J.S Bach, Gustav Mahler, Beethoven String Quartets, Johannes Brahms, Bob Marley, Keith Jarrett, Steely Dan, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, György Ligeti, Steve Reich, David Fanshawe, Glenn Gould, Claudio Arrau, Martha Argerich, Joni Mitchell, Neil Finn
Re-Migrant Records presents Jazz/Classical Pianist and Composer Tom Donald. Donald has many new piano recitals and performances scheduled for 2008. Whether it is jazz or improvised classical, or composed classical the focus on his music in his own words is purely on energy release and the relationship between sound, mind, consciousness and external energy changes through improvisation. Tom believes these elements should be a key focus in 21st century music.
Born 1982, Coonabarabran, NSW Australia. Tom commenced music lessons in Tamworth NSW at age six with New Zealand Vocalist and Pianist, Jennifer Heaton. During his Tamworth youth he composed many piano pieces for his public recitals as well as choral and chamber music works. In 1997, played for 13 Hours non-stop to raise money for the Westpac Helicopter service in the New England and in 1998 completed his first two piano sonatas and Orchestral Work. 2000 he received an Order of Australia Citation and was granted the Australian Music Examinations Board, AMUS-A Diploma.
At age 19, Donald commenced studies at the Newcastle Conservatorium Australia. He studied Piano under Carmel Lutton (OAM) and composition under Colin Spiers.
During this time an intense interest for improvisation developed alongside his classical training. Donald for the first time gave a completely improvised piano recital in Tamworth in 2002 as well as more improvised recitals in Newcastle throughout 2003.
Upon completing his studies in Newcastle he recorded his debut album “Solstice” a significant 50-minute recorded piano improvisation and shortly afterwards, moved to London in 2004. As a composer he focuses mainly on classical chamber music and song writing. He has formed song-writing partnerships with Kell Gregory in which they have formed the band “The Rasps” as well as American vocalist and lyricist, Sirena Riley.
In 2006 Donald was granted the UK composers visa. He has played in many London venues such as the Theatre Museum (Covent Garden), Live Improvisations at the Abbey Road Studio Sound and Vision Evening run by the Cancer Research UK and event patron Sir George Martin, “The Klinker Club”, “Tiles Wine Bar" (Victoria), The Soho Review Bar", The Bedlam (Hampstead), Pizza Express (Liverpool Street), “Wandsworth Lost Society”, “The Voulupte” (Hoburn), Claridges Show Room (Mayfair), The Battersea Barge, "The Rasps", The Wimbledon Guild Drake House, “The Rock Café” (Covent Garden), St Mary’s Church Ealing, “Café Cairo” Clapham, and the “Octave Jazz Bar”. He has been involved in recording session work at BBC Studios Maida Vale, Cherry Pie Music, Wimbledon, Tin Pan Alley Soho and Resident Studios, North London for many numerous projects.
His U.K debut Piano Recital was at the St Mary’s Church in Ealing in 2006. The concert was recorded and is due for release in 2008. Since then he gave another Improvisation Recital at the Drake House in Wimbledon. In 2007 he has played around many South London Jazz Venues with the Jazz Fusion Improvisation Ensemble “IOTA"
As a producer and session composer and pianist Donald has been busy working closely with many artists, he has also recorded with multi-Instrumentalist Andrew Clermont. As a pianist and composer he produces for many leading U.K artists and bands.
During 2007, Donald has been composing a new work for music education. Inspired by Suzuki method as well as the Bartok Mikrokosmos, Tom’s interest was finding the middle ground in between these two fine, but extreme teaching methods. This method known as the “Harmony Method” is based on tonal chordal traditions being taught simultaneous to scales. But is presented in a far more simple and concise method than traditional counterpoint. Beginner Students under this method are successfully transposing harmonic progressions and gain a sub-conscious instinct rather than an absolute sight oriented understanding of harmony. This method will be released in a book “The Harmonic Method” in late 2008.
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Yo Tom! Thanks for the add. Yeah, been here in Bremen for 3 years now. Conducting some choirs, composing lots. I noticed you've added Lera Auerbach - I'm a fan of hers too. I played Celeste in the premiere of her Russian Requiem. Cool piece. Nice to hear some of your improvisations! Sounding good. Have fun. Will call you if I'm in London sometime. Gordon.
It's nice to hear from you :-) Everything is fine except the weather... A real english weather ;-):-) Have played in Paris, Naples and Bordeaux those previous days... It was very exciting !!! Perhaps one of those days in London... who knows ? I'm listening again to your work, you sound great and your "Chant On Vinyl With Piano" is amazing !
Warm regards from the cold Pyrenees Mountains, Camélia.
Your site is looking fantastic. I will have a new recording of 'Meditation at Bar Beach' to put up here soon. Video I hope. Some other works I've just finished too.
hey man good to hear you're comin back! just buzz us when u get down here. i try to avoid answering calls from anonymous numbers (been getting weirdo calls) but will be lookin out for it at the end of March for sure. if i dont answer, leave a message telling me to ;p
not much to say about photography, kinda needed a hobby, and then it got out of control hehehe
Hi Tom, your music sounds great, hope you are enjoying UK. Suppose you don't get back home much now - Olivia is up at Tamworth at the moment - she is still obsessed with the place! Hope you had a great christmas and New Year and I'll keep on listening in.
Love Bowie's seminal albums Low and 'Heroes'? Then be excited, be very excited...
What: Dylan Howe and The Subterraneans (feat. Portishead's Adrian Utley, Stranglers' Hugh Cornwell, multi-reedsman Gilad Atzmon, the Solid Strings and a plethora of UK talent) perform a one-of reimagining of David Bowie's Low and 'Heroes' as part of the London Jazz Festival - and we want you to be there!
Where: Cargo, Shoreditch, London EC1
When: Sunday 25th November.
Plus, generous souls that we are, we have a special 'early bird' offer of £10 on advance tickets (instead of £12.50/£15 on the door on the night)
Email Joe.R@cantaloupegroup.co.uk - with your ticket requests - mentioning you're the Dylan Howe mailing list and you'll get each ticket for £10.
(NB. This offer expires on Monday 19th of November)
We are extremely pleased to announce the release of our Debut-Album, and newest Steve Reich album on the market, available worldwide now! Please feel free to have a Listen Online
Wishing you a ravishing career and music that enriches the mind and soul.
Hey Tom...so glad to hear from you...I figured you must be busy at work.. A catch up sounds really nice...I want to hear everything!!..A huge hug and sunshine from Aus..
