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