Richard Sanders (born 8 December 1952)[1] is an English violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, British folk rock and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.[2]

Ric Sanders
Ric Sanders performing at Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2014
Ric Sanders performing at Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2014
Background information
Birth nameRichard Sanders
Born (1952-12-08) 8 December 1952 (age 71)
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
GenresEnglish folk music, folk rock, jazz, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Violin
  • percussion
  • piano
Years active1972–present
LabelsVarrick/Rounder, Woodworm, Green Linnet, Matty Grooves, Rough Trade, Talking Elephant

Biography edit

Sanders' first experience with a professional band was in the summer of 1972, touring Europe with classical/rock percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta's Red Buddha Theatre.[3] He later went on to play with jazz pianists Johnny Patrick and Michael Garrick. In the late 1970s, he briefly toured as a member of the jazz-rock group Soft Machine and followed with a stint in The Albion Band.[3] In 1981, he co-founded a recording studio, Morgreen Studios, with which he remained active for a few years. In 1984, he joined Fairport Convention and recorded his first album with them, Gladys' Leap, the following year.[3][4] Since 2002, in addition to his work with Fairport, he has also been working regularly with his trio, known as the Ric Sanders Trio, which features Vo Fletcher on guitar and Michael Gregory on drums and percussion.

Professional associations edit

Over the years Sanders has worked with Rick Wakeman, Dave Cousins of Strawbs, Jethro Tull, Robert Plant, Roy Harper, Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, Pentangle, Gordon Giltrap, Andrew Cronshaw, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Charlie Landsborough, All About Eve, The Mission, Fred Thelonious Baker, Catherine Howe and John Etheridge (guitarist with Soft Machine and Stéphane Grappelli) with whom he co-led the group 2nd Vision.[2]

Discography edit

As leader edit

  • Second Vision with John Etheridge (1980)
  • String Time (1983)
  • Whenever (1984)
  • One to One with Gordon Giltrap (1989)
  • Neither Time or Distance (1991)
  • Parable: Music for the Anjali Dance Company (2003)
  • In Lincoln Cathedral (2004)
  • Still Waters (2008)
  • Standin' on the Corner (2015)
  • Headspace (2019)

As co-leader or sideman edit

With The Albion Band

With Fairport Convention

With Soft Machine

As guest edit

'With All About Eve

With Andrew Cronshaw

  • The Andrew Cronshaw CD (1989)
  • The Language of Snakes (1993)
  • Till the Beasts' Returning (1987)
  • Wade in the Flood (1978)

With English Air

  • English Air (1983)
  • The Space Inbetween (1985)

With Gordon Giltrap

  • A Midnight Clear (1987)
  • One to One (1989)
  • Peacock Party (1979)

With Ashley Hutchings

  • Songs from the Shows (1990)
  • The Guv'nor's Big Birthday Bash (1995)

With others

References edit

  1. ^ Biography Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Fairportconvention.com
  2. ^ a b Harris, Craig. "Ric Sanders". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 2184/5. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  4. ^ Fairport Confusion - The Line Ups from the Fairport un-Convention-al website