Martin “The Earl” Gray – tenor sax , alto sax , clarinet, cuica and duck
On full throttle
So Martin when you did you first play the sax?
I started playing Alto sax at the age of 13 when encouraged by my music teacher Mrs Weavers. It was a great way to retreat to the school practice room during break and escape the riggers of a 1970’s winter. It was cool, we could make tea.
Do you play any other instruments?
Whilst in my first band in the mid 70’s I taught myself to play guitar. The guys I played with at the time didn’t know how to work out chords for songs, their main pursuit appeared to be centre around the waving at girls rather then getting down to the hard work of covering Gary Glitter songs, as a result I’m brilliant at improvising but useless at chatting up women.
How long have you played with Red Stripe?
Since 2004, that’s about six years. I was asked by Midnight Bob to cover for him at Jazz After Dark in Soho, just till Bob turned up, after midnight. It turned out it was to play with a scaled down version of the Red Stripe Band , the only regular member of the Red Stripe Band appearing on that stage that night was Red Stripe. I have many happy memories watching the goings on in the VIP lounge whilst trying to hold down a sax solo. Bob didn’t turn up. I have never looked back - or forward.
Can you remember some really funny gigs?
Like with Ed there are so many, such as the Christmas gig for the London Marathon people, all of us crammed into a tiny room, the night the party goers had industrial strength party poppers, Ouch ! Also the night in Scotland we ended up at a Indian restaurant near Kirkcudbright. We introduced Emma Wilson, our singer to the bong. I have never laughed so much in my life.
Can you remember some really funny gigs?
" Your f****** mad!"Was one comment I remember
Costa – bass guitar – read all about him !!!
On the train with his profile....
On the train on the way back from Kirkcaldy where we had just played at the lovely Adam Smith Theatre as part of the Fife Jazz Festival , Costa decided to complete his profile (which he is holding in the above picture!). I need to number the questions so that you can read the answers:
1. So Costa - when did you first start playing the bass?
2. Do you play any other instruments?
3. How long have you played with Red Stripe?
4. Can you remember some really funny gigs?
5. What do you do in your spare time?
6. Have you made any New Year's Resolutions?
And here are the answers - complete with train ticket, pretzels and pen:
Red Stripe Band voted Best Band at Marlborough International Jazz Festival
Picking up the cup !!
We are sooo delighted - Voted Best Band at the Marlborough Jazz Festival 2010. Some of us travelled down to Marlborough on the way to a gig in December and picked up the cup!!! Already engraved - smashing
We are looking forward to being back at Marlborough in July (15/16th July) check out the website www.marlboroughjazz.co.uk and even better come and check out the festival !!!
Erica Clarke – Baritone Sax , Flute & Swanee Whistle
Find out about Erica !!!
pensive...
So Erica when you did you first play the sax?
I started when i was 15. Think i needed to escape the shackles of the classical cello and singing i was doing. Oh dear, not much of a rebellious streak!
Do you play any other instruments?
I am the proud owner of a flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and bass guitar. Not sure i can play them yet, but my swanee whistle solos are coming on a treat.
How long have you played with Red Stripe?
I think it must be 3 1/2 years now. The first gig was in France and it was warm so i am guessing it was summer. We arrived at 11am and did not play until 11pm. The Champagne started flowing at 12pm and did not stop. Memories of the gig are a touch hazy, but i do remember thinking that this was my sort of band.
Can you remember some really funny gigs?
Martin (tenor sax) told a pretty funny joke about two years ago!
What do you do in your spare time ?
I am pretty obsessed with snowboarding but only get to go for one week a year. I splashed out last year on a really expensive holiday and came back with a broken foot and a stomach bug. Whoops.
Have you made any new year’s resolutions?
Get my car fixed. It has a little too much character at the moment and currently the only door that unlocks is the boot so i have to climb through the car to unlock it. Was pretty funny the first 10 times but the joke is wearing a little think now and i got a funny look from the police the other day.
Ed Williams – Drummer
This is the first of our "Popzine Profiles" of members of the Red Stripe Band - enjoy !!!
Ed Williams
So Ed when you did you first play the drums?
I was twelve. I had been naughty in class and was told to sit next to the other naughty boys at the front. One of them already played drums and guitar and invited me to the music at break time. From playing my first beat I became completely obsessed with drums, tapping everything in sight annoying the hell out of my mum and sister!
Do you play any other instruments?
Not really. I had violin, recorder and piano lessons for many years as a child but none of them really grabbed me. I'm now learning the pandeiro (brazilian tambourine) and hope to eventually learn the bass guitar.
How long have you played with Red Stripe?
SInce 2005 i think! My first gig was down in Bude for the jazz festival - in at the deep end!
Can you remember some really funny gigs?
