Home » Jazz Musicians » Malcolm Edmonstone

Malcolm Edmonstone

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.

Tags

2
Live Review

Sligo Jazz Project 2018: Days 3-4

Read "Sligo Jazz Project 2018: Days 3-4" reviewed by James Fleming


Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Sligo Jazz Project Various Venues Sligo, Ireland July 24-29, 2018 July 26, 2018When the wind died down the day turned humid and heavy. Clouds hung low in the sky, grey and oppressive. And as Sligo's people sipped their coffees and settled down at their desks, the electricity cut out at Sligo IT. Amplifiers and keyboards were rendered powerless. Putting a halt to the morning's planned classes.

Read more articles
Primary Instrument

Arranger

Willing to teach

Advanced 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

Photos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.