Alexis French - ProfilesArchive

About Me

First and foremost I am a creative musician. I play all styles of music, from Orchestral to Funk; Glenn Miller to new improvised music and everything in between. Music is the force that drives me, that gets me up in the morning, and keeps me up late at night. From 2001 -2004, I studied Jazz Performance at Massey University, as well as maintaining a hectic gigging schedule with some of NZ’s finest names: Rodger Fox, Jonathan Crayford, Darren Watson, The Verlaines and The Black Seeds to name but a few. In 2005, after completing my BMus, I spent 2 years in North America, playing and travelling, both on cruise ships, and on land. 2007 saw me finish my Honors degree in Jazz performance at the NZSM, as well as maintaining a busy playing schedule on the Wellington scene. During July and August I played lead trumpet aboard the "Navigator of the Seas" in Europe and in September I did a 12 day stint on the worlds largest cruise ship, the "Freedom of the Seas". Throughout 2008 I plan to stay in Wellington, teaching small ensembles, fusion and Big-band at the NZSM and playing with Sheba Williams and Her All-Stars, The Hutt River Ramble, Tyson Smith, The Harbour City Electric, Safari, Alistair Campbell, Jonathon Crayford, Crete Haami, Lucien Johnson, The Vector Wellington Orchestra, NZSM Big-Band and Rodger Fox Big-Band. Keep an eye on my gigs schedule for a show near you. Thanks for stopping by!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/7/2006
Band Website: alexisfrench.com
Band Members: The Mantis (Recital Version): Alistair Campbell-Guitar, Richard Wise-Drums, James Wylie-Tenor Saxophone, Me-Trumpet. Painters Way: Charmaine Ford-Fender Rhodes, Nick Tipping-Bass, Richard Wise-Drums, James Wylie-Tenor Saxophone, Me-Trumpet.
Influences: The usual suspects... Miles, Monk, Ornette, Kenny Dorham, Wynton Marsalis, Louis, Duke Ellington, Dave Douglas, Albert Ayler, Gil Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Bix Biederbecke, Lennie Tristano, Chet Baker... any inspiring new music, and the people who make it... AMPM Presents, Travelers Journal, Roni Size, The Chillout Project, Ananda, Massive Attack, Tricky, Still Cafe, Lamb, Minuit, Zero Seven, Blue Six, Rufus Wainright, Trent Reznor, Bjork, Silje Niergaard, Fat Freddies, Shapeshifter, Kora, Michel Camilo, K&D, Frou Frou, Perfecto Chills, Jim McNeely, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Ninja Tune, Red Snapper, Pitch Black, Antibalas, Bimbo Yonce, Dubtribe,LTJ Bukem, Poets of Thought. Non Musical things? The caribbean sun, bootleg Brecker recordings, coffee, Skyy Citrus, Dr. Barry Sears M.D, New York, functioning schizophrenics, good Pizza, running, cycling, making good coffee, migrating salmon, trapeze artists, ice skaters who do backflips, salvador dali, seth mcfarlane,montreal, NZ, diet coke, organic bread, freeze-dried feijoas, irony. People who remain inquisitive, positive and creative, always.
Sounds Like:
marriedtothesea.com
Record Label: FamousPlayersProductions
Type of Label: Indie