The Gene Drayton Unit

A much anticipated Hideaway debut for The Gene Drayton Unit (aka GDU) with their hard hitting Hammond and horn vibes that reference the 60s jazz, funk and R&B mod scenes but are performed with a thoroughly modern attack.
GDU have released 3 albums on their own Disques Carmel record label, and many singles, but are at their best live – Toby Kinder drives the howling Hammond like a sports-car, and sax-player Mark Norton will find an empty table-top to play from, or join the crowd for a dance, tenor in hand. The dynamic rhythm section of Raydn Hunter on Bass Guitar and Mark Claydon on Drums provide a rock-solid foundation for the arrangements, and Lenny Bignell’s Gibson SG is the cherry on the top.
You would normally expect to find this kind of Hammond-centred line-up jamming over extended grooves, or playing polite “real-book jazz”; what makes GDU so different is the original material that makes up most of their set, and their energetic live performances. Toby’s knack for a melody, his skillful arranging and the the vital understanding that, apart from jazz purists, not everybody enjoys listening to extended instrumental solos means that there is little danger of losing interest when listening to GDU, whether live or on record. Make no mistake, GDU are not dinner jazz, they demand (and earn) your undivided attention and they make you want to dance, which can spoil dinner!
The infectious energy of a Gene Drayton Unit performance has enlivened venues across Europe, from tiny, sweaty basement clubs to massive festival stages.