"One of European jazz's most celebrated musicians... His music is precise, lucid and original, and at times breathtakingly lyrical."
Since being voted Guardian/Wire British Jazz Awards "Most Promising Newcomer" in 1991, Jonathan Gee enjoyed a highly successful ten-year collaboration with bassist Steve Rose and drummer Winston Clifford, also working with many of the country's leading jazz musicians, including Steve Williamson, Iain Ballamy, Orphy Robinson, Ed Jones, Claire Martin, Tim Whitehead, Christine Tobin and poet Lemn Sissay. In Europe he has appeared with US musicians David Murray, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Harry Allen, James Spaulding, Sonny Fortune and Ted Curson.
Jonathan has performed in 18 countries around the world including Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy. His trio has toured Azerbaijan, Israel, Cameroon, Singapore and performed in Nicosia with the Cyprus Chamber Orchestra.
In the UK, along with Tony Kofi, Ben Hazleton and Winston Clifford, Jonathan co-founded the Monk Liberation Front, dedicated to the work of pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. The band has appeared twice at the London Jazz Festival performing Monk's complete works in day-long sessions.
Jonathan joined the Tony Kofi Quartet for its award-winning 2005 tribute to Thelonious Monk, All Is Know , and The Silent Truth .
Jonathan also sings with bassist Larry Bartley, and is a member of Michael Mwensos Male Vocal Combustion.
Jonathan has formed many musical ties abroad. In Italy he has toured and recorded with Danilo Gallo and Alessandro Minetto, with Joseph Lepore and Enzo Zirilli, as well as saxophonist Tommaso Starace.
In France he has worked with the Didier Conchon/Ramon Layzelles Quintet featuring Wayne Dockery on bass and Antoine Banville on drums. In Finland his trio has been resident annually at the Helsinki Jazz Festival and he has also enjoyed a long-term collaboration with trumpeter/producer Mika Myllari: their Northern Star People project album, View from the Pocket , was launched at the 2008 London Jazz Festival.
Jonathan's New York trio, featuring bassist Joseph Lepore and drummer Nasheet Waits, made their debut appearance at the 2009 London Jazz Festival.
Jonathan's new trio CD, Dragonfly, is featured at
ASC Records:
Recorded in New York, 2007 & 2010
Jonathan Gee (piano)
Joseph Lepore (bass)
Nasheet Waits (drums)
Jonathan launched Dragonfly at The Vortex on Tuesday 15 November, as part of the London Jazz Festival's British Piano series.
A spring tour is being planned with Nasheet Waits and Joseph Lepore. WATCH THIS SPACE!
DRAGONFLY REVIEWS:
"The fire and invention that marked his (recent) performances with (Pharoah) Sanders are in full evidence on this disc ... Gee has a persuasively lucid touch when it comes to exploring even the knottiest clusters of notes... and a fast-talking intensity that endows his playing with gritty elegance... There's only one non original here, Monk's 'We See', even in the shadow of such an august jazz-piano master, his breathlessly sparkling originality shines through." Robert Shore, Jazzwise Magazine, December 2011
"Amid a host of bland January jazz releases, pianist and composer Jonathan Gee's new album appears like an oasis of unpretentious, nimble-fingered wit." Ivan Hewett, Daily Telegraph, January 2012
2012
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
22nd _ National Centre for Early Music, York, duo with Larry Bartley
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
2011
12th _ Cheltenham Jazz Club, Jonathan Gee Trio
14th-15th _ Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, Rome, Joseph Lepore
Quartet
