THE four CDs of HEMP are a drummer’s sonic autobiography, played through the brilliance of master-percussionist Steve Noble’s love for the four drummers who changed his life. “I came across them the day I bought my first drum kit aged 12, and they’ve been a constant source of inspiration ever since,” he told me.

Each of the discs is a homage to one of the four: Dutchman Han Bennink, New Orleans-born Ed Blackwell, New Yorker Milford Graves and Burton-on-Trent-born Phil Seamen. “I never heard Phil live, but I would go to hear the others whenever they were in England. Even now, my early morning practice is accompanied by listening to Jamaican Joe Harriott’s Free Form, with Mr Seamen’s utterly fantastic drumming.”

Noble was born in 1960 in Streatley, Berkshire. “It was a wonderful time and place. My dad was an NHS dentist and my mum did secretarial work. He was Scottish and we went to Edinburgh every year. I loved to hear the pipe bands march down Princes Street — definitely an early influence! I was into rock and pop and saw The Who in 1972 — I even met their drummer, Keith Moon, the same year as I got my first drum set. I was introduced to jazz and improvised music through the magazine Drums and Percussion, as well as Melody Maker weekly. I’m self-taught, but had a few lessons when I was 15.”

In 1977 he moved to London, worked as an auctioneer’s porter, “and then went all-in on the drums, practising for hours, going to gigs and trying to meet like-minded musicians. In 1979 I met Nigerian drum master Elkan Ogunde and we played many concerts [and] workshops together — a great learning experience. By the mid-80s I was organising concerts and festivals and performing with Sheffield guitarist Derek Bailey, another huge influence, which continued until his passing in 2005.

“Thirty-one years ago I toured east Africa from Dar es Salaam to Cape Town with accordionist Dean Broderick and Oren Marshall on tuba. Our repertoire was wide but the Kwela-style tunes got the folk up and dancing and for me that was a blast!”

What about the drummers saluted on HEMP?

“The width of Han Bennink’s sound-world was so mind-blowing when I first saw him. I probably copied him for a short time. He helped me so much to find myself as a drummer. Ed Blackwell had such great swing, amazing rhythms and a truly individual drum voice. Ornette’s quartet records with him on are still so inspiring.

“Milford Graves was so unique and powerful. His concept so strong and his sound a delight. And Oh Boy, Phil Seamen! Fantastic drum sound and an amazing take on African drumming — one of the greatest English drummers ever!”

In a drumming life Noble has played with “so many inspiring heavyweights, but playing with Derek in my 20s was a dream come true. I’ve developed so much since he passed that it would be a joy to play with him as I am now — maybe I’ll have to wait until I pass on!”

He also venerates the times he played with the viscerally beautiful German saxophonist Peter Brotzman in a trio with London arch-bassist John Edwards. “We played with him from 2010 until his passing in 2023. Whether it was in duo, trio or quartet he would want you to push and make the music as vibrant and honest as possible — no bullshit! I played with him on his last Cafe Oto gig in February 2022. It’ll be released soon on the Oto label.”

On much of HEMP he drums alone, but other tracks also feature clarinettist Alex Ward, trumpeter Gabriel Wonck, Alan Wilkinson on bass clarinet and James Allsop on tenor sax. “I’m always searching for new sounds,” he declares. “It doesn’t stop! For each group I put together a drums and cymbals set that will best suit the group’s particular sound. I’m fascinated by music and drumming from all over the world. Korean court music, for example, is so close to free jazz. I’m always listening to it.”

And how does he see the present state of free improvisation in Britain? “I’m fortunate to play with so many world-class UK players, and it’s very encouraging to see many younger musicians coming through. I hope I can keep on keeping on until the last drum roll and tattoo rolls out of my being.”

All his listeners do too, for in giving tribute to his beloved drum legends, he very modestly becomes one too.

HEMP was released by Ping Pong Productions in 2023.