Steve Noble

b. 16 March 1960, Streatley, Berkshire, England. Noble studied with the Nigerian master-drummer Elkan Ogunde. His first professional engagement was with the avant garde jazz-pop group, Rip Rig And Panic, touring England and Europe and playing on I Am Cold (1982) and Attitude (1983). His precision and invention as a percussionist made it natural for him to gravitate towards free improvisation. In 1985 he appeared at the Thessalonika Jazz Festival with Derek Bailey and later took part in the London Company Weeks of 1987, 1989 and 1990. In 1987 he toured Holland with Tristan Honsinger. In the late 80s, he was part of the Alan Wilkinson Trio and a member of Kahondo Style. A long-standing partnership with pianist Alex Maguire produced countless gigs and Live At Oscars. Noble, along with Louis Moholo, provided percussion for Maguire’s Cat O’ Nine Tails in 1989. Other collaborations include the dance acts Katie Duck and Group O, the Bow Gamelan Ensemble (with performance artist Paul Burwell) and David Leister’s Kino Club. an improvising trio with tenor saxophonist Tony Bevan and bass player Paul Rogers, a duo with reedsman Alex Ward, and formed an alliance with guitarist Billy Jenkins and Roberto Bellatalla in the Shakedown Club. He has also composed music for several foreign language films, and in 1997 launched his own Ping Pong Productions. Noble’s lightning responses, wit and catholic taste make him a highly in demand musician.