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The TransAtlantic Collective

The TransAtlantic Collective is a new contemporary jazz ensemble, whose members and collaborators are some of the top emerging artists from New York City, London, and Europe. A gathering of ambitious young musicians, the Collective was formed in order to foster cross-continental collaboration in musical performance, composition, and education.

The Collective was started in late 2005 by Patrick Cornelius (a multi-award-winning New York saxophonist and composer), and London-based American Michael Janisch (a prominent new global voice on the acoustic and electric bass). Both alumni of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, Patrick and Michael founded the Collective as a way to bring musicians from Europe and New York together and spark musical kinship between both sides of the Atlantic. After establishing the project’s mission, the two musicians invited the up-and-coming percussionist and composer Paul Wiltgen (a native of Luxembourg who lives and works both in New York and Europe) to join them as the Collective’s permanent third member. Rounding out the TransAtlantic Collective’s quintet are London trumpeter Quentin Collins (one of the UK’s most sought-after brass virtuosos) and dazzling Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu.

Since 2005, the Collective has also featured the guest talents of guitarist Phil Robson (UK), pianists Jason Rebello (UK), Gwilym Simcock (UK), Dan Tepfer (France), John Escreet (UK), and Andrew MacCormack (UK), trumpeter Avishai Cohen (Israel), percussionist Kendrick Scott (USA), trombonist Nick Vayenas (USA), and tenor saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski (Scotland).

The TransAtlantic Collective's music blends the contemporary sounds of modern progressive jazz and world music with the rich tradition of jazz history (Many examples are available online at the band’s web site). While the ensemble’s current focus is the development and introduction of new original material, it also gives a tip of the hat to the great jazz lexicon through the reinterpretation of classic standards, such as Cole Porter’s "It's All Right with Me"

The Collective's most recent activities include a successful major European tour in the fall of 2008. The band performed at over 38 venues and festivals across England, Scotland, Wales, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, and Estonia. Some notable performances included a concert at the Southbank Centre Purcell Room during the London Jazz Festival, a 3-night residency at Ronnie Scott’s in London, the Bonnington Theater in Nottingham, L’Inoui in Luxembourg, and the Joulu Jazz Festival in Estonia. Staying true to one of its founding missions, The Collective has also presented educational master classes, workshops, and private lessons at many of its tour events, including an artist residency at London’s famed Royal Academy of Music.

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Album Review

TransAtlantic Collective: Traveling Song

Read "Traveling Song" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


In recent years jazz groups have begun to give themselves names that give nothing away about their composition or style. The TransAtlantic Collective bucks the trend with a name that offers a more helpful description of itself: a group of musicians from the USA, Britain and mainland Europe. American saxophonist Patrick Cornelius, British trumpeter Quentin Collins, Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu, UK-based American bassist Michael Janisch and drummer Paul Wiltgen from Luxembourg were college friends whose occasional get-togethers have blossomed into ...

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“the sharpness of this young band springs plenty of surprises...they sound a pretty hot prospect live” --John Fordham, The Guardian

“Dynamic Contemporary Jazz” --The List,

“Cutting-Edge, High Energy Jazz” --TimeOut London

“[The TransAtlantic Collective] has really established itself as an exciting working unit, forging genuine connections between London, Europe, and NYC....highly-charged contemporary jazz fuelled by their innate virtuosity, but never hindered by it.” --JazzWise

Primary Instrument

Band / ensemble / orchestra

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Clinic/Workshop Information

Recent clinics and workshops conducted by TAC members: The Royal Academy (London, UK) Hull University (Hull, UK) The Jazz Bar (Edinburgh, UK) The Drum (Birmingham, UK) Texas State University (San Marcos, TX) St. Mary's University (San Antonio, TX) Conservatory Escudero (San Sebastian, Spain) University of Texas, San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) O'Conner High School (San Antonio, TX)

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Traveling Song

Woodville Records
2009

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