Geoff Eales, a Welsh composer/pianist/improviser, has had an amazing career in music. He studied composition with Professor Alun Hoddinott at Cardiff University and piano with Martin Jones at Martin Jones. His large-scale work An American Symphony and his chamber setting for Dylan Thomas’ poem In the Beginning for piano, horn, and tenor was awarded him a Ph.D. A piano concerto and string quartet, a brass quintet, and A Sussex Rhapsody are just a few of his early works. The BBC commissioned the latter. Geoff loves jazz and contemporary classical music. He was a member the BBC Radio Big Band from the late 70’s to the early 80’s. His broadcasts included well over 1000. He also formed the electric rock-fusion group Electric Eales during this time, which recorded extensively on BBC radio. Geoff quit the BBC in 1983 to pursue a career in studio piano, arrangement and composition. Geoff’s credits include being the technical musical advisor for Ellis Island, an American mini-series that starred Richard Burton. He was also the musical associate/arranger for The Hot Shoe Show’s Wayne Sleep / Bonnie Langford TV series. He was also the featured pianist on Andy Williams’ Greatest Love Classics album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Geoff was a top studio musician for more than 15 years. He worked alongside a number of musical luminaries including Leonard Bernstein and Henry Mancini as well as Lalo Schifrin, Lalo Schwartz, Lalo Schifrin, Lalo Schifrin, Lalo Schuber and Andrew Lloyd Webber. As an accompanist, he was often featured with Shirley Bassey and Jose Carreras as well as leading vocalists like Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Kiri Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Lesley Garrett, and Michael Ball. Geoff felt a strong desire to return to jazz music as he grew up. To great reviews, he released his first jazz CD, Mountains of Fire in 1999. Since then, a steady stream of critically acclaimed albums have been released: Red Letter Days (2001), Facing the Muse (2002) and Synergy (2006). He also recorded Jazz Piano Legends (2007), Epicentre (2007). Master of the Game (2009). Shifting Sands (2011). The Dancing Flute (2013). Free Flow (2013). Invocation (2014). And Transience (2016). Geoff’s first albums featured a mix of jazz standards and contemporary composition. His six last recordings are all self-penned. The subtle relationship between compositional and improvisation is key to his musical ethos. Geoff has been a performer at many of the most prestigious concert halls, festivals, and clubs around the globe, including London’s Royal Festival Hall. Andy Findon asked Geoff to write a solo flute piece (The 11th Commandment), for Density 21.5 in 2011. Geoff was also commissioned by Matt London, a classical saxophonist, to compose Dance of the Druids in 2011 for his Interference Trio. The work received its world premiere at Manchester. Geoff started working with Andy Findon in 2012 on The Dancing Flute. The CD was released on Nimbus Alliance (N1 64216) in May 2013. It contains 13 new pieces for flute and piano, all composed by the composer. Geoff was commissioned by Simon Haram, a classical saxophonist, to compose a solo saxophone piece (She Cries She Dances) for John Harle’s Sospiro label in 2013. This work was included on Haram’s 2014 album Mono’Dia. In the Autumn of 2015 Geoff formed a new ensemble, Transience, with four barrier-busting contemporary musicians: Brigitte Beraha (voice), Noel Langley (trumpet/flugelhorn), Chris Laurence (double bass) and Martin France (drums). This collaboration also gave rise to the name Transience, which is also the title of the CD. Geoff is currently on tour in the UK to celebrate Transience and receive generous support from Arts Council England. Geoff will collaborate with Keith Tippett (one of the best improvisers in the world) at the Fishguard International Music Festival in July 2016. Visit www.geoffeales.com
