Gary Moore on guitar (as featured on Moore's "Ballads & Blues" album).
1993 started working regularly with Billy Cobham touring/recording internationally principally as keyboard player but also performing with Billy the now legendary double drum solo spots that continue to enthrall audiences across Europe & the U.S. regularly.
Newly formed Gary Husband Group performs at the European Meeting of Music & Arts in Sardinia at the close of 1994.
July 95 performed a debut solo concert at London's Royal Festival Hall Purcell Room. Played piano, keyboard, drums and acoustic guitar on this very successful evening featuring mostly all original music and two special instrumentalist guest.
Toured Japan with Paul Williams, Prod/Keyboardist David Hentschel, Mickey Moody and others in the blues based "Blue Thunder" project that went on later to record an album back in England under the same name (95).
With Jack Bruce Band (US '94) With good friend Dennis Chambers
Early 96, began work in the U.S. playing drums on an album project by guitarist Anthony Hindson entitled It's A Curious Life, which also features among many others Zakir Hussain, Jack Bruce and violinist L. Shankar.
Some other further album recording around this period reculted in an album called Thrive in the U.S. with a Canadian group called Gongzilla, We Go Back by the England based (guitarist), Jim Mullen's Quartet in a more classic bebop mode, and the album Dark Days In Paradise with Gary Moore.
Toured later in 96 through Europe with Andy Summers Group, again with Cobham, then around U.K. for a debut string of dates with singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith.
Later still, recorded Crocodile Shoes II for singer/actor Jimmy Nail in London.
Work throughout 1997 included plenty of concert touring (plus festivals) with Gary Moore Band in Europe. More recording; Jimmy Nail again, the important Time & Distance album from guitarist/composer Steve Topping and some Jungle drum loops for the likes of Lemon D, Dillinger and others.
Deputised in many jazz ensembles led by English musicians such as Julian Arguelles, Gerard Presencer, Martin Speake, Julian Joseph, Tim Garland and others, (usually playing drums). Was featured performing in clinic performance alongside DENNIS CHAMBERS as a part of his Zildjian world tour also.
Later in the year 97, conceptualised, constructed and produced own first video for Rittor Music Inc. New York and distributed worldwide by Warner Bros/IMP. Entitled Interplay & Improvisation, the video featured in performance many friends and colleagues from past and present musical associations including Mark King, Steve Topping and Paul Carmichael (Gary Husband Group), Allan Holdsworth (also featured in a first reunion of the original I.O.U.), Gary Moore, Jack Bruce and others.
1998 kicks off with a week long engagement at Ronnie Scott's in London. A special new association with US pianist Geoff Keezer begins with a string of dates in Paris and London performing in trio format with James Genus on bass.
February and March is spent playing keyboards in touring performance and studio recording with the Billy Cobham/Randy Brecker Group. The group also makes several TV appearances including episode 1 of "Jazz 606" for B.B.C., while the album "Focused" gets prepared for release. April 98 filmed a performance video : "The Cream Of Cream" in a trio format for Jack Bruce with Gary Moore on guitar.
April also sees the construction and prodcution of first solo album release : Diary From A Plastic Box for FMR Records (CD59-VO0898). This consists of all original compositions and solo performances/improvisations on keyboard. Later this month a tour of California and Japan with Allan Holdsworth Trio (playing drums).
June 98 begins with another engagement at Ronnie Scott's with the Jim Mullen Quartet, also recorded an interview for B.B.C. Radio's Jazz On 3. Later this month performed a tour of festivals and concert halls in Cananda with Geoff Keezer, Christian McBride and Dianan Krall's Trio.
July saw another short string of dates in trio once again with Moore & Bruce in England and the performance/production of a solo keyboard/drums original composition for inclusion on a compilation album by P-Vine Records in Tokyo of drummer's solo tracks called Skin Fever (alongside with Billy Cobham, Narada Michael Walden, Jim Keltner, Grady Tate and many others).
In August performed with the Allan Holdsworth Trio in Israel's Red Sea Jazz Festival, while more session work follows recording on new albums by Jimmy Nail once again, also the Pet Shop Boys. Deputising work in trumpet player Guy Barker's band.
In September, plans well and truly take the shape for the formation of a new group, and time is taken off to prepare writing and arrangements for The New Gary Husband Trio's album for England's Jazzizit Records entitled From the Heart (also to feature Georgie Fame, Jack Bruce and Nicki Leighton-Thomas for piano-vocal duets) and live performances.
Engagements at London's Jazz Cafe and Pizza Express among others, are secured almost immediately.
The group's appearances as part of London's Oris Jazz Festival gets recorded by the B.B.C.'s Jazz on (Radio) 3 for a future transmission planned for the Spring of 1999 coinciding very well with the planned release date of the album.
This period marks a notable exchange of priority in career terms since the trio is led exclusively from a composing, arranging, piano/keyboard performance profile. The group continues to thrive having established performances in the U.K. festivals such as Appleby, Grimsby, Cheltenham and others, while an Album Launch performance is confirmed for May 1999 (once again et the Pizza Express Night Club in London's West End).
Work on drums simultaneously continues having joined Alan Skidmore's Quartet that commences with an engagement at Ronnie Scott's, while deputising with the J. Siegel/P. Robson Partisans band.