There are quite a few but the first one that springs to mind is when were in Scotland (can't remember where exactly) and we decided to leave the stage whilst playing Tequila. This isn't unusual and neither is walking out into the foyer (still playing!), then outside! However on our way back one of the troupe caught sight of the photo booth and decided it'd be great to get in there during the song and have our picture taken. So, we now have several pictures of the band crammed into a two person photo booth mid-song! Crazy but great fun!
What do you do in your spare time ?
I also play drums for other artists. I might be playing drums for various artists in and around London or in the studio recording for them. I also teach drums in schools, colleges, universities and at my studio in West London. Apart from that I'm learning Portuguese, designing some software, renovating a Vintage Ludwig kit, building a new website for myself and generally chasing my tail!
What do you want for Christmas?
A new car, or a lesson with a classical percussionist, or anything from my Amazon wish list, or a motorbike, or some blue mountain coffee, or a personal trainer, or a bungee jump, or a skydive, etc
The Red Stripe Soho Revue
We had a BRILLIANT night at the Pigalle Club in Piccadilly. The Red Stripe Band acted as the house band for the evening and I hosted the night with special guests the Rockabellas, Steve Aruni and Henri the Hoover, Rupert Sebastian with his juggling talents and the wonderful Craig the Hula Boy. Two georgeous assistants helped me through the packed night of entertainment. It was pretty full on and we had two hen nights in - they danced the night away - all in all I would say a huge success - take a look for yourself......
Having a really good year…
Well I am ashamed that I haven't posted anything since our great Nantwich festival debut in April - we got a great photo from it though taken by the enthusiastic, young and attractive local reporter (see below - the picture not her!) I guess my lack of posting is because we have been travelling all over the country and I have also trained and completed a marathon 26.4km swim - the entire length of Lake Zurich !! That took up a little time . We have played Derry, Iford , Abersoch, Kirkudbright , Upton, Marlborough, Bures, Reading, Edinburgh, Twinwood , Great British R & B ..... to name but a few. Festivals-r-us ! and we have had a ball - great to have Costa on board - our Italian bass player. And of course the "Red Stripe Soho Revue" at the Pigalle Club in Piccadilly, video footage to follow.
We have just been booked for Ronnies Bar at Ronnie Scotts on 19th September , 17th October and 21st November - 8.00pm - that's gonna be a blast. That's all for now.........happy late summer !!!
Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival April 3rd 2010
We had a ball and it didn't rain! It was our first year at this festival - just off the M6 near Crewe - not really as far as I thought. When I arrived to set up the sun was shining - and it continued all through our show. We were playing on a stage in the town square and as soon as we started the Ceroc dancers were in full swing - we also had a very appreciative audience of all ages. The kids dancing competition went down well - easter eggs as prizes! We were very well looked after by Philip Martin the organiser who owns the Crown Hotel just down the road. A photographer from the local paper took loads of shots of us after the show and I hope to get hold of a few so I can stick them up. CDs sold like hot cakes afterwards - which is GREAT !! The first festival of the year - a good sign for the rest of the year......
Our Show at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho Celebrating Fifteen Years of the Red Stripe Band!
I am just listening back to the soundtrack from our sell out gig at Pizza Express Jazz Club on Sunday 25th October. It is fifteen years since I formed the band back in 1994 and I thought we should mark the anniversary in style. We had the entire gig recorded and I have a rough mix on my pc. We also had four cameramen filming the whole night - it was a great party atmosphere - gonna look great once the edit is done. We are going to release an anniversary DVD with some special features like all DVD's have - some footage from the past - interviews etc etc The audience was absolutely fantastic ! Really great - just a typical Red Stripe party night - jokes , hilarity , boogie woogie , glamour and energy - lots and lots of it ! Having listened to the whole gig again - I got taken right back into that lovely Soho club with its low ceiling and small stage - intimate - just how we like it !! I will put up some pix in due course but the best I can do at the moment is one of us relaxing afterwards. But I will include a "four hands on one piano" piece which I performed during the show with my boogie brother and good friend Robbie Peaple which went down a treat !
I have put it on our myspace page - it is the last song in the list called "four Hands on one Piano!!" and here is the myspace link:
www.myspace.com/theredstripeband
and a few other links for good measure:
www.red-stripe.info
www.band-for-party.com
Band-for-Party.com
I often have lunch with a old colleague of mine who used to manage bands and he advised me to set up a "microsite" which deals with private bookings and provides all the information needed for clients who want to book the band for functions whether these be weddings, parties , corporate events or university balls (excuse my French!) So... that is what I have done - it is called www.band-for-party.com and I am very pleased with the new microsite.
It gives all the info required by a private booker including a full playlist , video clips and links to all our other sites on the net.
Another friend of mine who is an expert web marketeer - Simone Luciani - has helped with the design of the site so that it is correctly configured to received requests and enquiries . He is also managing our online marketing with google and facebook.
We have had quite a few enquiries already and they are building.
It goes without saying that word of mouth is the best way of spreading the news but online marketing is an essential part of any band's business strategy
Well that's all for now.....