Born: July 5, 1980 Primary Instrument: Arranger
Malcolm Edmonstone is a jazz pianist and arranger, born in Perth, Scotland in 1980. In 1998 he moved to London to study with Simon Purcell and Pete Churchill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he is now professor and a key member of the jazz faculty. The ten years between then and now saw Malcolm gather an enormous range of experience, both as a practitioner and educator. He has worked in many high profile situations, often as musical director/associate.
At the age of 20, Malcolm was called on by television MD Laurie Holloway to step in to cover the piano chair on a tour with his wife, the late jazz legend Marion Montgomery. Since then Malcolm has continued to work with Laurie on various projects, including the first three series of the BBC1 show Strictly Come Dancing, where he played piano and arranged a significant portion of the music. During this time Malcolm was writing prolifically and having his arrangements performed live on television to audiences upwards of 10m.
At 21, he met Jacqui Dankworth and soon became her Musical Director, a position he holds to this day. Together they have toured the world and been involved in numerous recording projects, including the album Detour Ahead. Recently they have recorded an album with Jacqui’s father, Sir John Dankworth.
As a jazz sideman Malcolm has enjoyed greatly the breadth of experience that London can offer a young jazz musician, having worked with Dame Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth, Georgie Fame, Mark Lockheart, Alan Barnes, Art Themen, Duncan Lamont, Steve Waterman, Dave O’Higgins, Tina May, Dick Pearce, Stan Sulzmann, Martin Speake, Pete Hurt, Martin Hathaway, Frank Holder, Russell Van Den Berg, Simon Allen and Laurence Cottle. Later in 2009 he will be touring with legendary guitarist Mike Walker.
In addition to work in the jazz world, Malcolm is often called upon as a reliable MD for artists operating in many and various musics. He is MD for Lenny Beige, the comic alter-ego of Steve Furst (Little Britain, Orange ads) and they often appear at London’s Pigalle Club. As a session/TV musician he has performed with Tony Bennett, Michael Bolton, Cliff Richard, Robin Gibb, Donnie Osmond, Bruce Forsyth, Madeline Bell, Vernon Kaye, Denise Van Outen, Tony Christie and Kenny Lynch. He has recorded widely as a session musician and appeared on all the major UK television networks.
In addition to working at the Guildhall School, Malcolm also finds time to teach at Trinity College of Music (arranging) and Middlesex University (composition) and co-directs the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, most recently conducting for Mark Lockheart.
As A Side Musician
Detour Ahead
Jacqui Dankworth
Candid
2004
Tracks: Track; Track.
Personnel: Name: instrument.
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Primary Instrument:
Arranger
Location:
Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Professor of Jazz, Guildhall School of Music, London
Professorial Staff, Arranging, Trinity College of Music, London
Lecturer in Jazz, Middlesex University, London