5th _ King's Place, London, Jay Phelps
6th _ Colchester Art's Centre, Jay Phelps
8th _ Ronnie Scott's, Jean Toussaint
9th _ 606 Club, JG/Chris Batchelor Quartet
10th _ Bonnington Theatre Nottingham, Jay Phelps
11th _ Millenium hall Sheffield, Jay Phelps
18th _ Pizza Express Maidstone, Jay Phelps
11th _ Turner Sims Hall, Southampton, Jay Phelps
12th _ Assembly Rooms, Derby, Jay Phelps
24th _ Oxford Jazz Fest, Alison Bentley Quartet
29th _ New Morning, Paris, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
30th _ Cheltenham Jazz Fest, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
1st _ Band on The Wall, Manchester. Pharoah Sanders Quartet
2nd-4th _ Ronnie Scotts, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
5th _ Porgy and Bess, Vienna, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
16th _ Southampton Jazz Club, Jean Toussaint
26th _ Southport Jazz Festival, Jay Phelps
9th _ Watermill Arts, Dorking, Jay Phelps
25th _ Lichfield Jazz Festival, Jay Phelps
20th _ Way Out West, Richmond, London
30th _ Ealing Jazz Festival, London, Liz Fletcher
20th _ Birmingham, Jay Phelps
12th _ Ronnie Scott's, The Late Show, Jean Toussaint
13th _ Ronnie Scott's, The Late Show, Jean Toussaint
16th _ Colston Hall, Bristol, w. Larry Bartley and Shaney Forbes
22nd _ Baltic, London, w. Zhenya Strigalev
12th _ King's Place, London, w. Jay Phelps
13th _ Zagreb Jazz Festival, Croatia, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
15th DRAGONFLY ALBUM LAUNCH _ The Vortex, London, JG3 w. Larry Bartley and Shaney Forbes
17th _ Bielesko-Bilala Jazz Festival, Poland, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
19th _ National Jazz Scene, Norway, Pharoah Sanders Quartet
26th _ 606 Club, London, w. Tony Kofi
2010
21st _ Cafe Jazz, Cardiff, JG3
15th _ Ronnie Scott's, JG3
23rd _ Caine Jazz Club, JG solo
27th _ Corsham Pound Arts Centre, Tony Kofi Quartet
12th _ Derby Eden Gardens, Northern Star People
16th _ Torino, w. Barbara Raimondi
17th _ Milan, w. Cleveland Watkiss & Enzo Zirilli
18th _ Torino, w. Barbara Raimondi
19th _ Torino Folk Club, w. Cleveland Watkiss & Enzo Zirilli
20th _ Torino, JG3
20th _ Bristol, JG3
27th _ Lord Rookwood, w. Byron Wallen
25th _ Cheltenham, Tony Kofi Quartet
14th _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Tony Kofi Quartet
17th _ Devizes Festival, JG plays Strayhorn (solo)
24th _ Petersham Festival, JG plays Strayhorn (solo)
9th _ Marlborough Festival, Tony Kofi Quartet
15th _ Madrid, Jay Phelps
9-15th _ Edinburgh Festival, w. Trio Litterati
17th _ Helsinki: Paleface album launch w. Northern Star People
19th _ Vaasa, Finland, w. Northern Star People
23rd _ Berlin Jazz Festival, Tony Kofi Quartet
27th _ Hexham Cathedral, w. Trio Litterati
7th _ Wellingborough, Tony Kofi Quartet
21st _ Pizza Express London, Jay Phelps Sextet Album Launch
22th _ Pisa, Tony Kofi Quartet
8th _ Ronnie Scott's. Jonathan Gee Trio
21st _ Dysart Arms, Richmond: LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL, JG/Chris Batchelor Quartet
26th _ Harrow Arts Centre, Tony Kofi Quartet
28th _ JAGZ Ascot, Tony Kofi Quartet
14th _ Ivrea, Italy, w. Barbara Raimondi
16th _ Voghera, Italy, w. Barbara Raimondi
17th _ Torino, w. Barbara Raimondi
18th _ Carignano, Italy, w. Barbara Raimondi
21st _ Peter Parker's, London, w. Jay Phelps
29th _ Ronnie Scott's London, Jonathan Gee Trio
2009
9th _ Brighton Kommedia, Tony Kofi Quartet
17th _ Vortex, Tony Kofi Quartet
21st _ Leeds, Tony Kofi Quartert
24th _ Bath, Tony Kofi Quartet
25th _ Walton on Thames, Tony Kofi Quartet
29th _ Nottingham, Tony Kofi Quartet
25th _ Ronnie Scott's, JG3
26-28th _ Chez Papa, Paris, JG/Nicola Sabato duo
