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The Other Orchestra

About Me


Exciting five piece clash of extreme free improv with cutting edge electronics and unique acoustics.

Charlie Collins (percussion), Beatrix Ward-Fernandez (electric violin / fx) , Mick Beck (tenor sax / bassoon / whisltes), Glynn Heppenstall (electronics) and Jonny Drury (electric guitar / electronics / voice / objects).
A giant in contemporary jazz and improv, Mick Beck (tenor sax, bassoon, whistles) has been working since 1980 in jazz, free music and as a composer and club/ festival organiser. As a composer he looks for structures that can diversify and strengthen the impact of improvisation; as an improvisor his aim is to mix compelling rhythms, zaney melodies, changes of mood and flexibility in playing techniques to explore new musical possibilities." Charlie Collins (waterphone, gongs, cymbals, metal, snare drum, frame drums, mbiras, cajon and balafon) has backgrounds in performance/improvisation and poetry/jazz led to his involvement in the nascent '70s Industrial movement. He was a founder member of ClockDVA and The Box, recording for cult labels Industrial, Fetish and Doublevision as well as Go Discs, and has worked with vocalist Peter Hope as both The Bone Orchestra and Flex 13. Since the 1980s he has played with numerous musicians, including Derek Bailey, Mick Beck, Gino Robair, LaDonna Smith, Milo Fine, Paul Hession, Julie Tippetts, Wally Shoup, Pat Thomas, Shock Headed Peters, Geraldine Monk, Outward Sound Ensemble, Philip Thomas, Jezriley-French and Music For One. Since 1994 he has been a member of industrial percussion group Left Hand Right Hand and his record production skills have seen himbecoming house producer for Martin Archer's Discus Records. He has also lectured on improvisation at Nottingham Trent University. He continues to play with The Beatrix Ward-Fernanez Trio (theremin/tuba/percussion) and Swift Are the Winds of Life (2violins/percussion) and has recently toured the live soundtrack to Teinosuke Kinugasa's 1920's masterpiece "Page of Madness". His long term working relationship with John Jasnoch continues with The Navigators, ASK, The Balkh Trio (live interpretations of poet Jalaluddin Rumi with vocalist Pete White) and the Para-Music Ensemble (with instrument builders Scott Hawkins and Richard Head) He remains one of a handful of musicians to have played both Company Week and Top of the Pops (with Moloko). Beatrix Ward-Fernandez (electric violin / fx) "I play a wide variety of music mainly concentrating on improvising.. The theremin is an important part of my musical expression, using it on its own but also expanding the range with the use of electronic effects.. I want to explore the outer limits for the use of music, sound and words. All my pieces are unique creations born of the space around me at the time. They are one with their environment seducing the listener to a world not visited by others. I transmit their voices through my playing giving them the freedom of that time and place.music. Glynn Heppenstall (electronics) is from the Sheffield tradition of electro-industrialists Also previously known as 'Oskar M'. Presently Glynn is instrumental in the forming of various new collaborations (The Tajalli Vortex, Sunshine Panic and TOO, as well as working solo. Jonny Drury - (guitar & fx, vocals) is an experimental musician and visual artist from Sheffield, England. Collaborations with Charlie Collins, Mick Beck, Martin Archer, Genesis P-Orridge, Damo Suzuki, John Hackett and others. Founder of Freenoise and co-founder of The Other Orchestra, Black Serama,The Tajalli Vortex, Sunshine Panic.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 09/07/2008
Band Members: Mick Beck - Tenor Sax, Bassoon, Whistles.
Charlie Collins - Drums, Percussion.
Beatrix Ward-Fernandez - Electric Violin, Theremin.
Glynn Heppenstall - Keyboards, Electronics.
Jonny Drury - Guitars, Electronics, Voice, Objects.

"The Other Orchestra are a bit of an institution around Sheffield. All the members have been around the improv scene here and elsewhere for quite some time. They all know each other musically very well, and the response level between them was very sensitive. I am also happy to report that the aforementioned Beck resorted to humour in his approach to saxes, whistles and shouts. All members worked incredibly well together to form an even ensemble sound. The set had a satisfying sense of structure with lots of textural and dynamic variations throughout." - Moose Factory
Sounds Like: five people improvising in a time-based situation, looking for interesting, satisfying and pleasurable musical, sonic unity for themselves, each other and the respected listeners in attendance.
Record Label: Various individually
Type of Label: Indie

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Hi, you've heard some of the music we're making like there's no tomorrow. We love playing and every note is always new to us. Not only that but the synergy of this group gets stronger all the time. Th...
Posted by on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT