Jim Funnell

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Born: April 3, 1984 Primary Instrument: Piano

Studied performance and jazz composition at Berklee College of Music (Boston). In the United States, he has performed and recorded as a sideman with David Fiuczynski’s KiF (eastern-exotica-western-exstatica!) and a quartet lead by trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. Now based in Paris and London, he leads his own trio, Word Out, and co-leads a new Afro-jazz-funk project, AfuriKo, with percussionist Akiko Horii. Jim also collaborates with British reggae-electro musician Flox, and is active as a composer, arranger, and freelance educator.

A étudié le piano et la composition jazz au Berklee College of Music (Boston). Aux Etats-Unis, il a joué et enregistré en tant que sideman au sein du groupe KiF (exotisme oriental, extatique occidentale !) de David Fiuczynski ainsi que dans un quartet dirigé par le trompettiste Tiger Okoshi. Désormais basé à Paris et à Londres, il dirige son propre trio, Word Out, et co-dirige un nouveau projet Afro-jazz-funk, AfuriKo, avec la percussionniste Akiko Horii. Jim collabore également avec Flox, musicien reggae-électro britannique, et est actif en tant que compositeur, arrangeur, et professeur indépendant.

Performance Credits

People: Akiko Horii, Ant Law, Chico Freeman, Chris Hayward, Dave Douglas, David “Fuze” Fiuczynski, Djaima, Flox, Dominique Muzeau, Fraser Campbell, Hiroshi Fukutomi, Jean Baylor, Marcus Baylor, Marcus Miller, Meshell Ndegeocello, Michel Edelin, Oliver Degabriele, Ravy Magnifique, Russell Ferrante, Skoota Warner, Sofia Ribeiro, Steve Jenkins, Sylvain Beuf, Thibault Perriard, Tiger Okoshi, Bruno Wilhelm...

Places: Berklee Performance Center (Boston, USA), Café Universel (Paris, France), Canal 93 (Bobigny, France), Casa del Tango (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Charlie Wright's International (London, UK), Espace Culturel Jean-Jacques Robert (Mennecy, France), The Jazz Bar (Edinburgh, UK), Japonica (Kyoto, Japan), JazzQ Festival (Saint Petersburg, Russia), JzBrat (Tokyo, Japan), Le 9 Jazz-Club (Paris, France), Malta Jazz Festival (Valletta, Malta), Olympic Café (Paris, France), Petit Journal Montparnasse (Paris, France), Stage (Itami, Japan), Street Life (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Sunset Sunside Jazz Club (Paris, France), Yorozuya-Soubei (Kobe, Japan), Zinco Jazz Club (Distrito Federal, México)...

Radio: Les Nuits Zébrées (Radio NOVA, France), Nitiyougogo no Asobijikan (Kyoto Sanjyo Radio Cafe, Japan), Sonido Estrella (Zacatecas, Mexico)...

Awards:

1er prix de composition avec Word Out aux Trophées du Sunside (2011) / 1st composition prize for Word Out at the "Trophées du Sunside" (2011)

Professional Writing Division Wayne Shorter Award (March 2007); Professional Writing Division Arif Mardin Award (April 2006); Piano Department Achievement Award (March 2006); Piano Department Chair Award (March 2005) (Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA)

Last Updated: October 14, 2011

”La subtilité mélodique du pianiste Jim Funnell [...] laisse présager d'un avenir des plus lumineux.” Version en ligne de Jazz Magazine

”Jim Funnell’s electric keyboard solo builds masterfully from a motive first introduced by Fuze into a kaleidoscope of shifting block chordal progressions.” Thomas R. Erdmann, jazzreview.com

”Jim Funnell executed a hugely energized solo on organ during “The Heathen” causing wild shouts of approval from the crowd.” Lucie Wicker, BostonLive.net Concert Review

DISCOGRAPHY

As a Leader

Word Out
2009
Tracks: Beans On Toast (JF), What Is This [Detuned] Thing? (JF), Asteroid B612 (JF), Ian's Bonsai (JF), Les Mains Sales (JF, Oliver Degabriele, Thibault Perriard), Giant Steps (John Coltrane), One Ginger Snap (JF), Space Oddity (David Bowie), Cheer Up, George (JF, Oliver Degabriele, Thibault Perriard), Swedish Clogs (Steve Rochinski, JF), Ordinary Effect (JF), Still Untitled (JF)
Personnel: JF piano Oliver Degabriele acoustic bass Thibault Perriard drums

The New Old School
Jazz Revelation Records
2007
Tracks: Still Untitled (JF)
Personnel: JF piano Takashi Sugawa acoustic bass Zach Mangan drums

Lîla
MUNDuO Productions
2006
Tracks: Perlinha (JF), El Hilo de Ariadna (JF)
Personnel: Perla Flores Martínez violin JF piano, melodica Jeremy MacDonald electric bass Ryo Shibata drums; on Perlinha: Alex Terrier flute Rob Hanlon alto saxophone Marcelo Woloski pandeiro, shaker and BatukAxé (Marcus Santos djembé Daniel D’Errico, Alex Duggan timbal Zach Nazar, Julien Machet, Matt Johnson, Matt Witek tarol Charlie McLaren, Christina Napoli surdo de dois Sandro Scoccia surdo de fundo); on El Hilo de Ariadna: Nikolay Moiseenko alto saxophone Natalie Dietrich vibes

As a Side Musician

KiF Express
David Fiuczynski
FuzeLicious Morsels
2008
Tracks: Cumin (David Fiuczynski), Almond Pear (David Fiuczynski)
Personnel: David "Fuze" Fiuczynski guitars Steve Jenkins electric bass Skoota Warner drums Daniel Sadownick percussion JF fender rhodes Nikolay Moiseenko alto saxophone

The New Old School
Marcelo Woloski, Francisco Ferro
Jazz Revelation Records
2007
Tracks: Mundo Por Conocer (Marcelo Woloski), Boiled Water (Francisco Ferro)
Personnel: JF piano; on Mundo Por Conocer: Eleonora Bianchini voice Alex Gordeev alto saxophone Thiago Amorim accordion Andres Rot electric bass Marcelo Woloski percussion; on Boiled Water: Sara Serpa voice Alex Terrier soprano saxophone Jeremy Sinclair trumpet Joe Santamaria alto saxophone Fraser Campbell tenor saxophone Ryan Dragon trombone Michael Duke baritone saxophone Jeremy McDonald acoustic bass Zach Mangan drums

Ars Nova
Apostasia
Jazz Revelation Records
2006
Tracks: Oberon (Jake Hertzog)
Personnel: Jake Hertzog guitar Akihiro Nishiguchi tenor saxophone JF piano Holger Scheidt electric bass Zach Mangan drums

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Primary Instrument:
Piano

Location:
Paris

Willing to teach:
Beginners

Credentials/Background:

2007 - present
• freelance private instruction (piano, improvisation, music theory/composition, guitar)
2008 - 2009
• jazz piano and ensemble teacher, Conservatoire Municipal de Musique et de Danse (Mennecy, France)
2007 - 2008
• piano teacher (jazz and classical), Institut de Culture Musicale (Paris, France)

Clinic/Workshop Information:

2009
• jazz piano masterclass, Koyo Conservatory (Kobe, Japan)
• jazz masterclass (rhythm section), Euro Institute for Music and Arts (Hamrun, Malta)
2008
• improvisation workshop, Conservatoire Municipal de Musique et de Danse (Mennecy, France)
2007
• "Stylistic Interpretation" and "Musical Improvisation" workshops, Unidad Académica de Música de la UAZ (Zacatecas, México) & Escuela de Música aRtes Revueltas (Cholula, México)
• jazz piano masterclass, Foxborough High School (Foxborough, MA, USA)
2006
• "Basic Musical Improvisation" workshop, Unidad Académica de Música de la UAZ (Zacatecas, México)
• latin music workshop, Booker T. Washington Arts High School (Dallas, TX, USA)

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