Luca Caruso & Will Cleasby’s ‘Double Drums’

Wednesday 7th February 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, a first for The Spin: we present a band, led not just by one drum maestro - but by two! This band was recently seen by Team Spin in London and was immediately booked for this date, given the quality, vigour - and incredible dynamic range -  of the playing.

The first of these bandleaders - Luca Caruso - is one of the most brilliant players to have emerged on the UK jazz and rock scenes in recent years. (Outside of jazz, he has been touring the world for the past few years, playing mega stadium venues…including supporting Taylor Swift all over America!). As a jazz musician, Luca graduated in 2021 from the Royal Academy of Music with a first, and has since become a first-call for many a great player - including bassist and Spin favourite, Jasper Hoiby. (Jasper has recently put together a new trio, ‘3 Elements’  with a new album,  ‘Earthness’ featuring Luca on drums)

Pairing with Luca is the equally brilliant drummer, Will Cleasby! Another star of the New Jazz Generation, Will has already performed with such luminaries as Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling and Jamie Cullum.

Hugely inspired by the records of John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and McCoy Tyner, the duo spent countless hours learning from the great rhythm sections of that period. The influence of individuals such as Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison have led Luca and Will to choose the repertoire for this band carefully, strongly staying aligned with the modal sound of the mid-1960s. 

The line up features 5 of the most exciting players you will hear today:

Luca Caruso - drums

Will Cleasby - drums 

Iacopo Teolis - trumpet 

Nick Costley-White - guitar

Will Sach - double bass

As mentioned above, despite having the two drummers up front, this band totally covers the full dynamic range, from whispering ballads to full-on, power house thunder!