Copyright © 2009 Joshua Law. All Rights Reserved.
Drummer - Percussionist - Singer - Songwriter
An Interview with Josh Law.
What are you doing at the moment?
I’m studying with Bob Armstrong at the moment, who is one of the UK’s leading drum teachers. I’ve been with him for about 2 years. Other than that I’m doing every gig I possibly can, trying to make myself as diverse as possible. As well as this, I’ve recently started working with Tuned Percussion.
Who are you as a drummer, what do you like doing?
I like doing everything but obviously I have favourites, probably the Jazz and Big Band thing. I love these. Funk, R&B, Rock, Pop, I love the more commercial sounds too, and also, Latin and Brazilian music.
Where do your influences come from?
Before I was born! Mostly the great Jazz drummers like Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jimmy Cobb, Peter Erskine have been a big influence on me. Then the great Big Band drummers, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson, Then there are current drummers who I think are amazing, Peter, Erskine, Vinnie Calaiuta, Steve Gadd, Aaron Spears, Jojo Mayer, Stanton Moor. Then there’s Steve White who has influenced me greatly with his amazing drumming and also the personal encouragement he has given me.
What inspires you about these people?
The way they play. The things they’ve done. The gigs they’ve had, for example Vinnie Calaiuta’s done everything from Jeff Beck to recording the Rock Swings album by Paul Anka, and it seems like they’re able to do everything.
If you could play with any other musicians, who would they be?
I’d love to play with the Count Basie Orchestra because I love their music for a start and the drummers who’ve played for them have been a big influence on me.
If you could support a famous artist who would that be?
I think I’d have to say Pink because I love her music. I’ve never met her, but I think she seems really nice too. Also, she’s doing the big tours of the stadiums which are the gigs everyone wants to do!
If you could play in a band who would you choose?
That would be Steely Dan and it would be at Wembley Stadium which is near to where I’ve grown up and a place I’ve been to see bands play.
Let’s talk about the technical bits now. Has music theory improved you as a drummer?
Well I wouldn’t say so much music theory has helped improve me as a drummer, although I have studied that and it really does help improve you as an all round musician and composer. The thing that’s really helped with drumming is playing with lots of different people, different venues, different genres of music. Especially Big Bands. A few years ago when I moved from Rock gigs to the Big Band and Brass Band work I’d never really read a chart before but because I was thrown in at the deep end and just had to do it, it really helped improve my playing and I soon became quite good at it, that really helped. Another really important skill is learning to work with a conductor and as part of a team.
Are you a proficient reader now?
Yes, I could turn up and read from the chart. Unless it’s something ridiculously difficult in which case I would take it away to have a look at. I’ve done it before, depping for shows where I’ve had to turn up and read the chart, although it can always be better.
You’ve been gigging for quite a few years now, tell me about your best gigs?
I think some of the best experiences I’ve had are when I’ve been to see other people and they’ve called me up to play a song with the band. I went to see Martin Johnson and his band at a place in Southend and in the break he said “Do you fancy playing a song in the next set?” and I said “Yeah!” and it was brilliant just to go up and play with a band of that standard. These are some of the best experiences.
That must have been a great feeling to know that you could get up and do that, and that you could make a good job of your performance?
“Yep!” I don’t think the band actually had a name, it was a group of professional session musicians put together for the night. Martin called his mates to get together for that gig.
Tell me about one of your own gigs?
I played recently at the Dorchester Hotel, London. Which was really great, obviously, the Dorchester is a very posh venue, dinner jacket and tie. With a Jazz five piece band, put together for the night, really good musicians, the Mistletoe Ball a Cancer Charity fundraiser. Very elegant!
What sort of music did you play?
Jazz standards, lots of improvisation and great fun!
What stands out in your mind as being one of your amazing experiences?
It wasn’t necessarily a gig, I think it would have to be when I went to see a drum clinic with Steve White and Chad Smith at Birmingham. I know Steve White from the Drum Academy. Half way through the clinic Steve White called me up to play with Chad Smith and I played on Chad Smith’s kit and Chad played on Steve White’s and we had a jam. So that was really good in front of about 500 people and then afterwards I got to go backstage and hang out with Chad and Steve for a bit which was great. The buzz that gave me was a pretty awesome moment.
You’re about to look at full time work in the next couple of years. Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
I’d really just like to be in a place where I can enjoy a job as a drummer, working with nice people, playing good music and I’ll be happy.
Tell me about what else you do as well as the Drum Kit?
