Hi my name is Brian Bestall and I have been a professional musician and teacher for over 20 years

I grew up in a musical family surrounded by musical instruments the one instrument missing was the drums so naturally that was the one for me

My first teacher was Hayden Cooke. He was a professional musician who worked in the theatre and drove me very hard on the importance of rudiments. He would ask me to start a double stroke roll and pop out to make a cup of tea! I was expected to still be rolling when he returned!

My second teacher was my local hero Terry Clayton. He played at the famous Sheffield Fiesta Club. He taught me the importance of sight reading and would show me the charts of many of the world's greatest artists who would appear weekly at the club. The first time I saw Buddy Rich it was from the wings of the theatre and was so blown away that I was unable to speak to him or ask for his autograph

And finally my mentor, American teacher and drum tutor publisher Joel Rothman for all the books he has written and his wise words. Thanks Joel

Professional Career

Author of-

It's all about the Grooves & Fills (2022)

Why Should I Learn Drum Rudiments? (2019)

Performed at-

Roundhouse London

Buxton Fringe Festival (Best New Show 2017)

Edinburgh fringe Festival 2018/19

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Marsden Jazz Festival

Buxton Arts Centre 

Pomegranate Theatre

Jazz In The Botanical Gardens

Nantwich Jazz Festival

Bert Kaempfert Orchestra

Regional Jazz clubs

TV & Radio Commercials

Albums

Into The Light - Brian Bestall 2026 Vinyl (Whistlers Cottage Edition)

Into The Light - Brian Bestall 2025

A Beautiful Way To Be Crazy - Genevieve Carver 2020

The Unsung - Genevieve Carver 2017

No Moon At All - Impressions 2010

The Morning After - Black Coffee 2003

I am currently playing with

Chronology Jazz 

The Unsung

Brian Bestall Trio

I am a Musicians Union member & registered teacher

I am an approved Trinity College teacher and Trinity Digital Exam Centre

DBS (CRB) Enhanced Certificate

Music Therapy trained and assessed (CoE)