About Me
'Meeting Ground' Byron Wallen's New Album Available in shops and online from March 5th. For more information go to www.byronwallen.comA powerful composer, Byron Wallen's intuitive and spiritual leanings shine through his "Tarot Suite," an enticing piece of music that draws inspiration from the symbols and imagery of the tarot cards. It's world premiere received rave reviews from the British press with Byron being heralded as 'The most interesting new explorer of Miles Davis' legacy" (The Guardian). The twenty-two-piece suite is written for ten musicians. Other works include 'Dangerous Duets' for the Jerwood foundation, 'Live' a work commissioned by Sheron Wray's JazzXchange for performance at the Opera House. 'Trumpet Kings' commisioned by the CBSO for the Byron Wallen Octet and Langston Hughes Suite commisioned by Poetry International for the poet's Centenary. Byron has four albums under his own name 'Sound Advice', 'Earth Roots' ,'Indigo' and 'Meeting Ground'.Raised in a musical environment, Byron studied classical piano from an early age. He also studied trumpet with Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd and Jon Faddis in New York. He graduated with a degree in Psychology, Philosophy and Maths from Sussex University. During this period, he recorded for Loose Ends and Cleveland Watkiss and played trumpet in a variety of musical settings; with Mervyn Africa, The Style Council, Charles Earland, Courtney Pine and Jean Toussaint.One of the most dynamic and versatile voices currently on the music scene, Byron has performed with rap outfits such as The Roots, Digable Planets and Us3. His trumpet has appeared alongside Chaka Khan, Red Snapper,Hugh Masekela, Lonnie Liston Smith, Mulatu Astate, Bobby Mcferrin Manu Dibango, Chaka Khan,and Ammonpondo. He has recorded with George Benson, William Orbit, Toumani Diabate, Brice Wassy and has toured the world with Incognito.Byron is firmly routed in the jazz tradition, he has toured with David Murray, Sam Rivers, Billy Higgins, Andrew Hill, Butch Morris, Jack Dejohnette, Wynton Marsalis, John Patton and Freddie Hubbard.
