Jonathan Gee biog

JONATHAN GEE

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 and Christine Tobin. In the US he has appeared with David Murray, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Harry Allen, James Spaulding, Sonny Fortune, Ted Curson and poet Lemn Sissay.

		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. 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 Zirillia, 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.
Photo by Christiane Zschommler, 2001

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 band's latest recording, The Silent Truth, was released this April. Jonathan also sings with bassist Larry Bartley, and is a member of Michael Mwenso’s Male Vocal Combustion.

Jonathan has released seven albums in his own name. They include three trio recordings and a solo album ~ Wishbone ~ featuring songs by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.