10th _ Lord Rookwood, w. Jean Toussaint
12th _ Le Sunside, Paris, album launch with Didier Conchon/Ray Layzelles Quartet
13th _ Angouleme as 12th
15th _ 606, London, JG, Ed Jones/Wonder Band
24th _ Derby Eden Gardens, w. Yots Band
29th _ The Crypt, London, Tony Kofi Quartet
3rd _ Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's, w. Michael Mwenzo
11th _ Devizes Festival, Tony Kofi Quartet
13th _ 606, Tony Kofi Quartet
18th _ Rochester Jazz Festival, USA, Tony Kofi Quartet
21st _ Sweet Rhythem, NYC, Tony Kofi Quartet
21st _ Jazz Mobile at Flushing Library, NYC, Tony Kofi Quartet
4th _ St Ive's Jazz Club, JG, Ed Jones, Jarrett/Wonder Band
8th _ Ronnie Scott's, Tony Kofi Quartet
28th _ Boxford Fleece, Jay Phelps Quartet
23rd _ Barnstaple, London, Tony Kofi Quartet
26th _ Vortex, London, Tony Kofi Quartet
27th _ The Drum, Birmingham, Jay Phelps Quintet
30th _ National Theatre Foyer, Northern Star People
1st _ Rose and Crown, Northern Star People E17 Collective
10th _ Kessel, Germany, Tony Kofi Quartet
1st _ The Drum, Birmingham, Jay Phelps Quintet
9th _ Appledore, Devon, JG3
12th _ Jazz & Poetry, Halifax, JG w. Louise Gibbs and Trio Litterati
GEE LEPORE WAITS UK/ITALY TOUR
14-17th _ ITALY
18th _ Jacqueline du Pre Music Room, Oxford
19th _ Charlie Wright's, London Jazz Festival
20th _ Kommedia Club, Brighton
21st _ Chapel Arts Centre, Bath
22nd _ The Dysart Arms, Richmond, with guest Tony Kofi
2008
24th _ Croydon Clocktower, JG3
27th _ Hugo's, Queen's Park, JG3
3rd _ Rochester Jazz Club, with Tommaso Starace
6th _ St George's Bristol, with Male Vocal Combustion featuring Cleveland Watkiss
7th _ Richard Attenborough Centre, Leicester, solo
11th _ St Ives Jazz Club, JG3
NEW YORK/ITALY TRIO TOUR:
JOSEPH LEPORE (bass), ENZO ZIRILLI (drums)
15th _ Milan
16th _ Sestre Levante nr Genoa
17th _ Petersham nr Richmond nr London
18th _ Komedia Studio Bar, Brighton with guest Tommaso Starace
19th _ National Theatre Foyer, London, 1pm & 5.45 pm
20th _ Bordeaux Quay, Bristol
22nd _ 606 Club, London
23rd _ Alexander Platz, Rome
24th _ Alexander Platz, Rome
25th _ Noir, Naples
26th _ Noir, Naples
27th _ Cava dei Tirreni nr Salerno Il Moro
1st _ Helsinki with Northern Star People
10th _ York, Tony Kofi Quartet
17th-18th _ Howden Vocal Festival, solo concert and accompanying Norma Winstone
23rd _ Bath Festival, Tony Kofi Quartet
25th _ Bath Festival, Tony Kofi Quartet
29th _ Milan, Tommaso Starace Quartet
30th _ Bolzano, Tom Star
31st _ Milan, Tom Star
14th _ South Hill Arts Centre, Bracknell, Tony Kofi Quartet
18th _ Ronnie Scott's, JG3
9th _ Swansea Jazz Club, Tom Star
11th _ Quay Arts Centre, Isle of Wight, Tom Star
13th _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Tom Star
22nd _ Macadam Jazz Festival, Perigueux with Ramon Layzelles/Didier Conchon Quartet
23rd _ Ronnie Scott's, Enzo Zirilli Trio
5th _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Tony Kofi Quartet
20th _ upstairs at Ronnie Scott's with Larry Bartley Trio
30th _ Octave Bar with Ed Jones Quartet
1st _ TBA Helsinki with Northern Star People
7th _ Norwich Playhouse, short solo set
HOWARD BRITZ, WILL VINSON, SYLVIA CUENCA AND QUENTIN COLLINS TOUR:
11th _ 606 Club
12th _ Wakefield Sports Club
16th _ St Ive's Jazz Club
17th _ Leicester Jazz Club
18th _ Bonnington Theatre, Nottingham
19th _ Brighton Jazz Club at Comedia
20th _ Octave Bar
21st _ Bordeaux Quay, Bristol
24th _ The Vortex with Northern Star People
2nd _ Plymouth Jazz Club with Tommaso Starace and Paolo Pelegati
3rd _ St Austell Jazz Club with Tommaso Starace and Paolo Pelegati
4th _ St Ive's Jazz Club with Tommaso Starace and Paolo Pelegati
5th _ Broomhill Arts Centre with Tommaso Starace and Paolo Pelegati
