Crispin Taylor: session drummer for hire in Islington, London, United Kingdom

Crispin Taylor is a London-based session drummer with more than 35 years of professional experience, available for studio sessions, remote recordings and live work anywhere in the world. Currently drumming for The Blow Monkeys and Galliano, Crispin brings a rare depth of real-world experience to every project he takes on.

Services offered

• Studio sessions (in-person)
• Remote sessions recorded from his home studio
• Live and touring work — willing to travel internationally

Genres and style

Crispin plays across a wide variety of styles, though he is best known for Funk, Soul and Jazz Funk. That reputation was earned the hard way — coming up through the post-punk scene of the early eighties, rising to become one of the most sought-after funky drummers of the late-eighties Rare Groove era, and spending the decades since playing alongside some of the most respected names in Black music. The pocket is deep, the feel is authentic, and the experience is unmatched.

Based in Islington, London, United Kingdom

Crispin is based in Islington, in the heart of North London, putting him within easy reach of studios and venues across the capital — from Camden and Hackney to Soho, Brixton and beyond. For projects further afield, he is comfortable covering the wider Greater London area and is equally at home travelling nationally or internationally for the right gig.

For producers and artists who cannot work in person, Crispin also offers fully remote sessions tracked from his home studio, so geography is never a barrier to getting his sound on your record.

About Crispin

Crispin's story begins in the early eighties, cutting his teeth with post-punk bands before he found his true calling in the Rare Groove scene. As a founder member of live funk outfit Push, he was recruited — along with the rhythm section — to Acid Jazz pioneers Galliano. The band recorded six albums, toured the world and sold in excess of 250,000 records.

Through the nineties he toured and recorded with Urban Species, Carleen Anderson, Charles Earland and Leon Ware, appeared on television with Seal, and recorded with Paul Weller. In 2001 he joined Zero 7, spending around four years on the road helping them achieve their worldwide profile.

The years that followed brought 12 years performing with Marlena Shaw, eight years with Candi Staton, and three European tours alongside the Funk Brothers — the original Motown rhythm section. In 2003 he appeared with Dexys Midnight Runners on their critically acclaimed comeback tour.

Across his career, Crispin's drumming has graced the stage with Imagination, Steve Arrington, Atlantic Starr, Ce Ce Peniston, George Clinton, Jean Carne, Keni Burke, Martha Reeves, Melissa Morgan, Glenn Jones, PP Arnold, Gwen McRae and Deniece Williams, among many others.

He is currently drumming for The Blow Monkeys and Galliano.

Book Crispin

You can view Crispin's full profile at londondrumsticks.co.uk/artists/crispin-taylor and send him a session or live enquiry directly via his hire page. All enquiries go straight to Crispin — no middleman, no commission.

Looking for other session drummers? Browse the full roster at londondrumsticks.co.uk/hire.

Follow

Crispin does not currently have public social profiles listed, but you can stay up to date through his LDC artist page linked above.

Crispin Taylor is a London Drumstick Co. endorsed artist and plays LDC hand-turned drumsticks — explore the full endorsed roster at londondrumsticks.co.uk/artists.