WESTLEY JOSEPH
Drums
Westley Joseph started out from the tender age of 4 playing the steel drums at Infant school which he thoroughly enjoyed which gave him his first taste of music, he then went into playing the drums, recorder and violin in which he studied and achieved a grade 7 in classical music at the age of 11 years of age. Westley continued through school studying music and picking up more instruments along the way including Bass Guitar, clarinet and piano, but it was the steel drums and especially the drum kit which he found himself being drawn towards. At the age of 12 he joined various music community Project centres and local bands where he was able to network with many great musicians who enabled him to quickly be working and gigging in the London music scene, he hasn’t looked back since. Westley Joseph’s career has taken him all over the world time and time again. Making his living as a successful freelance musician based in London has allowed him to perform in all different musical styles and genres while continuing to challenge him to grow. “I enjoy playing in different contexts all the time. I love playing in a big band one night and then having to switch gears and play in a reggae band or a swingin’ jazz trio the next night.” For Westley, the energy on stage sets the tone and continues to be inspired by the situation. He has traveled to Places including Hong Kong, Ghana, Qatar,Gambia, Russia, Thailand, New York, Holland, Bulgaria, Prague, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal to name a few. Westley has played alongside and recorded with many well renowned artists and musicians in many musical styles and fields including Machel Montano, David Rudder, Alison Hinds, Superblue, Baron, Ronnie McIntosh, Iwer George, Shadow, The mighty sparrow, Nigel & Marvin Lewis to name a few in the Soca and Calypso world, as well as artists like Lucky Dube, Janet Kay, Carol Thompson, Caron Wheeler, Winston Reedy, Victor Romero Evans, Luciano,Errol Dunkley, Sylvia Tella, Horace andy, Joy Mack, Cornel Campbell on the reggae side. Westley has also shared the stage and supported artists like Stevie wonder, Bob James, Kool and the Gang, Lalah Hathaway, Sounds of Blackness, jimmy cliff, Anthony B, Seun Kuti. and been performed or recorded with Courtney Pine, Ray Carless, Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Joe Leader, Alan Weeks, and Julie Dexter in the world of Jazz. He has also worked with Dele Sosimi, Geraldo Pino, Sonti Mndebele, Kologbo, Jah Lude and Natty in the world of Affican music. Currently Westley is still recording, gigging and touring with many different outfits and artists includingAvery Sunshine, Loose Ends, Omar, Eric Roberson, Don E, Akala, Bashy, The Soothsayers, ‘The Streets’ Leo the Lion, The Mitchell Brothers, Sona Jobarteh, HKB FiNN, Mary Pearce (Primal Scream, Mica Paris, Beverly knight) Imaani and Vanessa Haynes (incognito), Louise Marshal (Jools Holland), and Noel Mckoy to mention a few.