Jamie Brooks (pianist)
Encyclopedia
Jamie Brooks is an English
pianist, keyboard player and composer/arranger.
. He has also toured with ex- The Enid
founders, Francis Lickerish
and William Gilmour
on the Secret Green
project and Ed Rome and the Connectors.
Brooks performs with his jazz trio (The Jamie Brooks Trio) and a number of successful solo piano recitals including Mussorgsky
's Pictures At An Exhibition
and a programme of Argentinian music including his own piano transcription of Ástor Piazzolla
's Libertango
.
In 2007, he composed the score for an independent short film - A Fistful ‘O Fishfingers – as well as playing piano in successful productions of ‘West End Story’ and ‘Anything Goes’ and was soloist with the Anglia Chamber Ensemble for Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'.". He also performed a programme of music for violin and piano by Charles Camilleri, Ástor Piazzolla
, Pablo de Sarasate.". and with Simon Fell
on Composition No.62.".
2009 saw Brooks' debut with Nottingham Symphony Orchestra at the Albert Hall, with a performance of George Gershwin
's Piano Concerto in F under Derek Williams' direction". He also played keyboards for productions of Cats (musical)
, Les Misérables (musical)
and Fame (musical)
.
During 2010, Brooks recorded extensively with Drum and bass
producer DJ Peshey and performed live concerts with progressive rock/metal band Aeon Zen
as well as taking the role of Music Director
for Fame (musical)
.
He lives in Cambridge, England and is an in-demand performer and accompanist for both music and dance".
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
pianist, keyboard player and composer/arranger.
Biography
Brooks was classically trained from the age of five, but developed an interest in rock, jazz, funk and pop in his teens and started playing in local bands. Following A levels centred around classical music, he went to Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and studied a combined BA degree in Music and Creative Music Technology followed by an MA in Music Performance.Performances
Brooks has toured and recorded with numerous bands in styles from ska, through rock and blues, to disco and funk including The Soul Patrol and the London-based prog/metal/fusion band Linear Sphere and well as touring keyboard roles with The Neville Staple Band and Behind BarsBehind Bars
- Personnel :* Slick Rick - performer, producer* Warren G - performer, producer, remixing* Nice & Smooth - performer, producer* Doug E. Fresh - performer* Vance Wright - producer* Prince Paul - producer* Pete Rock - producer, remixing...
. He has also toured with ex- The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
founders, Francis Lickerish
Francis Lickerish
John Francis Lickerish, known professionally as Francis Lickerish , is a British composer, guitarist and lutenist, and founder member of British art-rock band The Enid....
and William Gilmour
William Gilmour
William Gilmour is a British musician and artist who was an early member and keyboardist of rock band The Enid, before leaving to form his own band: Craft. He is now a music teacher at Culloden Academy in Inverness. He is also a contributing composer and performer for Francis Lickerish's band...
on the Secret Green
Secret Green
Secret Green is a British rock band, founded in 2007, by Francis Lickerish, Hilary Palmer and Jon Beedle. Recent additions to the band William Gilmour and Matt Hodge complete the line-up...
project and Ed Rome and the Connectors.
Brooks performs with his jazz trio (The Jamie Brooks Trio) and a number of successful solo piano recitals including Mussorgsky
Mussorgsky
Mussorgsky can refer to:*The Mussorgsky family of Russian nobility;*Modest Mussorgsky, a Russian composer belonging to that family.*Mussorgsky , a 1950 Soviet film about the composer...
's Pictures At An Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite in ten movements composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.The suite is Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition, and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists...
and a programme of Argentinian music including his own piano transcription of Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
's Libertango
Libertango
Libertango is a composition by tango composer Ástor Piazzolla, recorded and published in 1974.The title is a portmanteau merging "Libertad" and "Tango", symbolizing Piazzolla's break from Classical Tango to Tango Nuevo....
.
In 2007, he composed the score for an independent short film - A Fistful ‘O Fishfingers – as well as playing piano in successful productions of ‘West End Story’ and ‘Anything Goes’ and was soloist with the Anglia Chamber Ensemble for Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'.". He also performed a programme of music for violin and piano by Charles Camilleri, Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
, Pablo de Sarasate.". and with Simon Fell
Simon Fell
Simon H. Fell is a bassist and composer; he is primarily known for his work as a free improviser and the composer of ambitiously complex post-serialist works.Fell began playing double bass in 1973...
on Composition No.62.".
2009 saw Brooks' debut with Nottingham Symphony Orchestra at the Albert Hall, with a performance of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's Piano Concerto in F under Derek Williams' direction". He also played keyboards for productions of Cats (musical)
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
, Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
and Fame (musical)
Fame (musical)
A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...
.
During 2010, Brooks recorded extensively with Drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
producer DJ Peshey and performed live concerts with progressive rock/metal band Aeon Zen
Aeon Zen
Aeon Zen are a progressive rock/metal band formed in 2008, led by the only permanent member, vocalist, guitarist, bassist and keyboard player Rich Hinks...
as well as taking the role of Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
for Fame (musical)
Fame (musical)
A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...
.
He lives in Cambridge, England and is an in-demand performer and accompanist for both music and dance".