London: a drumming place ??

[Yuk]

Hi everybody,
I know that most of you are from US so this topic will probably not be a burning one.
Actually, I would like to have some informations about the drumming conditions in London and I see some active English drummers friends on our forum so...
My wife and I are thinking about moving there and I would like to have "the musical temperature" on the other side of the Manche.
Paris is still a poor place for music...hopefully I read HOD !!!!!
Thanks a lot and keep goin'.

[palmerlouie]

well, the music scene hear in London and England generally is very poor. if you are a classical musician or perhaps a well known west-end or session drummer then u might survive, but anything else is very poor. The people in the UK are very narrow-minded as far as music is concerned. Jazz is not accepted and its only bubble gum pop or heavy metal that is popular. And u will only succeed in that area if u land a major record deal!! get this......the goverment has just passed a bill so that no public performance of any musical kind can take place without a liscence costing ?500 or something and if u are cought without a liscence then u will be fined ?1000!!!!!!!!!!! this is going to flaten whats left of the music industry!!!

also, the UK as a country is going down hill! The crime in London is awful! its becoming like new york used to be.....except nothing is being done about it! im moving to the USA as soon as possible. sorry for the negative feedback but unfortunately thats the way it is..........

[Dazzler]

Cheers Louis for that!
I would have to disagree with your comments as I am a working drummer and live in London. Jazz is actually alive and well in this country and there are numerous radio shows dedicated to jazz in all it's forms. From traditional jazz, to Big Bands, the American jazz greats past and present and even the most obscure visiting European jazz artists, they all get air play on National and regional radio stations across the country.
As for London, jazz is exedingly vibrant. Ronnie Scotts is still hosting top jazz artists (Drumming wise - Airto has just done 3 weeks here, Elvin comes every October and Dave Weckl visits regularly too). The Pizza express in Dean St plays hosts to people like Brad Meldau, Joey Calderazzo, Jake Hannah... very diverse. The 606 club hosts 2 top British bands EVERY night 7 days a week and there a lots of other thriving jazz venues up and down the country.
As for the drumming aspect, London is home to such fantastic players as Gary Husband, who can be heard hear regularly, Marc Mondesir, Gene Calderazzo, Martin Drew, (oscar peterson) Ian Thomas, Ralph Salmins (top session and jazz players). There is a great oppurtunity to go and see all these players.
Rhythm magazine hosts big drum and percussion events at The Royal Festival Hall with all the top British Drummers/Percussionists and visiting American stars, for example, Giovanni Hidalgo, 'El Negro' etc.
The music colleges in England are most definitely thriving and are constantly producing fantastic young musicans who because of their schooling, understand the TRADITIONS of jazz and classical music.
As for other styles. check out Aphex Twin for cutting edge music, Ronnie Size, Grooverider or any of the dance DJ's who are constantly evolving the dance/garage/RnB genres and are taking it out to the world.
I would have to say that it's a pleasure to be here in London as a gigging musician. I can go out on any night of the week and see phoenominal drummers/musicians/music playing and it's a FACT that there is a thriving jazz scene in this country.
I will say that you're right about this new law that is trying to be passed at the moment. It's shit that you can go into a pub and get your head taken off by a Karaoke machine or satelite tv showing sports at full volume and yet they want pubs to pay ?500 ($350) even if they want a duo in their venue.
Don't let this put you off though and before you say it, no, I don't work for the tourist board!! DO come to London as you will see a wealth of superb music AND great drumming. You just have to open your eyes and ears!

[palmerlouie]

ok.....i may have gone a bit overboard. however u are talking about well established artists. weckl, elvin, smith etc playing at ronnie scotts is normal cause every country has a major jazz club(s). however these are major artists. they tour europe. i meant as a normal muscian it is hard. i know for a FACT that several of the english drummers that u mentioned, fantastic as they are, struggle for work and money! and lots of working drummers im sure sruggle for money and work in the US, but over here it is harder. as for radio stations....we have jazz FM which explains why jazz has such a band name.....they play nothing but smooth jazz!!! awful! radio 2 and 3 sometimes do play some great music and jazz however their fusion show just got taken off air!!
when i go to the USA and i walk ionto any shop like The Gap or anything, there is always great music and jazz playing. over here in the UK u walk into The GAP (where the staff try to copy the American way by saying hello to you at the door, which sooo doesnt work) there is 300bpm dance crap!

What Dazzler said was indeed correct, i cant argue if he is in the thick of it, working in london. however the constant impression that i get from the UK is not a positive one. I know for a FACT that the music colleges offer very narrow jazz courses. they are classically orientated. which is good i guess cause there aren't any jazz gigs!!

p.s - dazzler....lol...having said all this....mark mondesir is playing at dean street this week, steve smith is playing ronnies next week, and weckl is coming in May!!!!

[Dazzler]

Cheers mate!! You are of course right about Jazz Fm... If you like watered down, meaningless, shite 'smoooth' fusak then that's the station for you! Jeezuz, if people think that's what jazz is about then "Soooooooo get a life!" As a jazz musician, I don't even have it on my presets in the car it's so bad.
Don't be disolusioned though, there are tonnes of fantastic drummers apart from the ones I spoke of. It's not worth me name-checking them here as you won't have heard them, but be sure that there loads of talented, creative young drummers coming up on the scene.
To be honest, the fusion thing isn't big in this country really, not like Japan where they go mad for it. It's either the more traditional, straight ahead jazz or more progressive, contemporary stuff, which I personally like.
Anyway, I'll stop rambling now! Steve Smith soon eh?! Rock on!!