Martin Drew was a British jazz drummer who made his professional debut at 13. He worked with various British jazz musicians before beginning a long association with the saxophonist Ronnie Scott, as the drummer both in Ronnie's small groups and as house drummer in Ronnie Scott’s celebrated London nightclub.



In that role Martin accompanied Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and many other visiting American jazz artists.



As Ronnie Scott’s house drummer Martin Drew also first played with pianist Oscar Peterson. Soon after Martin became a member of the pianist’s internationally popular group for three decades.



Martin Drew performed all over the world with Oscar Peterson from 1974 until a few years before Peterson’s death in 2007.



Martin Drew also had a quintet called Our Band, featuring Dick Morrissey on tenor saxophone, Jim Mullen on guitar (originally Louis Stewart), John Critchinson on piano, and Ron Mathewson on double bass.



Plus Martin Drew had a quartet with Mornington Lockett on tenor saxophone, Gareth Williams on piano, and Laurence Cottle on electric bass.



Martin Drew was also a member of a trio led by Eddie Thompson. He was often heard playing on BBC Radio 2's Sounds of Jazz programme in the 1970s which was introduced by Peter Clayton on Sunday evenings.



In 2000, Martin Lockett he formed the Celebrating The Jazz Couriers quintet, playing the music of the original Jazz Couriers, a group led by Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes. This new band was completed by Nigel Hitchcock on tenor saxophone, Steve Melling on piano, and Andrew Cleyndert on double bass.



The New Couriers band reformed in 2003 with Paul Morgan on double bass, Jim Hart on vibraphone, Mornington Lockett on tenor saxophone, and Steve Melling on piano.



Martin Drew died after a heart attack on July 29, 2010 in London. He was 66 years old.