Name: Mark Huggett
What instrument(s) do you play? Drums
Do you have any other role in the band? I book the gigs and produce the band recordings but my main role is lighting a fire under the rhythm section ;0)
Do you have a favourite tune in the Skamonics repertoire? Red is Danger is my favourite tune especially as I get a solo which is more than 4 bars long. This of course means we hardly ever play it
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played with the Skamonics? The last great one was at the Last days of Decadence.
with other bands? I play sometimes with The Annie Whitehead Quartet which is both very challenging and rewarding. I’ve also played some great gigs with Benoit where everyone is dancing is a crazed fashion. My most challenging gig was playing 5 hours non stop with The Trojans. Also I played in South Africa at at KwaZulu Natal Jazz center and
everyone sat and listened for the whole gig!
How did you learn to play? By listening to records and the odd lesson. My 2 brothers play drums too
What else do you do musically? I run www.jazzdirect.co.uk which releases new jazz recordings. I have my own band the Dan Wilson Mark Huggett Project and I play with Benoit Viellefon and his Orchestra. I also play with some Big Bands.
Who are your musical influences on your instrument – and more generally? I like Art Blakey, John Bonham, Jack De Johnette, Paul Motion, Stewart Copeland, Sly Dunbar, Bill Stewart, Jim Black, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Bill Bruford, Elvin Jones, Philly Jo Jones, Richie Hayward, Steve Ferrone, Terry Bozzio, Maurice White… ( I could go on!)
Non drumming influences on me are Miles Davis, Brian Eno, Cuban and Brazilian music
As well as ska, what other types of music do you like, and who are some of your favourite bands or musicians? Prog, Funk, 70s Rock, Jazz. Loving Pink Floyd Led Zeppelin, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Bootsy, Can, Jakob, Basie, Sinatra, Duke, Bird
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to (where you weren’t playing?) Miles Davis 1982 North Sea Jazz Festival, Joe Zawinul at Ronnie Scotts a couple of years ago
What do you do when you are not playing music? Teach Art History and produce music
What about you would surprise other members of the band? I have a certificate in Thai cooking
How many paintings did Leonardo Da Vinci do in his lifetime? about 20