Soft Machine
About
Setup
Cymbals listed from left to right
13" Signature Traditionals Medium Light Hi-Hat
(discontinued)
21" Masters Dark Dry Ride
20" Masters Dark Crash Ride
18" Alpha Thin Swiss Crash
(discontinued)
20" Signature Traditionals Light Flat Ride
8" Signature Bell
(discontinued)
10" Signature Dark Energy Splash Mark I
Biography
28.08.1941-16.09.2023 Private lessons with several teachers, including Johnny Russell, Jim Marshall, Allan Ganley and Philly Joe Jones. First regular engagement was with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, 1964. Then with the Graham Collier Sextet, 1965-70, during which time he also played with John Surman, John McLaughlin, Dave Holland, Mike Westbrook, Graham Bond Organization, Joe Harriott, Indo-Jazz Fusions, Keith Tippett’s Sextet and Centipede, Alan Skidmore and others. 1969 he was a founder member of Nucleus, which won first prize at the Montreux Festival the following year and played the Newport Festival and the Village Gate in New York. At the beginning of 1969 he also became a regular member of the Mike Gibbs Orchestra. 1971 he left Nucleus to join the Jack Bruce Band; 1972 joined Soft Machine. During the 70’s he also played with many leading American and European musicians, including Larry Coryell, Gary Burton, Mary Lou Williams, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson, Roy Eldridge,John Taylor,Norma Winstone,Volker Kriegel,Gordon Beck,George Gruntz’s Piano Conclave et al. In 1973, at the Baden-Baden Free Jazz Meeting, he met and began playing with Charlie Mariano, Jasper van’t Hof and Philip Catherine. 1977 he joined Eberhard Weber’s Colours until it disbanded at the end of 1982. During the 80’s and into the 90’s worked with the Gil Evans Orchestra, NDR Big Band in Hamburg, Ian Carr, John Surman - Quartet and Brass Project, Kenny Wheeler (quintet and Big Band), Uli Beckerhoff, Anthony Braxton, Manfred Schoof, Joachim Kühn, Michel Portal, John Taylor, Alan Holdsworth, Norma Winstone, Gordon Beck, Jeff Clyne, Arild Andersen and John Abercrombie among others. In addition, studio work, drum clinics, as well as lectures and teaching on workshops in Germany (Trier, Bremen and Weimar) and England (Guildhall, Royal Academy of Music and Wavendon). Was a Melody Maker Poll Winner in 1973 and 1974. Has worked with many singers including Sarah Vaughan, Leon Thomas, Norma Winstone, Annie Ross, Elaine Delmar and Karin Krog. Activities continued, both nationally and internationally, with John Surman - plus projects with Steve Swallow, Andy Sheppard, Uli Beckerhof, John Abercrombie, Arild Andersen, Michael Gibbs, John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Joe Sachse, Dieter Glawischnig and others. Tours and recording with bass player Arild Andersen and Greek pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos - second ECM album,Triangle, February 2004. 2002 til present: new project, Softworks, with other ex -Soft Machine members Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper and Allan Holdsworth. Album, Abracadabra, plus festivals and tours in USA, Japan, Italy.... This morphed into The Soft Machine Legacy with John Etheridge replacing Allan and, after the deaths of Elton and Hugh, with Theo Travis and Roy Babbington. Apart from SML other current activities include projects with John Surman, Dieter Glawischnig. Etheridge/Andersen/ Marshall and Joe Sachse Trio
Setup Cymbals
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Details
Sizes: 20", 21"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Dry, rich, silky, strong. Medium range, fairly complex mix. Very controllable and fairly dry feel. Silvery ping over rather short sustained and dusty wash. Ideally suited for articulated and precise playing in most musical styles such as R&B, Funk, Pop and Country.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Dark, dry, woody. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Soft, responsive feel. Full, warm, open sound. Loose, soggy chick sound. Perfectly suited for traditional swing patterns, but also well usable for other acoustic styles like Blues, Country, Soul or Gospel.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 20", 22"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Light
Sound character: Dark, trashy, papery, low. Wide range, complex and moody mix. Soft and buttery feel with a very wobbly and vibrant response. Fairly defined stick sound over a dark and cloudy wash. Perfectly suited for quieter musical settings such as blues, jazz and acoustic styles. Very user-friendly for percussive use and classical mallet application.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 10", 8"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Light
Sound character: Full, wet with a brittle, trashy side. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Soft and very responsive, giving feel with a short, exploding sparkly splash character. Very well suited for dynamic effect accents in many musical styles. Also, well suited for hand playing in percussive set-ups.
- Sounds
