"Pendragon are a band who's material is certainly not straight down the line groove music, with all the starts, stops, changes in tempo and timing it is enough to remember these let alone the fact that most of our songs are at least 10 minutes long!
Within 3 days of receiving our CD's Joe Crabtree had learnt half of the two and a half hour set to a standard which I would only expect from somebody with a photographic memory!
Joe is a drummer who has got it all, he has an unbelievable ability to learn complex songs fast but with an accuracy and power that makes it feel as though he has been in the band for years!
Everyone knows that drummers are a pain in the arse............oddly enough Joe is NOT! Not only is Joe a fantastic drummer, but he conducts himself around the band with great humour, a superb attitude and the ability and willingness to be part of the bigger picture of a band situation. "

- Nick Barrett (Pendragon)

"Great drummer! I've played with some of the greatest drummers around and he's definitely one of them. Very solid, comfortable to play with and also a very very nice human being."

- Midus - session bassist (Bryan Ferry, Mel C, Kym Marsh)

"Joe is a solid pro session drummer. We have performed on professional projects for the past two years involving recording sessions, functions and live dates around the capital.
Joe has a progressive work ethic and follows a school of drummers who concentrate on laying down the right grooves with a minimum of fuss."

- Jon Bishop (ACM Guitar tutor & session guitarist)

"Joe is a remarkable drummer. I have worked with him in both a live and a studio context and he has proven his reliability and impressed with his pure skill behind the kit, time and time again. His performance reveals equal measures of precision and invention; his timing is always bang on, while his playing is responsive and imaginative."

- Jonathan Casey (Solo artist)

"We were on stage in Tokyo with David Cross playing a very sticky moment in 17/8, when a drum stick landed at my feet. I thought he had disgarded it as broken, so with punkish arrogance I kicked it away. When I turned round to look at Joe he was laughing, as he had accidently dropped the stick yet was still playing the most demanding pattern with one stick. Listening back to a live mix of the track you'd never know Joe had dropped a stick."

- Mick Paul (David Cross Band)

"Joe is a very accomplished, versatile drummer who understands how to listen and express himself on a song."

- Tim Philbert (Goldie)

"Mick and I held auditions this month to select a drummer for gigs in the new year. It was not difficult at all once Joe Crabtree sat down on the house kit at Back Street Studios. He has an astonishing flair for playing odd time signatures and straight fours with the same easy flowing technique. Also, improvising with the three of us was exciting; lots of space and plenty of ambiguity."

- David Cross (KING CRIMSON)

"you're Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!! We fucking love it!!!!!!! Thank you soo soo much!!!!!!
Love, Carmelo"

- Carmelo (singer/songwriter - EverywherE)

"Joe's bespoke drumming/percussion service did just that – he recorded three tracks to order, patiently taking on board fussy comments and quickly providing new versions or revisions (however long it took). He never complained – just delivered the goods. And what goods! His drumming lifted my songs into a whole new realm, without taking over or showing off. Now I have three great pop tracks that I’m proud to release.
I would recommend Joe highly, not just for his considerable and versatile drumming ability but also for his helpful, professional yet personable manner and an ‘easy to navigate’, attractive website."

- Keith Harbottle (Singer/Songwriter, Big Life Desire)

"I think the track is spot on. In fact I'm quite amazed at how well you captured the style and at how well it's all recorded.
Awesome, you've played with so much power. I'm speechless really. Wow!!! "

- Dean Adams (freelance guitarist, songwriter)

"We decide to use Joe’s services when we found ourselves in a situation with lots of songs written but no full time drummer.
Unsure of using this kind of service we sent Joe a track. We were amazed with what Joe sent back to us. We couldn't get over the energy and attention to detail he had injected into the track. He had even gone to a lot of trouble to try some different mic techniques we were interested in hearing.
Joe is very professional, open to ideas, easy to talk to and very patient even when you are nagging him.
I don't think we will bother using another recording drummer again, however we do need to find someone to play live with us but hey, Joe does that too.
If you want drum tracks, quickly and simply, that are perfect for your project then Joe is the drummer you need."