April 99 New Gary Husband Trio performs at an Educational Seminar at Leeds College Of Music, also then as backing group for (altoist) Peter King, then Randy Brecker. Played drums in ensemble led by writer/Guitarist/Arranger RICHARD NILES for a performance/launch of his album.
Composed and laid down new tracks for a new release by a group of musicians known as Continuum, producer and co-ordinated by Richard Niles. In the studio with Alan Skidmore Quartet laying down tracks for new album for quartet and African drum ensemble, while plans to finish up Billy Cobham Live In Bahamas album in New York.
New Gary Husband Trio is spotlighted (whilst performing an engagement in Cardiff, Wales) as a subject for a celebration of noted Swansea-born figurative artist Ms. Valerie Ganz and her work. The event, (as was the band's concert) was filmed by HTV Wales.
Summer 99, playing drums (w. Jim Mullen Quartet) alongside Dave Weckl Group for a sell-out week long engagement at Ronnie Scott's Club once again. One or two "duets" transpire ! Festivals, (Montreux, North Sea, Skandaborg and other major European once again) with the Gary Moore blues group, and (Level 42's) Mark King and his group.
New Gary Husband Trio continues to perform throughout U.K. with appearances at Grimsby International Festival, Appleby Festival (with the set broadcast again by B.B.C. Radio 3 for Jazz on 3), Cheltenham, Southampton, Kendal's Brewery Art Centre, Wavendon's Stables Theatre, Leeds Irish Centre, again London's Pizza Express,... many more.
Was featured guest on a Meridian TV (U.K.) special series hosted by pianist Julian Joseph called Jazz with Julian Joseph. Was featured by Joseph performing my compositions with his quartet, then as pianist / synth. soloist guest, then as drummer with the band (also playing solo duet with Joseph's drummer Mark Mondesir).
Played drums for debut album (entitled Time) of (trumpet player/writer) Iwan Van Hetten, August 99 in Holland. Also with the Soho Jazz Orchestra (under leader Cliff Hardie), October 99, for concert at Ronnie Scott's Club. Alan Skidmore Quartet performs another week at Ronnie Scott's Club.
Playing keyboards (again) for updated Billy Cobham band performing a brief residency at Jazz Cafe in London.
November 99, the G.H. New Trio moves into Ronnie Scott's club for a week's stay playing alongside Bob Berg Band, then Roy Ayers Band. More touring/engagements with Mark King, Skidmore Quartet, (saxophonist) Vaughan Hawthorn-Nelson, Jim Mullen Quartet, G.H. New Trio see's out the rest of the year.
January 2000 starts out heavily laden with promotional dates in Europe with the Alan Skidmore Quartet in support of the new release, including a specially taped one hour special (by WDR TV in Germany), Tribute To John Coltrane live from Cologne. Approached also to write a commissioned piece intended for (percussionist) Evelyn Glennie and (drummer) Terry Bozzio to perform in a one-off duet performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.
Back in Los Angeles, recorded a new a new album for Allan Holdsworth of mostly "back catalogue with up to date performances". (This project specially reuniting GH and Allan with the great Jimmy Johnson on bass). Also on this session recorded material to be used for the forthcoming GH drum-led electric album.
April 2000 touring begins with Allan Holdsworth Trio for a week in Tokyo (recorded for a possible live album), through Europe, then picking up again late July for a U.S. East Coast and N.Y. run. Gary leaves Alan Skidmore Quartet.
15th July saw the concert platform debut of Gary Husband's Double Vision, a show comprised of material performed by the New Trio, crossing into realms featuring Gary on acoustic guitar, then moving in and out of the "drums" (electric ensemble) material.
All the areas become covered in this production; from drum solo compositions (with Trio drummer Gene Calderazzo), gentle guitar passages and crackling interplay between members of the trio.
The rousing concert opened the U.K.'s Rhythm Sticks Festival in the Purcell Room concert hall, South Bank Centre, London. Gary's trio is also invited back into Ronnie Scott's Club in London for another week long engagement commencing 7th. August.
September 2000 preparation and arrangements begin for new solo piano album entitled The Things I See - Interpretations Of The Music Of Allan Holdsworth (for Art Of Life Records, U.S.).
The recording sessions take place in October, while live playing continues into November, (mostly drums), with Jim Mullen Quartet (launching the "Burns" album, appearing at Ronnie Scott's etc.), with Randy Brecker Group (also featuring Bob Berg, Kevin Hays and Mick Hutton), and once again with Mark King Group (for a brief tour of England).
Early 2005 saw Gary Husband touring with his group Force Majeure. The band's line-up is completed by Arto Tunçboyaciyan (percussion), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Jerry Goodman (electric violin), Jim Beard (keyboards), Elliot Mason (trombone/bass trumpet) and Matthew Garrison (bass).
Later in 2005 Husband did some live work and studio recordings with John McLaughlin. He recorded a new studio album with Level 42 and touredthe States with Chris Squire, Steve Nardelli and The Syn (plus Steve Howe and Geoff Downes.)
Smiley has also recorded the new Archive album and toured with Spear of Destiny.
