At a Ric Sanders Group concert the audience can expect the unexpected. These three world-class instrumentalists draw their repertoire from the greatest contemporary composers of popular music, crossing all boundaries and defying categorization. Sharing a common thread of great melodic strength, works by jazz masters such as Duke Ellington, Stephane Grapelli, Miles Davis and Joe Zawinul are juxtaposed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and The Beatles. Original compositions, folk tunes and some re-worked Fairport Convention favorites are also found in the eclectic mix - in fact, the group puts absolutely no restrictions on where it may draw material. And, whether it's George Gershwin or Sting, Chick Corea or Brian Wilson, John McLaughlin or George Harrison, the compositions are used as springboards for collective improvisation, sometimes ethereal and beautiful, sometimes exciting and challenging, but always engaging and entertaining. No two performances are the same, as the musicians respond to the audience and their surroundings to make each concert a unique event.
Since 1985 Ric Sanders has been the violinist with the British institution Fairport Convention, touring the world and contributing many instrumental compositions and arrangements that have become fixtures in their repertoire. In 2001 Fairport received the BBC's "Folk on 2" Lifetime Achievement Award.
Although considering himself primarily a jazz musician, Ric is equally adept in rock, folk and world music. Early in his professional career he toured with the renowned classical/rock percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta, and then went on to play with the celebrated jazz pianists Johnny Patrick and Michael Garrick. In the late 1970's he was in both The Albion Band (appearing on the classic album Rise Up Like the Sun) and the legendary jazz-rock group Soft Machine. In addition to Fairport, he has worked with a remarkably diverse roster of artists including Rick Wakeman, Dave Cousins (The Strawbs), Jethro Tull, Robert Plant, Roy Harper, Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), Pentangle, Gordon Giltrap, Andrew Cronshaw, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Charlie Landsborough, All About Eve, The Mission and John Etheridge (guitarist with Soft Machine and Stephane Grapelli) with whom he co-led the group 2nd Vision, whose critically acclaimed record has recently been re-released on Blueprint Records (Voiceprint Group).
Equally eclectic in their musical tastes and skills, Vo Fletcher and Michael Gregory have been both musical partners and close friends with Ric for over thirty years. In fact Vo and Ric embarked upon their first collaboration when they were barely out of their teens, playing pieces by Grapelli and Django Reinhardt around the jazz and folk clubs of their native Birmingham. Vo went on to become a prolific composer for British television. He has recorded and performed with such notable artists as Nigel Kennedy, Touch & Go, Rik Mayall, Dave Swarbrick, Andrew Cronshaw, Martin Simpson, Chris Leslie, Simon Nicol, Donovan and many others. Vo contributes many fine compositions to the Ric Sanders Group repertoire.
Michael Gregory first worked with Ric as a fellow member of The Albion Band during the Rise Up Like the Sun period. His vast experience as both a drummer and percussionist found him working with the Maddy Prior Band, the John Kirkpatrick Band, Home Service, Martin Simpson and the late John B. Spencer. More recently, he has been in demand for film and theatre work where he has played with The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and in West End productions.