Liz Exell

Liz was born in Sussex to a half-Welsh mother and a British father. She got into drums around the age of 11 and into bands and local ensembles almost immediately, including her step-dad’s rock and roll band. She was fortunate to win a place on the junior jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music, aged 15. She ‘lived and breathed’ music and began playing professionally at 16, including two runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She studied with Dave Wickins at Trinity Laban College. There she set up a swing band and, on graduating, toured the UK and Europe, playing at festivals, clubs and dance parties and making two records. She joined Nerija, toured the UK and the EU, and played in the USA. The band also made two records.  Liz moved to ‘the land of some of her forefathers’ in January 2019 and she feels honoured to be included in this project.

website: https://hello8528.wixsite.com/lizexell

Women in Jazz