Dr. Z (3)

A transcription of the Vertigo profile for the group. Dr. Z Dr Z. was formed about two years ago. Originally it was a four - piece group which released a single "Lady Ladybird" in July 1970. Early in 1971, however, it reformed as a three-piece musical unit, and at the same time, the group changed its style, or rather changed the emphasis away from a lyrical style to a more contemporary sound. The music of Dr. Z very strongly reflects the individuality and musical quality of the three musieians who make up this group, and each track on the new Vertigo album "Three Parts To My Soul" features at some point the technically perfectionist and brilliant drumming of Bob Watkins , the inventive bass playing of Rob Watson and the keyboard virtuosity of Keith Keyes. Keith Keyes, the leader, vocalist and composer of all the group's material has a Doctorate degree in music. One of his main interests is composition and besides writing the music which Dr. Z plays, he also composes straight music including a recent cantata performed on television. His interest in Pop began when he was a student at Oxtord and led eventually to his forming Dr. Z just over two years ago. Both his composition and keyboard styles show classical influences, though his personal style of Pop is neither eclectic nor plagiaristic, but serves as a highly individualistic medium for the playing of the three musicians in Dr. Z . Bob Watkins, the drummer and percussionist, first had drumming lessons at the age of eleven, and subsequently played all styles of music from symphonic orchestral music to the theatre pit-band and Pop. Some of the main influences on his playing have been the Big Band Jazz sound of Buddy Rich and in Pop the drumming of Bobby Colomby. Between 1967 and 1970 he was at University where he graduated with an Honours degree in Geography. It was there, whilst taking part in University musico- dramatic productions that he met the other musicians who were to form Dr. Z. in 1969. Since leaving university Bob Watkins (apart from playing with Dr. Z.) has devoted a year to developing and improving his already highly proficient drumming technique, an example of which appears in the drum-cadenza in the title track of the L. P. - "Spiritus Manes et Umbra" The last member of Dr Z. is Bob Watson, one time mortuary attendant, computer operator and plumer's mate. Rob, has an Honours degree in Chemistry and is also a fully qualified scientific librarian. Increasingly during the past two years since joining Dr. Z. he has exchanged the quiet of the reading room for the excitement and concentration of the stage and recording studios. Rob, who can play lead and piano when required, provides the inventive and controlled bass which underpins the structural drumming and keyboard playing in the sound of Dr. Z. Dr. Z's latest album out on the Vertigo label entitled ""Three Parts To My Soul"... SEPTEMBER 1971 With the compliments of :- RACHEL LEIGHTON (press office) PHILIPS RECORDS LIMITED.