David Sudall – Drums

When did you start playing your instrument/singing and why?

12 yrs old, soon after starting secondary school. I had always wanted to learn the drums after my grandma bought me a tape cassette of Gene Krupa, so started as soon as lessons were offered at school.

What’s your musical background, broadly speaking (bands you’ve been part of in the past, formative listening)?

I started playing violin from the age of 5 and continued right through to 18 seriously (I still dabble on it every now and again). So a lot of my musical background was orchestral based. After starting drums I guess I turned towards big band music until eventually progressing onto jazz and fusion. My brother has always been a big influence on my musical palette, and playing in a jazz trio with him for 5yrs and counting has brought a new dimension to my playing, with a fascination for simplicity and beauty, which I think is so often forgotten in music. Tom and I met at 17 and started a group with 2 great friends, Lauren (vox) and Jamie (bass) to form Lauren and the Trio. This eventually moved on to forming the early Tom Gee Band as a 3-piece, then a 4-piece with keys and eventually the full 8-piece we have today.

Which artists most influence the way you approach the TGB and how?

Dave Matthews Band – Carter Beauford on drums is a massive presence in that band and I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from that.

Mark Guiliana (many bands, including Mehliana) – Mark’s style is drum n bass/electronic/jazz and his ideas have been so fresh for me. Despite TGB being more mainstream, I really like to take some of this subtle detail and apply it to some of our tracks.

Steve Jordan – this man is a king of groove. It’s sometimes easy to get lost in flamboyance, but taking a leaf out of this man’s book is always worth bearing in mind.

What’s your favourite memory of being in the band so far, musical or otherwise?

Playing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival has been a real highlight. Not just because of the prestige, but the audience there really connected with us and vice-versa. That is a special moment and exhilarating when new people hearing your music are cheering for more afterwards.

Favourite TGB song to play and why?

I really enjoy A’ul Grehg…aka Piece of Paper. That song is so nice to just sit behind on brushes and just enjoy listening to the band.

Favourite part of the process? (Writing, rehearsing, gigging, recording, etc.) and why?

Being in the studio is a great part. It’s stressful, it’s enjoyable, it’s emotional; I love it! (Though probably not at the time!) Its also a really good opportunity to build relationships in the band, which I think is invaluable if you’re ever going to get the best out of each other when on tour and gigging around places with each other. You need to connect, and I think the studio really helps build a firm foundation.