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.
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