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Django Bates

Background information
Origin Beckenham, London, England
Occupation(s) Professor of Rhythmic Music at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen. Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Rhythmic Music Conservatory (Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium is a music conservatoire in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Instrument(s) Piano, Keyboards, Tenor Horn
Years active 1980s to present
Label(s) EG
ECM
Lost Marble
Screwgun
JMT
Website www.djangobates.co.uk/

Django Bates (born October 2, 1960 in Beckenham, London, United Kingdom) is a composer, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and band leader. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. Althorn redirects here For the village in Essex see Althorne. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music EG Records was a UK -based artist management company and Record label, mostly active during the 1970s and 1980s Screwgun Records is a Jazz Record label founded by Tim Berne. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. Althorn redirects here For the village in Essex see Althorne.

Contents

Career

Django Bates rose to prominence in Loose Tubes, a jazz orchestra which was considered one of the UK's most exciting and inspirational groups in the 1980s. Loose Tubes was a big band based in Britain during the mid-to-late 1980s

He founded his small group Human Chain in 1979. A human chain is a form of demonstration in which people link their arms as a show of political solidarity In 1991, he started his own 19-piece jazz orchestra Delightful Precipice. Delightful Precipice is a jazz orchestra 19-piece led by Django Bates. He also put together the Powder Collapse Orchestra, which recorded Music for the Third Policeman, and created Circus Umbilicus, a musical circus show.

In recent years, Bates has concentrated on writing large scale compositions on commission (see list below). These include Dream Kitchen for percussionist Evelyn Glennie, Fine Frenzy for the Shobhana Jeyasingh Dance Company, and a piano concerto for Joanna MacGregor and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra entitled What It's Like to be Alive. Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, DBE (born July 19 1965 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish virtuoso Percussionist. Joanna MacGregor (born 16 July 1959) is an internationally renowned classical Jazz and contemporary Pianist. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ( RPO) is a British Orchestra based in London. He also wrote the first ever concerto for electric keyboard entitled 2000 Years Beyond UNDO, which was performed at the millennium Barbican Festival.

He has worked closely with director Lucy Bailey on several theatre projects, including Gobbledegook for The Gogmagogs, Baby Doll, (Birmingham Rep, National Theatre, Albery Theatre), Stairs to the Roof (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Postman Always Rings Twice (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Albery Theatre) and Titus Andronicus (The Globe Theatre). Birmingham Repertory Theatre (commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep) is a Theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, was designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, and opened by its founder Leslie The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, England is a theatre which opened in March 1990 as part of the regeneration of the Quarry Hill The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. Titus Andronicus may be Shakespeare's earliest Tragedy; it is believed to have been written sometime between 1584 and the early 1590s The Globe Theatre was a Theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. They also worked on a short film You Can Run. Other theatre work includes Greg Doran’s production of As You Like It (RSC), and Campbell Graham’s Out There!. As You Like It is a Pastoral Comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published

Django was the inaugural Artistic Director of FuseLeeds in 2004. He used this opportunity to initiate the first orchestral commission for Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead). Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood (born 5 November 1971) is a BAFTA and Grammy -nominated musician and composer-in-residence for the BBC best Radiohead Django also commissioned sixty composers including Laurie Anderson, Gavin Bryars, Sir Patrick Moore and John Zorn, to write one bar each. Laurie Anderson (born Laura Phillips Anderson, on June 5 1947 in Glen Ellyn Illinois) is an American experimental Performance artist and Richard Gavin Bryars (born 16 January 1943) is an English Composer and Double bassist He has been active in or has produced works in a variety Sir Alfred Patrick Caldwell-Moore, CBE, HonFRS, FRAS (born 4 March 1923 in Pinner) known as Patrick Moore, is John Zorn (born September 2 1953 in Queens, New York City) is an American Avant-garde Composer, arranger, Record He then quilted these bars into the piece Premature Celebration which was performed by Evan Parker and the London Sinfonietta to celebrate Evan’s 60th Birthday. Evan Shaw Parker (born 5 April 1944 in Bristol is a British free-improvising Saxophone player from the European free jazz The London Sinfonietta is an English chamber Orchestra based in London that specializes in the performance of Contemporary classical music

The Wire voted Django Best UK Jazz Composer in 1987 and 1990. The Wire is a British Avant garde music Magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray In 1997, he won the Jazzpar Prize, the world's only international award for jazz. The Jazzpar Prize (established 1990) was an annual Danish prize within Jazz founded by Arnvid Meyer

In addition to his work as a leader, Bates has been prominently featured as a sideman as a member of Dudu Pukwana's Zila, Tim Whitehead's Borderline, Ken Stubbs' First House, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Sidsel Endresen and in the bands of George Russell and George Gruntz. Mtutuzel Dudu Pukwana ( 18 July 1938 &ndash 30 June 1990) was a South African Saxophone player Pianist and William Scott Bruford (born May 17 1949 in Sevenoaks, Kent) better known as Bill Bruford, is an English Drummer Sidsel Endresen (born June 19 1952 is a Norwegian Jazz singer George Allen Russell (born June 23, 1923) is an American Jazz Pianist, Composer and theorist George Gruntz (b Basle Switzerland, June 24, 1932) is a Swiss Jazz pianist, Organist, Harpsichordist He has performed alongside Michael Brecker, Tim Berne, Christian Jarvi, Vince Mendoza, David Sanborn, Kate Rusby and Don Alias. Michael Brecker ( March 29, 1949 &ndash January 13, 2007) was an American Jazz Saxophonist and Composer Tim Berne (born 1954 is an American Jazz Saxophone player and Composer. Vince Mendoza (born 1961 is a music arranger and Composer. Mendoza was born in Connecticut and studied trumpet as a child influenced by classical music soul and jazz David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. Kate Rusby (born December 4, 1973) is an English Folk singer and songwriter from Barnsley, South Yorkshire sometimes Charles 'Don' Alias (b December 25, 1939 New York City; d March 29, 2006 New York City) was an American jazz

