Martin Orford
Encyclopedia
Martin Orford is an English
keyboard player
best known as the keyboardist and founder member of progressive rock
bands IQ
and Jadis
. He also worked with former King Crimson
, UK
and Asia
bassist John Wetton
, and released a solo album, Classical Music and Popular Songs in 2000. Orford appeared on two Big Big Train
albums, Goodbye To The Age of Steam
and English Boy Wonders
.
Orford won the "Best Keyboard Player" category at the Best of the Year Classic Rock Society Award
in 2004.
Orford's latest solo album The Old Road (GEPCD1037) was released in October 2008. The album features guest appearances from John Wetton, Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros (Spock's Beard), Steve Thorne, John Mitchell (It Bites/Arena), Gary Chandler (Jadis), Dave Oberle (Gryphon), David Longdon and Andy Edwards (IQ)
Orford announced that he would quit the music industry completely at the end of 2008, citing disillusionment with internet piracy and the 'free music' culture as the principal reason (source Orford 16 October 2008). However, he continues to perform live occasionally, most recently at MelloFest 2009 where he performed tracks from The Old Road as well as some IQ numbers.
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...
keyboard player
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
best known as the keyboardist and founder member of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands IQ
IQ (band)
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens...
and Jadis
Jadis
Jadis is a U.K. neo-progressive rock group. They play guitar-driven rock with the use of synthesizers to add depth and atmosphere, and an emphasis on melody. They are currently signed to InsideOut Music....
. He also worked with former King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, UK
UK (band)
U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 until 1980.The band was composed of Singer/Bassist John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson, Bryan Ferry's band and Uriah Heep, Keyboardist/Electric Violinist Eddie Jobson, formerly of Curved Air, Roxy Music and Frank Zappa's...
and Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
bassist John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
, and released a solo album, Classical Music and Popular Songs in 2000. Orford appeared on two Big Big Train
Big Big Train
Big Big Train is an English progressive rock band that was founded in 1990. Based in Bournemouth, England, the band members are Nick D'Virgilio, Dave Gregory, David Longdon, Andy Poole and Gregory Spawton....
albums, Goodbye To The Age of Steam
Goodbye To The Age of Steam
Goodbye To The Age of Steam is the debut studio album of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1994, by Giant Electric Pea. On the official BBT website, Spawton has revealed that "much of the album was about how people lose their way in their lives; about the...
and English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
.
Orford won the "Best Keyboard Player" category at the Best of the Year Classic Rock Society Award
Classic Rock Society
Classic Rock Society, also known as the CRS, began life in 1991, originally as a society founded in Rotherham, England at the Florence Nightingale public house, which quickly progressed to become a large and well recognised organisation helping to forward the cause of Progressive rock, and Classic...
in 2004.
Orford's latest solo album The Old Road (GEPCD1037) was released in October 2008. The album features guest appearances from John Wetton, Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros (Spock's Beard), Steve Thorne, John Mitchell (It Bites/Arena), Gary Chandler (Jadis), Dave Oberle (Gryphon), David Longdon and Andy Edwards (IQ)
Orford announced that he would quit the music industry completely at the end of 2008, citing disillusionment with internet piracy and the 'free music' culture as the principal reason (source Orford 16 October 2008). However, he continues to perform live occasionally, most recently at MelloFest 2009 where he performed tracks from The Old Road as well as some IQ numbers.