| Biography |
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Picture by Mark Dodds @ www.sunanddoves.co.uk
Born in London but raised in Bath, as a child Charly was classically trained in vocals, piano, and clarinet. At thirteen he picked up the saxophone and within months was performing with big bands and jazz quartets throughout the U.K. and Europe. His flare for improvisation quickly developed, as did his composition, arrangement and band leading skills as he set up his own groups, encompassing jazz, soul, latin, ska, reggae and more. At nineteen Charly moved to London to study Popular Music Studies at Goldsmith's College. Engaged with artists from multiple disciplines, Charly found a new lease of creativity, with his taste quickly broadening to include klezmer, gospel, avant-garde, dubstep and much more. While at University Charly quickly established himself on the London music scene. He also won two awards and released his debut album 'Time Waster' with Avocado Music Productions in 2006. Featuring an array of upcoming London-based musicians, ‘Time Waster’ explored contemporary and free jazz, hard-grooving soul, and irresistible reggae.
Since graduating with 1st class Honours in 2007, Charly can be seen playing with numerous acts including Brassroots, Tunday Akintan & The Yorubeat All-Stars, The Delegators, Lyanna Austin, Jaz Ellington & Sugarstone Collective.
As well as all this, Charly is keeping busy with session work, performing-arts workshops and arrangement and composition commissions.
Who has Charly worked with in the past? Throughout the years Charly has lucky enough to play or record alongside......... Pee Wee Ellis, Crookers, Deidre Cartwright, Jamie Vex'd, The Delegators, Dylan Howe, Man Like Me, DJ Sparkii Ski, Nila Raja, The Chaser Jazz Quartet, Gavin 'Hollarz' Holligan, Zashiki Warashi, Tor, Nebraska, Pete Greenwood, Toby Wainwright Johns, Piers Innes, Chosen Fume, Sheldon King, Chris Fader, Lyanna Austin, Elinor Pongracz, U’mau Otuokon, Sruli Ginsberg , David Simon, James Gardiner-Bateman, Alex Hutchins, DJ Desi Heights, Chenoa, Lynieve Austin, Jaz Ellington, Kirsten Marie…. And members of….. Babyhead, Portico Quartet, Spiritualized, The Dandy Warhols, Noah and the Whale, Imperial Lesiure, The Hempolics, Planetman & The Internationalz, YoungBlood Brass Band, Roots Manuva, M-People, Ex-Lovers, Micachu & The Shapes, the Lee Scratch Perry Band, IDMC, Four Kornerz, Banana Klan, Brass Volcanoes, Plan B’s Band the B Team, Blackbud, Chik Budo, The Granadians, Brothers Bab, Peyote for President, Sam and The Womp, Molotov Jukebox, Royworld, Hipopratives, Zen Hussies, Ebony Bones, Morviscous, The Duloks, Playground Legend, Malarchy, Gringo Ska, Artikel, Lagos All-Stars, Ellis Island Sound……….. Supporting..... The Beat, Pat Kelly, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, Lady Gaga, Red Soul Community, The Moon Invaders, Afrikan Boy, Warrior Queen, Heatwave, The Nextmen, Audio Bullys, Ska Cubano, Exel & Sandman, James Taylor Quartet..... At these venues..... The Barbican, Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Spitz, Cargo, Borderline, The O2 Academy Oxford, The Albany, Hootananny Brixton, Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Jazz Cafe, Bush Hall, Borderline, Stratford Circus, Richmix and Corsica Arts Club. These countries..... Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany and Turkey. And these festivals... Glastonbury, Festibelly, Secret Garden Party, Chapel Field Gardens (Norwich), Tramlines Festival (Sheffield), Notting Hill Carnival, Lewisham People's Day, London African Music Festival, Bestival, Durham International Brassband Festival, Shoreditch Festival, Lovebox, Paradise Gardens, Mind Body & Boogie, Riverside Stomp (Mainz, Germany)..... With airplay on...... BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 (Live on Mark Lamarr's 'God's Jukebox'), BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Newcasle, BBC Norfolk, Choice FM, Magic FM, and stations as far away as New Zealand and the U.S.A.
Awards
- Music For Alice Award 2006 (www.musicforalice.org.uk)
- PRS Foundation for New Music Atom Awards 2007- Composer Bursary (http://www.prsfoundation.co.uk)
Testimonials “Charly was an excellent student with an inquisitive mind and interest in a broad spectrum of music from straight ahead jazz playing on standards to free improvisation, reggae, soul and other ethnic forms. His enthusiasm to promote gigs irreverently fusing these styles deserves encouragement. His broad palette & intelligence is bound to lead to an original sound” Dave O’Higgins "From a strong field of applicants, Charly stood out. He had a desire to take his music further and a clear strategy of how to do this. He clearly has the talent to succeed, and we decided to help him along by awarding him our first Goldsmiths Award. Charly brought a seven piece band to play at our latest fundraising event and really got the crowd moving." Ede Macgill, Music for Alice Award |
