Drummer from Northampton, England, who began beating the skins at the age of six and was playing professionally by the time he was thirteen.
He worked with Oscar Peterson between 1974 and 2007 and with Ronnie Scott from 1975 to 1995.
In 1982, he appeared on Freddie Hubbard’s album, Face to Face. Then he performed on Dick Morrissey’s After Dark in 1983. He was a fixture in Oscar Peterson’s cadre of musicians, appearing on a series of LPs in the ’80s and beyond, including Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson, Hark: Buddy DeFranco Meets The Oscar Peterson Quartet, Oscar in Paris: Oscar Peterson Live at the Salle Pleyel, Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington, and Oscar Peterson Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite.
In 2000, he helped co-found the tribute band, Celebrating the Jazz Couriers, along with Mornington Lockett. That group evolved into The New Jazz Couriers, then The New Couriers. He left Oscar Peterson’s outfit in 2004. In 2005, he appeared on fellow Oscar Peterson Trio alum Ray Brown’s Summer Wind CD. Then he was with Gene Harris Live in London in 2008.
Martin’s career spanned half a century. The New Couriers continue to perform and record and released Brazilian Thoroughfare in February 2009.
In 2010, when he was 66 years old, he suffered a fatal heart attack in Harefield, England.
Here he is performing a drum solo…
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Drew
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/martin-drew-mn0000857730/biography
- http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Martin-Drew
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Martin%20Drew/a/Martin%20Drew.htm
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/305112-Martin-Drew