In 2008, he was nominated for the PRS New Music Award

Education

Django Bates attended Sedgehill Secondary School. Sedgehill Secondary School is a large mixed gender school in south-east London in England. High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution Whilst at this school, he also attended the Centre for Young Musicians in London (1971–77) where he learned trumpet, piano, and violin. In 1977-78 he studied at Morley College. Morley College is an Adult education college in London, England. He then went to the Royal College of Music but left after only two weeks. The Royal College of Music is a well known conservatoire located in the South Kensington district of London, England, and one There were notices on the pianos reading “Not to be used for the playing of Jazz music. ”

He was awarded a fellowship by the Leeds College of Music in 1995. Leeds College of Music, located in Leeds ’ Quarry Hill cultural quarter is the largest music college in the United Kingdom, with over

In 2002, he was a tutor at the renowned Banff Centre jazz programme alongside Jim Black and Dave Douglas. The Banff Centre is an Arts, Cultural, and Educational institution and conference facility located in Banff Alberta. For the Democratic politician from North Carolina see James B Dave Douglas (born March 24, 1963) is a US Jazz Trumpeter and Composer whose music is notable for drawing on many

In July 2005 Django Bates was appointed Professor of Rhythmic Music at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory (RMC) in Copenhagen. The Rhythmic Music Conservatory (Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium is a music conservatoire in Copenhagen, Denmark. The new professor's role is to raise the international profile of the RMC, cultivate excellence within it, whilst further developing their own work in ways that inspire and energise.

Musical style

Django Bates' music draws on a vast range of stylistic influences. It is driven by a philosophy that places a high value on being at the forefront of creativity and innovation. In this respect, he aligns himself with the avant garde and Post Modern movements (also see avant-garde jazz and postmodern music ). Avant-garde (avɑ̃gaʁd in French) means "advance guard" or "vanguard Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz) is a style of music and Improvisation that combines Avant-garde Art music and composition with Postmodern music is music which follows the postmodern ideology

On piano, his style is influenced by players such as Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and John Taylor. William John Evans (better known as Bill Evans) ( August 16, 1929 &ndash September 15, 1980) was one of the most famous and influential Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown Pennsylvania) is an American Pianist and Composer. John Taylor (born in Manchester 25 September 1942) is a British jazz Pianist; he has occasionally performed on the organ and the Synthesizer The qualities which carry through to his playing include a highly lyrical approach with an emphasis on harmony and sophisticated chord voicings.

Commissions

Discography

Albums as a leader

Albums as a sideman

Reviews of recorded work

Reviews of live work

Articles

Film and Television

Radio

Quotes

"the brain of classical music with the groin of jazz"

"When I'm not writing or rehearsing my own music, I tend to find other ways of filling that time than listening to music I already know," 2005

"My earliest memory of performing was a James Taylor composition, from a Stephane Grappelli album I noticed my dad liked. It was quite simple, so I worked it out. Every time he walked into the room I would play it to see if I could get him to pay me any attention. A sad little aim, but it was probably the whole cause of me becoming a musician. " 2005

"Being outside the establishment has always seemed important to me. There are always promoters and producers who want to meddle with your music . . . More and more I find myself wanting to speak up about these things. Ah, the wonderful smell of burning bridges!" 2005

"England at the moment is a cause for concern. It is a difficult place to be, artistically. But I'm not going to whinge about it. To go to another country - have the opportunity to carry on what I want to do, but in a helpful environment - means that hopefully I can come back and help this situation. Ironic, isn't it, but the only way I might be able to play a proper gig in London is if I get money from the Danish government. " 2005

"I know what I want to do with an improvising band; I've been really strict about getting what I want, not accepting long stretches of music that I'm not remotely in control about, jams; I'm not interested in that. I want there to be special character to each piece and the only way you can get that is to define the roles quite clearly of the different musicians. But they still have massive input. I write certain basslines because I know that Michael Mondesir can play them. I also know that he can turn them into his own. I really like playing with that. It's the same with Iain (Ballamy). I write very specific lines for him, and that's good because they're not things that a saxophonist would naturally go for. They're probably very tricky but they're what I want to hear. I just make sure I leave him space to be Iain Ballamy, which is what he's fantastic at. Martin France - again I give him quite detailed percussion parts, but I know that he's always going to add more to what I write. " 2005

"The arts improve everyone's quality of life, so invest in them with pride. Lose the snobbery that places some genres on a false pedestal: invest fairly in our huge range of artistic talent. While arts education programmes proliferate, there are fewer and fewer places for graduating musicians, dancers and actors to perform. Support centres of excellence like Gateshead's Sage, but let's not forget smaller, creative venues. Protect these from speculators, and rescue those promoters who struggle to present well-crafted, cutting-edge new work on a local level. This policy won't generate financial profit, but will create confident, self-respecting communities and will enrich this country infinitely. " 2005

"Being outside the establishment has always seemed important to me. Not just because I'm an awkward git, but because creatively it's where you have to be. " 2005

"Evan [Parker] is the proof that during shallow times, musicians can still exist on their own terms. " 2004

"And now there's this issue, about Wynton Marsalis's view of jazz - that it's not to be taken lightly, or experimented with. I think that's very negative and very sad. " 2000

"Being a musician is incompatible with self-importance because it is surreal in itself. Selling vibrations in the air. What's more surreal than that?"

"Oh, you've heard of jazz. "

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