Based on a short story by Tove Jansson from Tales in Moomin Valley 'The Fir Tree' is a new family christmas show co-produced by The Ding Foundation & Norden Farm Arts Centre for which I wrote and recorded the music and collaborated on making the show with writer Bernadette Russell, Director Steve Tiplady and Designer Amelia Pimlott.
It is performing from the 20th November-30th December at Norden Farm Arts Centre with a fantastic cast of Ceri Ashcroft, Jonny Storey & Karina Garnett. Please go here to book tickets.
A visual theatre company that has been making work using puppetry, music, performance, and visual arts since 2001 for which I am co-artistic director, write the music/scores, perform and devise:
"intensely moving" - Joyce Macmillan - The Scotsman
“So good, I thought it was foreign" - Audience member
Trio of 2 saxophones and 'Cello: Julie Kjaer - Alto Saxophone, Rachel Musson - Tenor Saxophone & HM - 'Cello.
" a single diaphonous improvisation of heart stopping intensity and quietude that brings the entire room into a tip-toed state of heightened awareness..." Daniel Spicer - The Wire
Compositions and structures of Alex Ward. With Alex Ward - Guitar & Clarinet, Rachel Musson - Tenor Saxophone, Tom Jackson - Clarinet, Olie Brice - Bass, HM - 'Cello & Steve Noble - Drums (in sextet).
“a
deft and utterly mesmeric composition for five improvisers” -
Philip Clark – The Guardian
A
quartet of Bristol based creative musicians: Yvonna Magda – Violin,
Caitlin Alais Callahan – Bass, HM – 'Cello & Tina Hitchens –
Flutes.
Pushing past the conventions of traditional instruments in
order to explore ever expanding sonic possibilities.
'The
foursome play an unsettling, absently beautiful post classical music
evoking wind in the trees, unresolved conversations and difficulties
around corners' – Misfit City.
COLLABORATIONS WITH VERYAN WESTON - PiIANO & COMPOSITION
Projects have included: Trio of Uncertainty (+ Satoko Fukuda - Violin), Sol6 (+ Luc Ex - Acoustic Bass, Ingrid Laubrock - Tenor Saxophone, Mandy Drummond - Viola & Tony Buck - Drums), Haste (+ Ingrid laubrock), Tuning Out (+ Jon Rose - Violins) ...and continue with: Trevor Watts' 'Dialogues with strings' (+ Alison Blunt- Violin) & Rhythm Figures Project (+ Mike Gennero - Drums).
"...together, these three musicians have created an ingenious document where past and present collide revealing a glimpse what might be in a not-so- imaginary future" (About Haste) Raul de Gama Rose - All about Jazz
Alt-rock no guitar sextet: Bass, 2 Violins, 'Cello, Drums with the Baritone vocals of songwriter Ben Etchells.
"Groove-laden rhythm that brings to mind the melancholy songwriting of joy division....the band expertly craft dark soundscapes full of shadowy concepts and lamenting lyrics ecompassing influences not just from other musicians but from literature film and art" - Flick of the Finger
Abhra is formed by six improvisers with a common interest for sound textures around texts: Lauren Kinsella - voice, Julien Pontvianne - tenor saxophone, clarinet, HM - cello, Francesco Diodati -guitar, Alexandre Herer - keyboard, electronics, Matteo Bortone - doublebass.
" very refined music full of poetry.....An aesthetic success" Thierry Giard - Culture Jazz (France)
A quartet exploring all facets of spontanious composition initiated by long standing duo of Saxophonist Trevor Watts & Pianist Veryan Weston, who have extended their collaboration to include string players including myself & Violinists Alison Blunt & Peter Knight.
"This first time meeting of 4 keen imaginations burns with ideas and energy" - Jim Haynes - The Wire
"...the quartet sounds as organic as humanly possible" Adam Barusch
6IX
Newly joined this International sextet with Roger Turner - Drums, Jacques Demierre - Piano, Urs Leimgruber - Reeds, Dorothea Schurch- Singing Saw /voice, & Thomas Lehn - Analogue Synthesisor.
Past reviews: "...a game of concentration, sound colors, spicks and specks everywhere - as if a Jackson Pollock painting came to life - great art, really demanding. The more often you listen to it, the more beautiful details you can find in these sound landscapes" - Martin Schray
DUO WITH JOSEP MARIA BALANYA
An on-going and developing creative collaboration with the very singular Catalan pianist. We have performed at several venues in UK. Holland, & Belgium.
TRANCE MAP +
Trance map is a collaboration between saxophonist Evan Parker and electronics/turntableist Matt Wright who invite musicians to join them to further develop an exploration of turntable generated music with live sampling. Invited musicians apart from myself have been Toma Gouband’s lithophones, percussionist Mark Nauseef, trumpeter Peter Evans, bassist Adam Linson and DJ Spring Heeled Jack.
Releases
Videos.
Duo with terry day on balloon and bamboo flutes at 'The horse' improv club - London 2012
Performing with Julie Kjaer - alto saxophone, Hakon Berre - drums IN 'action jazz' at the jazzhouse Copenhagen - Denmark 2016
Part of a film promoting The Alterations Festival at Cafe Oto london 2016 with a quartet of Rhodri Davies - amplified harp, Peter Cusack - guitar, HM - 'Cello and Evan Parker - saxophone
Promo The Ding Foundation's show 'Hanging by a Thread' -2016
Trio with Roger turner - drums/objects, Tim Hodgkinson - reeds, HM - 'Cello at Mopomoso - the vortex - London 2011.
Solo at Spnm Ivan Illich - Bologne 2009
Duo with vocalist viv corringham at mopomoso - london 2016
I experiment with approaches to playing the 'Cello using improvisation, composition and collaboration to explore sound and performance in both live and recorded settings, working with a range of groups and projects in the UK and Europe. And I perform and devise, create sound design, and co-run a visual theatre company 'The Ding Foundation'. I also enjoy working with other artists in dance, theatre, storytelling, visual art and film, fulfilling roles such as sound designer, composer, performer, musician, facilitator and outside ears/eyes. I am an experienced music/arts leader working with individuals or in community and group settings with people who have diverse backgrounds, abilities and ages. Apart from the projects mentioned above, other musicians i have worked with include John Butcher, Roger Turner, Fred Frith, Lotte Anker, Ingrid Laubrock, Tony Buck, Simon Roth, Kay Grant, Ntshucks Bonga, Mandy Drummond, Orphy Robinson, Sylvia Hallett, Shabaka Hutchins, Suichi Chino, Atsuko Kamura, Alex Hawkins, Laura Jurd, Ansuman Biswas, Sarah-Gail brand, Maggie Nicols & Christian Marclay. I have created live scores and recorded soundtracks for over 50 theatre and performance pieces working with amongst others the People Show, Anton Mirto, Improbable Theatre, 20 Stories High, Arlette George, A2, the Young Vic, Battersea Arts Centre, Norwich Puppet theatre, The Little Angel Theatre, Wild Theatre & Mayuri Boonham. For a CV or to find out more please get in touch. Thanks for visiting my website!
