The first stirrings of Trio Gitano can be found when three young guitarists first crossed paths in their mid-teens, performing together as part of the Birmingham School's Guitar Ensemble, which gave them a taste of venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and The Royal Festival Hall. It was here they struck up a rapport with Bryan Lester - the then director of the Schools' ensemble, and now long-term composer-in-residence, guru and Musical Director of the Trio.
After leaving the ensemble at 18, Jamie, Sam and Sophie continued playing together, which developed and evolved into 'Trio Gitano' sometime in 2001. Staying in Birmingham as students, the trio found themselves performing to a gathering fan base drawn in by their intense live performances, which has taken them to a wide range of venues throughout the UK, from theatres to jazz clubs, the Royal Opera House and the RSC.There is no easy way to categorise the Trio's music - from the Jazz, Hotclub and Gypsy influences on one hand, to the Latin, Flamenco, Classical and even film-influenced music on the other five, TG perform original material and arrangements, written together with Bryan Lester, alongside fresh interpretations of works from artists such as Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt, Paul Desmond and Paulo Bellinati.In early 2003, TG made their London-debut in Camden Town, followed by six nights at the Royal Opera House, at the inaugural 'Festival of Firsts' - "a week-long festival showcasing some of the most innovative artists working in the UK today". 2004 saw the Trio perform several sell-out gigs in the Midlands, with over 200 packing a University venue to catch the Trio in Birmingham, and over 30,000 watching the Trio at the city's 'Fireworks Fantasia' before the CBSO.On graduating from University in the summer of 2004, the Trio were finally able to set about recording their long-awaited debut album, which they released in August 2005, with the fledgling Birmingham label, The Birds Recording Company.The Trio also developed a fine relationship with two top UK trumpeters, Ray Butcher and Bryan Corbett, both performing live with the Trio, with Bryan also featuring on the Trio's album,
Who Ate All The Tapas?With the Album in the making, 2005 turned out to be a milepost year for the Trio. Early spring performances took in venues including The Spitz, Le Quecumbar and the National Theatre, plus the slightly unexpected surrounds of the Barfly and Hard Rock Cafe, followed by a return for a second year to close the Lewes International Guitar Festival.With the release of
Who Ate All The Tapas? in the summer, further festival performances followed, with the group opening (and promptly selling out!) the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival, causing a stir at Moseley's International L'Esprit Manouche Festival, and an intimate appearance at the London Jazz Festival. The album, meanwhile, was labelled as "a triumph" by
The Sunday Times, "vibrant", "refreshing" and "infectious" by
Jazzwise, and "dazzling" by
The Metro.In October, TG performed live on BBC Radio Three's Loose Ends, with tracks from the album also being aired on BBC Radio Three, Four, Jazz FM, and various worldwide radio stations. In December, the album found it's way into
The Sunday Times' Records of the Year, with 2005 ending before a capacity crowd at Birmingham's CBSO Centre, bringing in numerous guest performers for the first 'Trio Gitano and Friends' gig.The first half of 2006 found the group touring nationwide dates, with another glowing live review from
The Times at London's Pizza On The Park. During summer '06, Sophie left TG, taking respite to recover from a wrist operation to then concentrate on recording and touring with her own family bluegrass band. The highly regarded and much sought after multi instrumentalist Percy Pursglove joined the group, adding a new dynamic drive and direction on double bass. This also paved the way for the formation of the
TG Collective in September last year, built on the musical ideas growing out of the 'Trio Gitano and Friends' performance. Based on the two guitars of Jamie and Sam, the
TG Collective also features double bass, violin, viola, flute, trumpets, clarinet and percussion, with new and interchanging shapes and sizes of ensemble from gig to gig, and within a performance.In keeping with form, The
TG Collective appeared before a full house and gathered fine reviews for their first performance in September at the Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival, and also made their way across the channel to perform at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.Early 2007 finds TG and Co. shaping new compositions, arrangements and recording for the keenly awaited follow-up album to the critically acclaimed
Who Ate All The Tapas? due for release later in the year; a new performance collaboration with the gifted and prominent flamenco dancer
Ana Garcia; new works from composer
Bryan Lester; and a series of live shows and performances kicking-off the summer ...