14th _ LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Octave Bar with Yots Band
15th _ LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Octave Bar with Monk Liberation Front
17th _ LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Octave Bar with Northern Star People: ALBUM LAUNCH
18th _ LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Queen Elizabeth Hall, duo with Tony Kofi opp. Kurt Elling
20th _ LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Octave Bar with Frank Holder and Michael Mwenso
4th _ Bonnington Theatre, Nottingham with Tommaso Starace
18th _ The Spin, Oxford
2007
5th-6th _ Paris ~ Didier Conchon 5tet feat. Wayne Dockery
18th _ Spice of Life, London ~ Abram Wilson 5tet
25th _ Dysart Arms, Petersham ~ JG & Tony Kofi
27th _ Paris ~ Didier Conchon 5tet
26th _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean St, London ~ Tomaso Scarace 5tet
5th _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean St, London ~ Michael Mwenso 5tet feat. Cleveland Watkiss
GEE, GALLO, MINETTO UK TOUR:
7th _ Vortex, London ~ Gee, Gallo, Minetto
8th _ Bonnington Theatre, Nottingham ~ Gee, Gallo, Minetto
9th _ The Crucible, Sheffield ~ Gee, Gallo, Minetto
10th _ Drill Hall, Lincoln ~ Gee, Gallo, Minetto
11th _ Hugo's, Queen's Park, London ~ Gee, Gallo, Minetto
13th _ The Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone ~ Jason Yarde 4tet
27th _ Cafe Jazz, Cardiff ~ Tomaso Starace 5tet
19th _ Octave, London ~ JG3
20th _ Howden Festival of Singers ~ JG3 resident trio
22nd _ The Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone, London ~ Tony Kofi 4tet
31st _ Chichester Jazz Club with Tomaso Starace
1st _ The Fleece, Boxford with Tomaso Starace
12th _ The Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone, London ~ Ed Jones 4tet
12th _ Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking ~ Tony Kofi 4tet
14th _ Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, Oxford ~ Pete Oxley 4tet
19th _ Spice of Life, London ~ Dennys Baptiste 4tet
29th _ Ealing Jazz Festival - Tony Kofi 4tet
1st _ 606, Chelsea ~ Stan Robinson 4tet
11th _ 606, Chelsea ~ JG4
12th _ Thame Jazz Club ~ Tomaso Starace 4tet
5th _ Brighton Jazz Club ~ Tony Kofi 4tet
16th _ Boxford Fleece ~ Tony Kofi 4tet
_ THE LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL:
19th _ Octave, Covent Garden ~ jam session
22nd _ QEH, 6 pm ~ duo with Jim Mullen: the music of Pat Metheny
24th _ Free Stage, Festival Hall ~ BBC Radio 3 'Jazz Line-Up' live: 'The Male Jazz Vocal Combustion'
25th _ QEH, 4 pm to 10 pm ~ The Monk Liberation Front play the music of Thelonious Monk
13th _ Bonnington Theatre, Nottingham ~ Tony Kofi 4tet
14th _ Sheffield Jazz Club ~ Tony Kofi 4tet plays Monk
2006
26th _ Octave, Covent Garden, London ~ JG3
GEE/GALLO/MINETTO UK TOUR:
20th _ Duc des Lombards, Paris
21st _ Old Brown Jug, Newcastle-under-Lyme
22nd _ Matt & Phred's, Manchester
23rd _ Dean Clough, Halifax
24th _ The Crypt, Camberwell, London
25th _ The Printing House, Trinity College, Dublin
27th _ National Theatre foyer, 6.00pm
2nd _ QEH Foyer, South Bank Centre, London, 12.30pm
3rd _ Sussex Arts Club, Brighton
4-8th ~ JG performs in Mika Myllari's new opera at the Helsinki Opera (more details to follow)
4th _ Gateshead, Caedmon Hall, tel: 0191 433 8420
5th _ Wakefield Sports Club
6th _ Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
7th _ Hugos, London
11th _ Watermill Jazz, Dorking
12th _ Boxford Fleece, Suffolk
14th _ Spice of Life, London
6th _ The Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone, with Jean Toussaint
27th _ The Dysart Arms, Richmond, with Mika Myllari
DIDIER CONCHON QUINTET FRANCE:
2nd _ The Rochfort Fest; 4th _ Taillebourg; 6th _ Royon;
8th _ Saintes Fest (plus Anne Ducros, vocals)
15th _ Sent, Switzerland - Tomaso Scarace Quartet
GEE/GALLO/MINETTO ITALY:
20th _ Villa Celimontana Fest, Rome; 21st _ Seravezza; 22nd _ Trieste
20th _ 606, London - JG3
21st-24th _ Estonia - Mika Myllari Quartet
3rd-6th _ Finland - Mika Myllari Quartet
19th _ The Spin, Oxford - JG & Pete Oxley Trio
5th _ Plymouth - Tomaso Scarace Quartet
10th _ Isle of Wight - Tomaso Scarace Quartet
16th _ Octave, London - LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL
17th _ Wakefield Sports Club with Claire Martin
2005
3rd-8th _ Tony Kofi Quartet, Ronnie Scott's, London
12th _ Royal Festival Hall Foyer, 12.30-2.00pm ~ JG3
18th _ Duc des Lombards, Paris ~ GGM (French album to be recorded by Radio France)
GEE/GALLO/MINETTO ITALIAN TOUR
17th _ Modena; 19th _ Foggia; 20th _ Maglie;
22nd _ Gilgamesh, Torino; 23rd _ Piacenza;
24th _ Hopstore, Ivrea; 25th _ Milano
MARCH/APRIL
Tony Kofi Quartet Tour of China, Japan & Australia
21st-24th _ April Jazz, Espoo, Finland
20th-21st _ Duc des Lombards with Ramon Layzelles
8th _ Royal Festival Hall foyer, London, 12.30 pm, JG3
13-18th _ Ronnie Scott's, Frith Street, London, JG3
14th _ Carmagnola Festival, nr Torino, Italy, GGM
26th _ Lichfield Jazz Festival, JG3
2nd _ 2005 BBC Jazz Awards, Tony Kofi Quartet album, All Is Know, winner.
9th _ Marlborough Jazz Festival with Renato D'Aiello Quartet
16th _ Swanage Jazz Festival, JG4
24th _ Matt & Freds, Manchester Jazz Festival, fusion trio
13/14 _ Brecon Jazz Festival with Harrison Smith
12th-17th _ Ronnie Scott's, Frith Street, London, GGM
2004
9th _ Wakefield Jazz Club ~ JG3
21st _ Derby Dance Centre ~ JG & Guests
30th _ The Crypt, Camberwell, London ~ JG3
5th _ Cardiff Jazz Club at Sandy's ~ JG3
13th _ Brighton Arts Club ~ JG3
26/27/28th _ Matt & Phreds, Manchester
2nd _ Pizza on the Park, London ~ JG & Dominic Alldis
19/20th _ One Eleven Club, Sheffield ~ JG3
21/22nd _ April Jazz, Helsinki ~ JG4 with Mika Myllari
23/24th _ April Jazz ~ JG4 with Alan Harris (vocals)
27th _ Kokkola, Finland ~ JG4
TOUR OF ITALY WITH JG ITALIAN TRIO:
5th _ Piozzo; 6th _ Padova; 7th _ Parma; 12th _ Torino; 13th _ Cremona
31st _ Pizza Express Jazz Club, London ~ JG SOLO
4th _ Wakefield Jazz Club ~ JG5 with Tim Whitehead
8th _ Lord Rockwood, Leytonstone ~ JG & Damon Brown
14/15th _ Jazz Festival, Rome ~ JG3
16th _ Zola Jazz and Wine Festival, Bologna ~ JG3
18/19/20th _ Vignola Jazz Festival ~ Monk Liberation Front
25th _ Terni Jazz Festival ~ MLF
27th _ Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, Rome ~ MLF
28/29th _ Tuscany Jazz Festival ~ JG3
6th _ The Fleece, Boxford ~ JG SOLO
13th _ Brecon Jazz Festival ~ JG3
20th/21st _ Duc du Lombard, Paris ~ JG & Damon Brown
26/27/28th _ Links Hotel, Montrose ~ JG SOLO
10th _ Museum of Garden History, London ~ JG3
7th _ The Spin at the Wheatsheaf, Oxford ~ JG4
ITALIAN TRIO UK Tour:
2nd _ The Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone
7th _ Riverhouse, Walton on Thames ~ JG3
18th _ 606 Club ~ Cream of Mandarins ALBUM LAUNCH as part of the London Jazz Festival
19th _ Sussex Arts Club, Brighton
20th _ London Hotel, Teignmouth Jazz Festival
24th _ Dundee Rep Theatre Foyer, Dundee
25th _ Eighty Queen Street, Edinburgh
26/27th _ Matt & Phreds, Manchester
28th _ 'Jazz at the Albert', The Hard Rock Bar, Bristol
THE NEW YORK TRIO
Forged in the furnace that is the New York City jazz community, this latest incarnation of award-winning pianist Jonathan Gee's trio concept features Joseph Lepore (heard with Greg Osby and Rosario Guiliani) on bass, and Nasheet Waits (heard with Jason Moran, Fred Hersch, Andrew Hill), on drums.
The unique blend of Gee's very personal melodic and rhythmic world with the intense creative complexity of Waits' drumming and the elastic drive and artistry of Lepore makes this definitely one not to be missed!
"We See" from DRAGONFLY
GEE GALLO MINETTO: THE ITALIAN TRIO
In the summer of 2003, Jonathan was invited to perform at the Appenine Jazz Festival in Italy, accompanied by two of the young turks of Italian jazz: Danilo Gallo on bass and Alessandro Minetto on drums. It worked! The gig was a great success; a band was born. Immediately, a ten date autumn tour and a five date spring tour, both around Italy, were secured; a recording session was booked for the end of each tour at the Artesuono studio of Stefano Amerio.
The trio's first album, Cream of Mandarins, was released by Artesuono in November 2004.
NORTHERN STAR PEOPLE
Jonathan has been working for a number of years with Finnish trumpeter Mika Myllari. They have toured in Finland and performed for a week at the Pori Jazz Festival. In 2005 they made their third consecutive appearance at Helsinki's April Jazz Festival and performed as the Northern Star People project at the 2008 London Jazz Festival, where they launched their first album, View from the Pocket.
THE FUSION TRIO
At the core of Jonathan's fusion project are jazz/fusion/pop bass maestro Sylvan Richardson Jr., and hip hop uber-drummer, Richard Spaven. The band features the classic '70s fusion of Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius and Stevie Wonder, along with thrash funk versions of Jonathan Gee originals. They can be heard regularly at Matt & Phreds in Manchester.
THE JONATHAN GEE TRIO
Jonathan Gee, Steve Rose, and Winston Clifford have been working together for 10 years performing at jazz venues and festivals throughout the UK and Europe. They can be seen regularly at Ronnie Scott's Club in London where they have both headlined and supported artists including Joe Lovano and Benny Golson. Their week supporting Joe Lovano was voted "Time Out Jazz Gig of the Year" in 1997.
The Trio has recorded three critically-acclaimed albums, Closer To (1997), Your Shining Heart (1998), and Chez Auguste (recorded live at Ronnie Scott's, 2001).
Dragonfly (2011)
1. Beyond
2. Dragonfly
3. Black Ball
4. Tortadilla
5. Cream of Mandarins
6. Yellow Ball
7. We See
8. Cicada
Available from
amazon,
hmv
and itunes.
Jonathan Gee (piano), Joseph Lepore (double bass), Nasheet Waits (drums)
recorded in Brooklyn, NY, July 2007 and October 2010
produced by Jonathan Gee and Steve Plews
www.ascrecords.com
View from the Pocket: Northern Star People (2008)
"Myllari is a terrific trumpeter who responds to Gee's busy lines with equally virtuosic improvisations... The tunes make up a potted history of electro-jazz: the squidgy 1980s tones of Blue; the sneaky groove of Red Ball; 147's tunefully modified drum and bass. Nice." (John L. Walters, The Guardian)
1. 147
2. Yellow Ball
3. Green
4. Break
5. Pink
6. Black Ball
7. Brown Ball
8. Northern Star People
9. Blue
10. Red Ball
11. Interview with Northern Star People
producer/trumpeter Mika Myllari
keyboardist Jonathan Gee
with help from The Brest Litovsk Polish Hip Hop Men's Choir
executive production The Northern Star People and Steve Plews of ASC Records
sleeve design Steve Plews
www.myspace.com/northernstarpeople
Cream of Mandarins (2004)
"a remarkably assured trio album that lavishly rewards repeated listenings" (Chris Parker, Jazz Review)
"the playing is exhileratingly fresh" (John Fordham, The Guardian)
"deft, thoughtful and imaginative playing" (Kenny Mathieson, Jazz Wise)
1. the flow (gallo)
2. cristiana (minetto)
3. velvet cloud (gee)
4. wishbone (gee)
5. lullaby of birdland (shearing)
6. ali di farfalla, per maria (gallo)
7. cream of mandarins (gee)
8. tortadilla (gee)
9. diamond* (minetto)
10. come by j.t. (gee)
11. three views of rialto (gee, gallo, minetto)
part one - jonathan
part two - danilo
part three - alessandro
part four - together
* dedicated to rachel gould and riccardo ruggeri
GEE/GALLO/MINETTO: Jonathan Gee, piano; Danilo Gallo, bass; Alessandro Minetto, drums.
Chez Auguste (2001)
1. rathbone place (gee, clifford, rose)
2. catwoman (gee)
3. three wishes (gee)
4. when I fall in love (selden)
5. velvet cloud (gee)
6. chez auguste saturday (gee, clifford, rose)
7. the raiders of the lost legato (gee)
8. because (gee)
9. chez auguste wednesday (gee, clifford, rose)
piano: Jonathan Gee; bass: Steve Rose; drums: Winston Clifford
Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club, 47 Frith Street, Soho, London W1, 19th, 20th and 22nd April 2000.
Produced by Jonathan Gee & Miles Ashton.
Chez Auguste was the name of the restaurant on the site of Ronnie Scott's before Ronnie's took over the premises, and Jonathan's family all met up there in 1948 for a family wedding.
Rathbone Place, Soho, was where Jonathan's grandfather, Harold C. Gee, esteemed violinist, was born.
Good Cop Bad Cop (2001)
1. my deposit (brown)
2. please love openly (gee)
3. cicada (gee)
4. roughneck blues (brown)
5. catwoman (gee)
6. harold's souk (brown)
7. clocking (gee)
8. velvet cloud (gee)
9. mr mitcheson's rhythm method (brown)
Damon Brown: trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Jonathan Gee: piano; Yorai Oron: double bass; Yaaki Levy: drums (5, 6, 8, 9); Shai Zelman: drums (1, 2, 3, 4, 7); Idit Eshel: vocals (6).
Recorded at Gal Col Studios Tel Aviv on 6/5/00 by Sveta Stravic and 1/4/01 by Nati Patishi.
After Damon's quintet was a hit at the 1999 Red Sea Jazz Festival, we decided to stay behind and hang out with the local musicians. This album, via two tours, is the result.
Your Shining Heart (1998)
1. the frevo dreaming (gee)
2. the lions of jaffa (gee)
3. welcome (gee)
4. love thoughts (gee)
5. your shining heart (gee)
6. catwoman (gee)
7. limbe (gee)
8. william's treat (gee)
9. blues for plews (gee, clifford, rose)
10. happy birthday winston (gee, clifford, rose)
Jonathan Gee: piano; Steve Rose: bass; Winston Clifford: drums
Recorded at ASC Recording, 18-19/9/97.
Produced by Jonathan Gee and Steve Plews.
Closer To (1997)
1. lifecycle (gee)
2. prayer to love (gee)
3. bye bye blackbird (dixon/henderson)
4. in a sentimental mood (ellington)
5. serious red (gee)
6. why (gee)
7. everybody's song but my own (wheeler)
8. closer to (gee)
Jonathan Gee: piano; Steve Rose: double bass: Winston Clifford: drums
Recorded at the William St Studios 15/7/95, 10/10/95, 21/9/96
Produced by Jonathan Gee, Steve Rose, Steve Plews.
Jay Phelps: Jay Walkin' Didier Conchon/Ray Layzelle Yots.K: Fire & Water Tony Kofi Quartet: The The British Piano Louise Gibbs: More
(2011) Group: Falling Rocks (2009) (2009) Silent Truth (2008) (2008) Questions Than
Answers (2006)
Tony Kofi Quartet: All Is Ed Jones: Out Here Ed Jones: Piper's Tale Ed Jones: Seven Claire Martin: Devil Claire Martin: The
Know (2004) (1998) (2000) Moments (2002) May Care (1993) Waiting Game (1992)
US3: Broadway & 52nd Damon Brown: Blues on Damon Brown: A Rhythm Roberto Manes: Phoenician David Jean-Baptiste: Bobby Wellins:
(2002) the Run (2001) Indicative Dream Feeling Tones Nomad Hot House (1992)
Daniela Clymes: Gentle Mornington Lockett Alison Benley Quartet Frevo (1991) Bukky Leo (1991) Eddie Parker Group:
Persuasion (2003) (1994) (1994) Transformations of the Lamp
Jonathan's second instrument is his voice. His 2003 solo album Wishbone features songs by Ellington and Strayhorn, and he can be heard playing and singing solo at venues throughout the UK.
WISHBONE
1. Wishbone (Gee)
2. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Ellington/Nemo/Mills/Redmond)
3. Harryhausen* (Gee)
4. Come Sunday (Ellington)
5. Love Thoughts (Gee)
6. Day Dream (Ellington/Strayhorn/Latouche)
7. Tortadilla* (Gee)
8. I'm Just A Lucky So and So (Ellington/David)
9. Extremely Serious Red (Gee)
10. Perdido (Tizol/Draka/Lenk)
11. Love You Madly (Ellington)
12. Very Extremely Serious Red (Gee)
Jonathan Gee (piano/vocals); Steve Rose (bass); Winston Clifford (drums).
Recorded at Brunswick Road Studios 8 & 31/7/2003 except track 5 recorded live in Baku, Azerbaijan, 14/10/99 by Paul Sparrow.
Produced by Jonathan Gee.
*Harryhausen was written for Ray Harryhausen, the genius movie monster maker, and was written as a drinking song for the fighting skeletons, the children of the hydra's teeth, from Jason and the Argonauts.
*A tortadilla is a half tortoise/half armadillo originating in Phoenicia. The Phoenicians took them to Spain when they founded Cadiz, and then they arrived in England with the Spanish Armada (Drake didn't notice them land). They reside in East London.
NORTHERN STAR PEOPLE:
"Myllari is a terrific trumpeter who responds to Gee's busy lines with equally virtuosic improvisations... The tunes make up a potted history of electro-jazz: the squidgy 1980s tones of Blue; the sneaky groove of Red Ball; 147's tunefully modified drum and bass. Nice." John L. Walters, The Guardian
"...astonishing... This is Jazz Fusion for the 21st century with staggeringly complex drum and sound programming featuring very Eddie Henderson Kudu-period style trumpet and very angular analogue-sounding keyboards. The fact that there is so much going on in the production doesnt detract, infact it adds to the wow factor." Snowboy, Blues and Soul
"...breathtaking risks, improvisational genius, all channelled through technical assurance, provide edge-of-the-seat excitement." Chris Parker, Vortex Jazz Club
"Gee and Myllari, who have worked regularly together in Finland for about ten years, launched this latest collaboration at the London Jazz Festival in 2008. The tuneshalf written by Gee, half by Myllarireference a wide variety of electric and electronic genres, from trumpeter Miles Davis' early 1970s albums, through electro, jazz funk, 1980s synth pop, musique concrete and on to modern electronica. They do this, in the main, with a relish bordering on the manic, affectionately singling out and magnifying trademark mannerisms and anachronisms, and using them as the departure points for passionate and engaged improvising." Chris May, All About Jazz
Jonathan Gee Trio, Future Inns Jazz Club, Bristol, April 2010: "And the leader, an unfailingly interesting player who eschews blinding technique for its own sake, and breaking new ground when older ground is so fertile. He has a splendid, probing style which turns on exact placement of the note, and makes you want to know what the next one is going to be because you are caught up in the expectation, tension and release which underpins musical pleasure. No wonder he likes Monk so much."
New York Trio, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, November 2009 : "an evening of world class piano trio music with the ceaseless flow of lyrical ideas from Jonathan Gee at the piano to the fore." Mike Collins, jazz & music blog
