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Tom Donald

Tom Donald is known worldwide for creating mesmerising piano improvisations combining classical crossover with jazz. He is the founder of the London Contemporary School of Piano and a world reknowned specialist in teaching and performing improvisation at the keyboard.

Recently Donald’s compositions for film have won acclaim throughout Europe and The Middle East, including his partnership with Italian/Iraqi film director Haider Rashid, most notably the films "Sta Per Piovere" and “The Deep” which are currently showing in cinemas across Europe and the Middle East. Donald’s original music in Koutiba Al-Janabi's controversial film "Leaving Baghdad" makes him one of the only composers and jazz pianists who have contributed to cinema with crossover western and eastern music styles.

As a jazz pianist, Tom Donald Trio has released two albums to date, including “Mesmer” and “In Transito” which has been widely praised as a new voice for the 21st Century direction for modern jazz piano.

Donald’s songwriting musical collaboration with Sirena Riley’s spans over a decade including their debut album, “The Lunatic the Lover and the Poet” with the single “Half Moon” that was semifinalist in the 2008 U.K Songwriting competition.

Donald’s other most popular collaboration was “The Silence Project” a documentary based on his 2011 tour of the island of Sicily. This documentary was shown to critical acclaim in Seattle, Dubai and Florence.

In London he has performed at Abbey Road Studios, Hackney Empire, National Opera Studio, BBC Maida Vale Studios, Ronnie Scotts, The Vortex, The Horcynus Festival, Sicily and the 2011 Dubai International Film Festival.

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Tom Donald

Read "Take Five With Tom Donald" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Tom Donald:I was born in the Australian Outback, a town called Coonabarabran. I now live in London. I am mainly a piano improviser and composer. Abbey Road Studios, BBC Radio Studios, Hackney Empire, National Opera Studios & Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London. I also compose for film and produced, compose for American vocalist and lyricist, Sirena Riley.Instrument(s):Piano.Teachers and/or influences? I guess my favorite music seems to have ...

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"performances that enchant, surprise and ineffably capture the imagination" — JAZZWISE

"Extensive rehearsal and concert footage, which captures a collaborative musical communion that is remarkable to behold.” (Seattle International Film Festival 2012)

Primary Instrument

Bass

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

http://www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com Whilst Jazz Piano styles have been around for over a century, jazz piano lessons are still FAR Behind. Jazz Piano Lessons In London can often turn into “academic research” of theory which often leading to unsatisfactory results. Learning Jazz Piano with The RIGHT approach is a Creative Experience which will Unleash Your Musical Abilities. LEADING JAZZ PIANO LESSONS IN LONDON Learn to play jazz piano and improvise in a stunning studio furnished with two grand pianos, whilst jamming with your teacher. Learn how to read chord charts, transpose and create tasty harmonies to the music and make your own arrangements and compositions. Jazz Piano Lessons : Learn Bill Evans voicing, Oscar Peterson swing, Herbie Hancock “comping”, McCoy Chord Secrets or Straight Ahead Jools Jamming. Simply express yourself on the piano in a way you didn’t think was possible.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

In Transito

Remigrant Records
2014

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Videos

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