Cleveland Watkiss
with Black Top #3: Pat Thomas, Orphy Robinson.
Wednesday 6th June 2012 @ Cafe Oto,Leswin street,Dalston,London
Door Times : 8pm
The ad hoc 'Black Top' series is dedicated to exploring
the intersection of live instruments and technology such as the looping
and sampling used in dub, reggae and other worldly noises. The Black Top
project will use improvisation to explore these black influences but
not necessarily from an African American perspective. This is the third
show in the new series and will feature special guest Cleveland Watkiss,
the “Sonny Rollins of the human voice” (Time Out) alongside series
founders Pat Thomas and Orphy Robinson.
CLEVELAND WATKISS
Born in the East End of London, virtuoso vocalist, actor and composer
Cleveland Watkiss Studied the voice at ‘London school of singing’ With
opera coach ‘Arnold Rose’ and at the Guildhall School Of Music And
Drama. Cleveland was also one of the co-founders of the vastly
influential Jazz Warriors big band. His vocals can be heard on there
debut album, Out of Many People which won a video award in
Japan.<br><br>
His amazing vocal experiences have seen him perform with many
diverse artists from around the world such as ‘The Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra, Dusseldolf Symphonic Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis,Bob Dylan,
Jackie Mittoo, Keith Richards, James Taylor Quartet, Art Blakey, Sly
& Robbie, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, Patife, Lepaja Symphonic
Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy, Carlinhos Brown, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker,
The Who, Branford Marsalis, George Martin, Julian Joseph, Bocato Big
Band, Lisa Stansfield, Courtney Pine, Janet Kay, Maxi Priest, Soul II
Soul, London Chamber Orchestra, Kassa Mady, BBC Orchestra, Goldie,
Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Sugar Minot, Talvin Singh,
Bjork, Pete Townshend, London Community Gospel Choir [LCGC] and many
many More.
ORPHY ROBINSON
Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures of the jazz scene - he has released records on the prestigious Blue Note records and has played with some of the biggest names on the world stage,Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Nigel Kennedy,Jazz Warriors, Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors and Andy Shepherd.
He has composed for Film and TV- including “In answer to your question” for the Balanescu String Quartet and “ 42 Shades of Black” for Phoenix Dance Theatre,which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Currently leads the groups CODEFIVE- The Freeform Dub Collective,Nu Savanna - he also plays in the groups BRUISE and CLEAR FRAME on the Avante Garde scene.
Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures of the jazz scene - he has released records on the prestigious Blue Note records and has played with some of the biggest names on the world stage,Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Nigel Kennedy,Jazz Warriors, Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors and Andy Shepherd.
He has composed for Film and TV- including “In answer to your question” for the Balanescu String Quartet and “ 42 Shades of Black” for Phoenix Dance Theatre,which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Currently leads the groups CODEFIVE- The Freeform Dub Collective,Nu Savanna - he also plays in the groups BRUISE and CLEAR FRAME on the Avante Garde scene.
PAT THOMAS
Pat Thomas studied classical piano from aged 8 and started playing
Jazz from the age of 16. He has since gone on to develop an utterly
unique style - embracing improvisation, jazz and new music. He has
played with Derek Bailey in Company Week (1990/91) and in the trio AND
(with Noble) – with Tony Oxley’s Quartet and Celebration Orchestra and
in Duo with Lol Coxhill.
"Sartorially shabby as Thomas may be, and on first impression even
rather stolid, he has a somewhat imperious charisma that’s immediately
amplified when he starts to play. Unlike other pianists whose virtuosity
seems to be racing ahead of their thought processes Thomas always seems
supremely in command of his gift, and his playing, no matter how free
and ready to tangle with abstraction, always carries a charge of
authoritative exactitude." The Jazzmann
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