Gary Husband
@ the Barbican
22 November 2009

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Biography

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 Gary Husband’s distinct and far-reaching musical personality. His solo album and DVD output over the last few years have also reinforced his status as a critically acclaimed writer and arranger in the contemporary music world.

In 1999 he formed Gary Husband New Trio (with Mick Hutton, bass, and drummer Gene Calderazzo) leading from the piano and keyboards. Material from this period is best represented on the album “Aspire” - Gary Husband & Friends (Jazzizit). In the summer of 2003, Husband was awarded a highly coveted place on the Arts Council of England’s Contemporary Music Network touring scheme to lead a hand-picked ensemble of world-class jazz musicians on a tour across the UK in March 2004. The project, entitled Gary Husband’s Force Majeure, featured Grammy winning trumpeter Randy Brecker, bassist Matthew Garrison, keyboardist Jim Beard, trombonist and bass trumpeter Elliot Mason, Mahavishnu legend Jerry Goodman on electric violin, and the Armenian world percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan. Husband composed, arranged and directed the band from the drum kit and piano, presenting a series of “evocations” inspired by musical pioneers such as Bjork, Burt Bacharach and John McLaughlin, and the BBC Radio 3 commissioned suite (Stone Souls). To coincide with the release of the group’s highly-acclaimed 2-disk 5.1 Surround DVD package, the ensemble returned to the UK in March 2005 for a further series of concerts which included a wildly-received, sell-out week residency at London’s Ronnie Scott’s club.

Husband continues to devote a portion of his time to other artists’ projects, new collaborations and educational programmes. His typically diverse range of associations (either playing keyboards, drums, or both) include (or have included) spells with artists such as Billy Cobham, Allan Holdsworth, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, Jonas Hellborg, Jim Mullen, Gary Moore, Lemon ‘D’, Randy Brecker/Bob Berg Quintet, Danny Gottlieb, Jason Smith Trio, Gongzilla, Andy Summers, Alan Skidmore, Aydin Esen, Geoff Keezer, Christian McBride, Chris Squire, Mark King’s Level 42, Ray Russell, Hamburg’s NDR Big Band and Mike Stern Group.
Husband recently recorded a 3-piece album project with Robin Trower and Jack Bruce (Seven Moons), toured with singer Al Jarreau (and Hamburg’s NDR Big Band), recorded (recent ACT label release Blues In Mind) with the Christof Lauer Trio (featuring tuba player Michel Godard) and performed in July 2007 at the Chicago Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival with John McLaughlin, Matt Garrison and Vinnie Colaiuta. He is currently a member of John McLaughlin and his 4th Dimension group (playing both keyboards and drums) and has toured extensively with the band in the USA and Europe throughout 2007 and 2008.