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Fitkin

Fitkin Radio

Bio:


THE FITKIN BAND

Fresh from winning his 2009 British Composer Award, Graham Fitkin assembled a 9-piece band of virtuoso musicians and is currently touring the UK.

This no-nonsense music, with punchy rhythms, tight grooves and phenomenal playing features saxes, trumpet, percussion, piano, harps, guitar and bass.

All the music has been composed by Graham Fitkin over the past 2 years. It is strong, fascinating and immediate music which is approachable and harmonically sumptuous. Allusions can be drawn to both be-bop and systems music, composers such as Terry Riley and Philip Glass and bands such as Goldfrapp and Bellowhead. Dealing with pulse, rhythm and using relentless stamina, Graham says “there are long periods of dynamic unisons breaking into rhythmic complexity, tight grooves crashing into random pulses.”

Performances will take place at a variety of venues over the next year. Though many events will take place in concert halls, many shows will be presented in more unusual or site specific venues such as new buildings, urban spaces, outdoor events etc. where fresh audiences will encounter the music in less formal ways.

Members:


Simon Haram - Soprano/Alto Saxes
Nick Moss - Tenor Sax/Bass Clarinet
Noel Langley - Trumpets, Flugel Horn
Aidy Spillett - Percussion, Vibes
Joby Burgess - Percussion, Marimba
Graham Fitkin - Piano
Alan Thomas - Guitars, Mandolin
Ruth Wall - Bray and Lever Harps
John Lunn - Double Bass




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GRAHAM FITKIN

Composer Graham Fitkin’s work is known internationally. Performances by companies such as Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Random, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet, London Chamber Orchestra etc and collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott, Shobana Jeyasingh, Will Gregory, Wayne McGregor, The Wilson Sisters, Ruth Wall etc are a few examples of Graham’s projects. His music has been recorded by Decca, Factory, Sony BMG, Sanctuary and other labels and performances have taken place at venues such as Aula Magna Rome, Lincoln Center New York, Suntory Hall Tokyo, South Bank Centre and Barbican London etc.

Graham’s work is known for its energy, directness and inventiveness, and whilst it is regularly performed in traditional concert halls, he is increasingly involved in disseminating music through new environments e.g. co-commissioning from three international orchestras - Tokyo Symphony, Athens Camerata, London Chamber Orchestra or the 12 simultaneous worldwide performances of a solo saxophone commission, site specific performances in the biomes of the Eden Project, GPS accessed musical work, live video collaborations etc.

Graham has always been closely integrated in the performance of his music, whether conducting New York City Ballet, running his own ensembles, producing or performing solo. This ensemble brings together some of the finest musicians from projects that Graham has directed in the past into one focused unit.

Graham has recently had his Cello Concerto preformed at the 2011 Proms. The piece, which was performed on the 31st August by Yo-Yo Ma and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Upcoming work includes a new ballet for the Royal Opera House and a 2012 Olympic Commission.

Graham has also recently collaborated with Yugo Nakamura on the new Uniqlo Jeans advertising campaign. A version of the full video can be found here.




“One of the most important pieces of the age... British pastoral updated to an edgy, utterly contemporary, urban landscape” The Independent

“A delight that defied all fashionable labels and simply conjured its own whirlygig of ideas with such spontaneity and control.” The Guardian

“Immaculate.” BBC Music Magazine

"Still Warm is an album of consistent beauty" Netrhythms

“Strong rhythmic shapes, sharp melodic profiles, lush orchestral overtones and rich harmonic underpinning.” Daily Telegraph


Influences:


Steve Reich, Underworld, Massive Attack, Arvo Part, Louis Andriessen, Pink Martini, The Smiths, Faithless, David Bowie, The House of Love, Divine Comedy, Groove Armada, Stravinsky, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, Ryuichi Sakomoto, John Cage, Pet Shop Boys, The Strokes, Man Jumping, Bach, The Lost Jockey, Lemon Jelly, Portishead, Leftfield, Talvin Singh, Bill Evans, Frank Sinatra, Artful Dodger, Astor Piazzolla, John Coltrane, Royksopp, DJ Shadow, Boulez, Webern, Stockhausen, Ligeti

Record Label:


GFR

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