Tristan Banks

Gretsch Artist Since: 2021

Country: GB

Band or Affiliations: Independent

Current Kit Setup:
Broadkaster
14x20 BD, 14x16 FT, 14x14 FT, 9x13 TT, 8x12 TT, 7x10 TT, 5x14 SD

Influences:
Art Blakey, Vinne Colaiuta, Dennis Chambers, Keith Carlock Nate Smith

We asked...Why Gretsch?:
"That great Gretsch sound, it’s incredible to be part of a legacy of innovation, creativity and consistency with over 140 years of the highest standards of musical instrument performance."

Advice to aspiring musicians?:
"Follow your heart, not the crowd. work hard and focus on the truth."

Bio:
Tristan has built a reputation as a knowledgeable, versatile and authentic world-class drummer and percussionist throughout his 30-year career as a recording artist and session musician. He has worked with many artists covering a wide field of musical genres including Roy Ayers, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, Beverley Knight, Hexagonal, David Gilmour, Peter King, Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Liane Carroll, Snowboy, Terry Callier, Da Lata, Jim Mullen, Carleen Anderson and Mayra Andrade, Ben Hillier (U2, Depeche Mode, Blur), Mike Lindup (Level 42), Hamish Stuart (Average White Band), Steve Howe (Yes), The Lion King (UK tour), Thriller Live (European, Brazilian tours), MC Conrad, Alexander O'Neal, Ive Mendes, Chico Cesar and Joe Lee Wilson (Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins) and many more.
As a touring artist he has performed in many of the world’s top venues including Royal Festival Hall, Central Park (NYC), Royal Albert Hall, Joe’s Pub (NYC), Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hammersmith Odeon, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, North Sea Jazz Festivals, Shepherds Bush Empire, Blue Note (Tokyo), V Festival, Reading Festival, WOMAD Festivals and Glastonbury Festival.
Since 2021, Tristan has also been curator and venue manager at The Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton, UK, restarting the venue after its closure due to the global pandemic of 2020, The Verdict has already received a nomination for Parliamentary Jazz Award Venue of the Year 2022. Many top UK and International Jazz artists have most recently played the club including Larry Goldings, Sarah Jane Morris, Ari Hoenig, Jim Mullen, Tony Kofi, David Binney, Gary Crosby, Claire Martin, Tony Remy, Liane Carroll, Jean Toussaint, Laurence Cottle, B D Lenz, Yolanda Charles, Ivo Neame, Tom Ollendorff, Simon Spillett, Hexagonal, Ant Law, Emma Rawicz, Alex Hitchcock, Sultan Stevenson, Jackson Mathod as well as a number of outstanding Ubuntu Music recording artists--Quentin Collins, Matt Ridley, Paul Booth, Alina Bzhezhinska, Brandon Allen, Nigel Price, TRYPL, QOW Trio, Andrew McCormack, HOOP and Dave O’Higgins to name a few.