Now in its 9th year, the Bath RhythmFest (formerly the Rhythm Course) is the biggest event of its type in Europe. 2009 looks set to be the most exciting year yet, with more artists, more classes, more workshops and more performances on offer.
Anyone attending the 'Fest, whatever their standard, will come away a better and more rounded player, with bags of inspiration, better technique, new ideas and new friends!
The days will feature a mixture of group workshops, tuition with some of the UK's top teachers and masterclasses with a spectacular line-up of international artists, which include...
Stanton Moore
A New Orleans drummer making a very welcome return to Bath. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career (beginning with his 1998 debut All Kooked Out!) and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity. He also travels internationally to teach New Orleans drumming, writes a regular column for drumming magazines and has released several top-selling instructional books and videos.
Derrick McKenzie
Lynchpin Jamiroquai band member and supreme funkmaster Derrick McKenzie joined the band in 1994 for the recording of their sophomore album Return Of The Space Cowboy. Derrick will be hosting a workshop together with the Jamiroquai rhythm section; this will be a rare opportunity to learn about playing with other musicians from a band at the very top of their game.
Jerry Brown
Jerry is an incredibly versatile drummer having played with a variety of top jazz, pop and gospel acts. He has appeared on tours with the likes of Tina Turner, Angie Stone, Incognito, Will Young, Girls Aloud and Belinda Carlilse to name
a few. He has recorded DVD´s with Jamelia, the London Community Gospel Choir and also his own tuition DVD Inspiration.
Pete Cater & Mark Fletcher
Mark & Pete are, without doubt, two of Europe's very top jazz drummers. The workshop they hosted for the 2008 Rhythm Course was one of the highlights of the week, and 2009 promises something even more special. Pete Cater has played all over the world with his own big band, picking up several prestigious awards on the way. He is also in demand as a freelance player, having played with some of the biggest names in jazz. Mark Fletcher has been the house drummer for Ronnie Scott's jazz club since the mid-eighties, as well as appearing on hundreds of albums and being first-call drummer for many visiting American jazz artists.
Andy Edwards & Martin Ranscombe
Andy is one of the UK's top clinicians and educators, renowned for his technique and also his motivational and inspirational style. Martin, aka 'The Drum Guru' is best known for his DVD and workshops focussing on drum tuning. What he doesn't know about getting a good sound out of a drum isn't worth knowing. He is also a respected clinician, and we are promised something rather special from these two characters...
Jungle Drummer
Jungle first stepped into the limelight with groundbreaking live Drum'n'Bass band London Elektricity. From there he has always been at the forefront of contemporary music, having worldwide success together with DJ Fu. Jungle will bring a fresh approach to the acoustic drum kit in dance music to RhythmFest.
Once again we are privileged to have some of the UK's top tutors available throughout the week for both scheduled lessons and ad-hoc personal sessions (time-permitting).
Colin Woolway
Colin Woolway, is a well known drummer, teacher and founder of Drumsense. As a professional drummer he toured the world for 20 years, including original touring productions of Godspell and The Rocky Horror Show, and eight years as Suzi Quatro´s drummer, before hanging up the touring boots to concentrate on teaching.
James Hester
James is Head of Drums at BIMM Bristol as well as holding the drum seat for Malakai and being heavily involved in the Rhythm Course for many years.
Craig Blundell
Craig has stamped his mark as one of the most in-demand session drummers and international drum clinicians in modern day drumming. His list of commercial credits is rapidly expanding and he is now one of Mapex, Roland and Paiste´s foremost clinicians.
Pete Riley
Pete has been teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music since 1996 and built up a huge reputation as a player working with artists as diverse as Republica, Motorhead and Keith Emmerson (ELP). Pete is a superb educator and author of double bass drumming bible Double Trouble, 100 Tips for Drums and Crash Course - Drums and 2005 saw the release of his best selling DVD Technical Difficulties.
He also finds time to compile and edit the Rhythm cover CD!
For more details on the RhythmFest you can download the flyer here.
