Josh Davis Music
management@JoshDavisMusic.co.uk
@joshdavis_music
Masters level Guildhall trained musician, composer, arranger, producer and musical director across multiple genres including Jazz, Soul, RnB, Gospel and Reggae.
Profile:
An enthusiastic, self-motivated, reliable, responsible and hard working person, currently undergoing a second Guildhall music Masters degree. I am a performing musician and producer and also a part-time music tutor from South London with 13 years professional playing experience and 5 years private (7 years classroom) teaching experience specialising in drum kit, percussion, piano and music theory.
Biography:
Josh was born in London and started playing the drum kit at the age of 6 and playing percussion aged 11, accomplishing both grade 8 drums and grade 8 percussion, with distinction, aged 12, going on to achieve Drum Kit and Percussion Diplomas aged 16 and 17 respectively. Josh is also a talented pianist, having trained in both classical and jazz piano and, more recently, he has started playing the bass guitar, and trumpet.
Josh started performing regularly (including with adults) at the age of nine and subsequently regularly took part in the jam sessions at "Jam Circus" in London and the "Hideaway" jazz club, London (where he was joined on stage by members of Earth, Wind & Fire).
In 2011, at just 10 years old, Josh performed at "Ronnie Scott's" in London as well as an "impromptu" performance at the "Iridium" jazz club on Broadway, New York. A year later he was invited back for a second performance at "Ronnie Scott's" and went on to perform at an International Convention for World Peace and Freedom at the famous "World Forum" in The Hague.
As a pre-teen, in addition to playing in various groups and with the adult Crystal Palace Brass Band, Josh was one of the youngest members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) Academy Big Band and Jazz Ensemble, where he played drums, percussion and jazz piano. He was also involved in performances, composition and conducting for NYJO London. Other credits included regular solo performances on both the piano and the drums at the Van-Praag Performing Arts Concerts for Young Musicians; solo pieces on the drums at select concerts for the Mayor of Croydon; solo performances on the Purley Festival Main Stage during the finale; and participation in numerous fundraising concerts at venues such as Westminster City Hall and Leighton House, Kensington, to name but a few - often playing both drums and piano.
Josh has enjoyed much success at Music Festivals and competitions, winning the categories of "solo percussionist" and "jazz improvisation - any instrument" on numerous occasions, as well as being awarded the Purley Festival Award for "best overall performance" and the Royal Russell Award for "most promising young musician". At the end of these events, Josh was often awarded monetary prizes for being the only performer to have been awarded the highest grade of "outstanding" by the adjudicators.
In October 2013 Josh was given the privilege of performing on both days at the esteemed "London Drum Show" at London's Kensington Olympia and in 2014, he assembled a band ("the tomorrow today project") and performed his own sell out show called "the future of Jazz" at "the Hideaway" Jazz Club, London.Education:
Josh was awarded a scholarship to attend the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in September 2019 on a 4 year honours music degree course. As well as advanced studies of principle instruments, modules of the course have been diverse and have included the acquisition of a range of skills from composition, arranging and production to going into local primary schools and teaching music to children in years 4 to 6.
Having graduated in 2023, Josh is continuing with a further two years of postgraduate studies at Guildhall, and having completed a Master's Degree (MMus) in 2024 he is now studying for a second Master's Degree (MPerf), which he is due to complete in the summer of 2025, culminating in the ultimate award of a world renowned Guildhall Artist Master's (GAM) Degree.
Josh was previously a music scholar at the esteemed Purcell School for Young Musicians where he studied Jazz Drums, Classical Percussion and Jazz Piano alongside his academic 'A' level and Pre-U courses in Music, Music Technology and French (having achieved GCSE passes in Maths, English, English Literature, French, Double Science, History and Music, as well as 'AS' level Music Technology).
At school Josh played in the Big Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He took part in jazz concerts and performed at "the 606 club", "South Hill Park", private shows and many charity concerts and had the privilege of performing to the Commonwealth Heads of State at the Royal Festival Hall. Josh was also a member of the Purcell Impulse Group, which is an outreach project that visits primary schools and provides instrumental and theory tutorials to enable students to gain an insight into music.
Other Interests:
Josh was one of the subjects of, and an active participant in, a three year nationwide study of young people and music by Dr Ruth Herbert at the Faculty of Music, University of Oxford.
Josh is also very keen on sports and enjoys watching and playing football, having captained the football team at his previous school and played for a club. He currently plays for the Guildhall football team.
Memorable quotes include:
"I am certain that this young man will be gracing this stage many times and for many years to come" - Pete Long, Band Leader at London's Ronnie Scott's, introducing Josh to the audience during a performance there on drums.
"What this young man has cannot be taught" - John Parris, drummer (Earth Wind & Fire), arranger and songwriter, during Josh's performance at London's "The Hideaway".
"As an outstanding young musician, he would be perfect for this study!" - Dr Herbert (Principal Investigator), University of Oxford, after watching Josh perform at NYJO and selecting him for the research project.
"With his immense talent, determination and drive, I am certain that Josh will become one of the best drummers in the world!" - Vince Dunn, world renowned drummer, band leader and teacher.