Folk Bands and Artists
Alex Curtis Quartet
http://www.alexcurtismusic.com/quartet
Alex has a multifaceted career as a pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He has worked in many different genres which stems from his interest in all styles of music which began at an early age. As a teenager he played guitar in rock bands and attended the Royal College of Music junior department studying oboe and composition. It was also at this time that he became increasingly interested in jazz, improvised music and the possibilities of the piano. This interest was propelled forward whilst at a rehearsal with his local youth orchestra, where he heard a bass player playing the opening riff to Miles Davis´ ´So What.´ This sparked a fascination with the music of Miles Davis which led him to discover Herbie Hancock and soon he had taught himself enough jazz piano to get gigs in his local town at weekends and after school. The piano began to take precedence in his musical life and many hours were spent improvising at the instrument, studying the jazz greats and also composing his own jazz inspired music.
Whilst studying music at Manchester University he switched from oboe to classical piano as his first study, as well as studying composition and pursing his own study of jazz through transcribing solos and constant listening. Whilst still a student, he had his own music performed by the Contemporary ensemble Psappha. After completing his studies he moved to London where he began working as a pianist and arranger on the London scene as well as performing his own original music with his seven piece band. This group held a residency at the Battersea Arts centre and they gave many performances in London and across the UK. It was also at this point that he became interested in jazz education and in this capacity he currently holds posts at the University of Surrey and Charterhouse School. He is also an ABRSM examiner. His teaching has helped countless young pianists, arrangers and composers on their way, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in music.
A skilled arranger, Alex has worked with several top vocalists including Beth Hirsch (Air), Katina Kangaris and Ana Silvera. In 2011, Alex collaborated with Ana for a ground breaking sellout series of concerts at the Roundhouse in London. For this, he arranged Ana´s songs for choir, small band and string quartet to much critical acclaim. He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scott´s jazz club and has had his own music and arrangements performed at prestigious venues such as The Purcell room in London.
Alex is currently focusing his creative energies on his Songs Project and his new Quartet which features Jon Shenoy, Sophie Alloway and Dave O´Brien. An album featuring this new music will be released towards the end of 2016.
