Ric Sanders

Ric Sanders

Ric Sanders is a violinist from Birmingham, England, associated with folk, jazz and swing. He is born in 1952 and takes up the violin as a child. His first professional work comes in 1972, when he tours Europe with Stomu Yamashta’s Red Buddah Theatre.

Early career and jazz work

During the mid-1970s, Sanders works widely as a jazz soloist and appears with Michael Garrick, Johnny Patrick and the jazz pianist Jaques Dieval. He then divides his interests between folk and jazz in the late 1970s, playing with The Albion Band and with Soft Machine, and touring and recording with both groups. With The Albion Band, he also performs at the National Theatre.

Second Vision and education projects

In 1980, Sanders and Soft Machine guitarist John Etheridge form Second Vision. The pair record an album and tour extensively. He later works with guitarist Vo Fletcher on music education projects, supporting a Musicians Union initiative in schools and recording for BBC television.

Fairport Convention and later work

Sanders joins Fairport Convention in 1985 and continues as a full-time member. He also collaborates with June Tabor, Andrew Cronshaw and Martin Simpson, among others, and records solo albums as well as a violin tuition release introduced by Jools Holland. His session credits include Roy Harper, Jethro Tull, Strawbs, Pentangle, Gerry Rafferty, Loudon Wainwright III, Robert Plant, The Fureys and Ashley Hutchings.

Other groups

Alongside Fairport Convention, Sanders leads The Ric Sanders Group with Vo Fletcher and Mike Gregory. The group performs a broad repertoire of jazz and swing and also works with Banbury-based Anjali Dance Company. His other listed projects include The Ric Sanders Trio and SilverBlues.

Residence

Sanders lives in Bloxham, Oxfordshire.