Well, my main instrument is the Drum Kit but I started out playing guitar and singing. I still play but didn’t pursue guitar to a professional level although I still play for my own pleasure. So I can play guitar and sing, I also play Vibraphone and other tuned percussion. I have quite a lot of knowledge on recording and producing songs and writing. I wouldn’t really call myself a songwriter but I have written songs and collaborated with other band members to contribute to original material.
Tell me about the groups that you belong to?
I belong to a rock band, Safehouse Theory, I’ve been playing with them for about 18 months. Basically were a quite heavy rock band but it’s melodic and it has a bit of a fusion as well because we have Lofty who’s a DJ and does all dancy kind of stuff with it too. We’ve been touring all the London venues, having fun and if someone spots us it’d be great. Since I’ve been in the band I’ve made a great bunch of mates, been an Usher at Jamie’s wedding – another posh suit and cravat …. We’re all good friends.
You’re also part of Tilbury Brass Band, tell me about this?
Well, they’re a Brass Band, obviously, I’ve been playing with them for about a year, maybe a bit more. Since I’ve been playing with TBB one of the main things I’ve learned is how to follow a conductor which is very important, and useful, especially, if you’re going on to do such things as shows, studio or orchestra work, you know. It’s completely different, whereas, normally it’s just the band who are in control, with the Brass Band everyone watches the conductor and what he says, most of the time, goes. TBB compete at competition level and is in the National second league. This means working with judges and so on. That’s one league under the Championship who play at the Royal Albert Hall. Normally during the summer season there are some good gigs, Party in The Park, lots of Bandstands which are always good fun. These are really nice family based venues.
That’s a real contrast to the over 18’s nightclub venues, so you’re experiencing a wide genre and audience?
“Yep!”
Tell me about the Melvin Beddow Big Band MBBB. Tell me about the people in the Big Band and why you joined?
I got into the Big Band because Steve Robinson, the band leader, used to be my drum teacher before Bob Armstrong. So when the previous drummer left, Steve asked me if I wanted to come and play with them which was great for me because since being there I’ve learned a lot and it was something I’d never really done before.
Would it be right to say that going to play in the MBBB really introduced you to that style of music?
Yeah, I found that this was something I really liked. As I say I hadn’t really done anything like that before, but now I love Big Band music and Jazz music, it’s great.
Is the MBBB a professional band?
Yes, they do charge and get paid for all the work they do but the money goes back into the band so that it’s self financing. The band is not a job for the musicians, everyone has other ways of earning a living. It’s more of a big family and a hobby. Last year we went on tour to Germany that was really cool and the money earned went back into the band funds to buy equipment and practice space throughout the year.
Tell me about the tour to Germany?
Yeah, that was great, a great experience. It was quite exciting being out on the road with a band, something I’d never done before. Playing some good music at good venues, celebrating the 400th birthday of the local town. Everyone there loved it, and our hosts were really good to us.
Let’s move on to the Jazz Trio?
There are three of us, we play a mix of paid and unpaid charity gigs, we’re also the house band once a fortnight at Buckhurst Hill’s Jazz Jam. This is good fun and some really good players come up, I get to meet new people. Playing in a small band is completely different and has opened more doors. We’ve supported Help for Heroes fundraising and performed paid gigs in pubs and wine bars, small venues but with great atmospheres.
Do you get called up for session work?
Yeah, sometimes I get called up for session work, the other day I got a call to do a show which is The Little Shop of Horrors at the Civic Theatre at Chelmsford. A show going on over a week, in the pit band. I need to speak to the MD, then I’ll have a listen to the songs before I go to make sure I know the tempo’s then turn up and read the music. The keyboard player runs the band so I’ll need to be quite on the ball.
Tell me about this “On the ball” having to move with what’s going on, as a musician? Is that difficult? How have you learned to do it?
Be prepared and concentrate when it comes along! Just be confident, someone once said to me “if you’re going to make mistakes make them confidently!” You’ll get much more recognition for that than not being sure whether you’re right or not. It’s something that’s always really been there for me, I started playing in a band at a really young age, so obviously if you’re playing a gig with a band and you make a mistake you can’t just stop you keep going. You have to carry on, and it’s always been something that’s been alright for me to do intuitively.
What are the ingredients for a good musician?
You have to try and make yourself diverse, be good at what you play, have feel and emotion. You have to be able to work with other people and of course you have to practice and this is what I’m trying to achieve.
Thank you.
End of interview.