- James, Ben, Mark, Michael (the blue and the blind)

"I am a professional singer/ songwriter and recording artiste now collaborating with Peter Whitehead - National Band Register and Sreensong.com (discoverer of Radiohead- Steriophonics - Muse - Supergrass etc....) I have toured in and out the UK in Bands around Europe - Middle East and North Pole and recorded with bands for over twenty seven years now. Most of this time I have struggled to find a natural drummer and listener that actually listens to real essence of the song and goes with the flow from beginning to end.
In my experience most serious drummers like to add clever technical ability whether the production needs it or not. But Joe is clever enough to add his vast technical experience only when the production needs it....which blows your head off when it happens!
In short, because of Joe's input...my tracks have become "Alive" and very natural. Not only that, I am immensely impressed with the very natural drum sounds Joe produces.
Like most Singer/Songwriters who are prepared to pay session players because they are serious, my tracks are very precious and are almost like my own children. Contacting Joe to play on my tracks was the best thing I have done in a long while. He listened and delivered what it says on his website. A real Professional Job. Amazingly it was also done very quickly and he does not overcharge for his services considering it is sincerely 1st Class.
I dont know Joe from Adam. We first started to collaborate less than two weeks ago. I live in Yorkshire and he lives in London. I saw his website and gave it a go. Therefore I wouldn't be raving in this testimonial unless I meant it. The fact that Joe's services are available to anybody is quite amazing.
Maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot at this minute because I would rather be selfish and just have his services for myself!
The truth is all you have to do is give him a try and my guess is you won't try anywhere else.
Well done Joe ! "

- Paul Marklew (Singer/Songwriter)

"I can honestly say that Joe is a true professional. The speed and ease with which he accomplished the project I presented him with was simply amazing. (Thanks Joe!!)
If you are a songwriter or musician needing professional drum tracks, then Joe Crabtree is your man. He's getting all my work from now on.
Reach me for a personal recommendation at Starvingthedogs@valornet.com"

- Don Newton (Project Musician)

"Joe’s web-based session recording service has been ideal for me. He has provided some great tracks for my album, but we’re not even in the same country! As I am based in Ireland, all communication and proofing of the tracks was carried out online and the results were outstanding. I can whole-heartedly recommend the service: Joe’s the drummer you need."

- Jonathan Casey (Solo Artist)

"We think Joe's custom drum track service is excellent. He responded to all our queries quickly, and completed the drum tracks very quickly. The recording quality is exceptionally high - flawless infact. We just wish we had stumbled across Joe earlier to be honest. We will definately be hiring him for the entire Stereodiet album. Also, the booking agents may request some gigs when we go for radio airplay so we will ask Joe along to them as well."

- Rebecca Whitfield (E3 Records)

"A quick,easy, very professional service, We'd recommend it to anyone.We had a selection of songs that needed specific drum tracks, loops didn't fit and it was too expensive to hire a studio and arrange for a drummer to come and record some tracks.
We had a search on the Internet and found Joe's Web site, made contact via e-mail and agreed a fee. We sent off some scratch tracks to him and within a couple of days got his takes back for approval. To say we had smiles on our faces is an understatement. Whatever you throw at him he seems to hit the mark every time.
His drumming is awesome and so is the audio quality of the tracks. A quick, painless, affordable professional service, we will definitely be back for more."

- Ian Hollis (The Lonesome Party Heros)

"I am a singer-songwriter and Joe has regularly been providing drums for my tracks and the results are superb. I have tended in the past to program my own drum patterns, which gets the job done to a point but you can never beat the live sound and above all feel of real drums. By adding that to my tracks, Joe has enhanced and given the tracks real character, which puts them into a new league. What’s more, the speed of delivery and ease of the system is second to none. I would highly recommend Joe for all drum services."

- Mike Kintish (producer/singer/songwriter)

"Joe has textures and colors to his drumming that I haven't heard since I was in Philadelphia.
Unlike most cats coming up now, Joe is a 'manipulator of time', not at the mercy of it. He is a step ahead of the game, and it was a pleasure for me and the folks at Songphonic™ to work with him."

- David Hadley Ray (bass player - Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry)

"Joe is one of the most versatile drummers that I have ever worked with. Having used him for session projects from straight funk, through rock and jazz to country, I can honestly say that his professionalism and focus have vastly improved each and every project in which he has been involved. Aside from that his drumming is genuinely awesome to witness."

- Berkeley Edwards (JD Management)

"You know the feeling, your drummer calls to say he can't do the gig tonight and you're stuck... nor can the regular dep. Someone gives you the number of a drummer they know, and tells you they'll nail the gig. You don't know of him, but you go for it.
The gig comes; the guy's on time, easy to work with, the grooves are all there, he's a listener, the band are smiling and the audience are loving it. We know that they don't know. It's a good feeling. That was our first experience of Joe depping in our band!"

- Jeremy Sassoon (Split Decision, Plus Four)