ABOUT
Born in 1972 and from Shepperton, Middx, Gary Willcox started playing the drums when he was 10 years old. Under his Father's partial influence he quickly became immersed in the great jazz drummers Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Max Roach and the jazz tradition.
In the late 1980's Gary started studies with Trevor Tomkins, a renowned drum teacher in the UK. These studies continued until the mid 1990's.
Concurrently, Gary studied orchestral percussion at the Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, under the tutorship of Chris Stock, Principal Percussionist of the BBC National Orch. of Wales.
During his time there he also had lessons with Pete Fairclough and Keith Tippett who introduced him to the wider world of Improvised Music.
Since the Mid 90's Gary has performed around the UK and Europe with Jim Mullen, Stan Sulzmann, Ian Shaw, Chris Batchelor, Polly Gibbons, to name a few.
".......a brisk, sensitive drummer capable of great dynamic and textural range....."
Chris Parker, Vortex Review
".......inspiring and in the moment playing, love it" - Jerry Bergonzi
In 2007 Gary joined the Way Out West Collective, a body of musicians based in the West London area who collaborate to promote regular Jazz events in that area. The collective includes some of the UK's foremost jazz performers - Tim Whitehead, Chris Biscoe, Emily Saunders, Kate Williams, Pete Hurt, Tony Woods.
In 2025 Way Out West Jazz celebrate their 20th anniversary ; playing and promoting their gigs around the West London area to a high standard. Check the link to their website below ......
Also from 2007, up until Covid (2021), Gary ran his own band, performing his own compositions and arrangements of material by some of his musical heroes, e.g. Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter. The band includes some of the leading names from the U.K.'s jazz scene, Oli Hayhurst on double bass & Steve Main on saxes.
Since Covid, Gary has lead different groups and appeared with some of London's talented , rising stars, picking up a following around London's Live Music venues.
From 2015 Gary has been a member of Loz Speyer's Inner space music. The band toured at the end of 2015 and recorded an album 'Life on The Edge', released on Leo Records in 2017 and Live in Leipzig in 2024 (self release on Bandcamp).
This band counts talented improvisers amongst its ranks such as, Larry Bartley, Dee Byrne, Xhosa Cole. The music straddles Improv and Jazz and gives the musicians plenty of space to play.
Like many musicians, Gary has experience as an educator, teaching drums and percussion and leading ensembles of children and young adults both privately and via music services.