Winston is one of Britain’s leading jazz drummers. Since studying with ex-Tubby Hayes drummer Bill Eyden and with Trevor Tomkins at the Guildhall School of Music, he has gone on to play with many musicians including Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss, Gary Bartz, Archie Shepp, Jean Toussaint, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Monty Alexander, Carmen Lundy, Carleen Anderson, Mica Paris, Joe Lovano, Peter Bernstein. and many others; playing at many international festivals and recording with some of the most talented contemporary jazz musicians in the UK and beyond.
Winston recalls: “a favourite NYJO memory of mine from last year has to be the 60th anniversary celebration at Woolwich Works. It was a wonderful and memorable event. The thing I find most valuable about working with our young musicians is being able to witness the transformation in each person’s energy, and their approach to music and performance. To be a part of that is indeed a privilege and a blessing.”
Winston has been running the NYJO Under 18s Ensemble since 2021. The group is for young musicians aged 14-18 to develop their skills in ensemble playing, sight-reading, playing by ear, and improvisation techniques. His approach to music education gets the young musicians using their whole bodies to ‘feel the tune’ before they play, developing a relationship with music that is fun, holistic, and takes them beyond their instrument.
