Malcolm Creese
Malcolm Creese is one of Europe's most admired double bass players. He
combines jazz and classical performances at the highest level with
extensive film, television and recording work. Malcolm is well known in
the jazz world for his melodic soloing and his rich un-amplified sound.
He studied cello at school and later at London's Guildhall School of
Music. He worked as a cellist in orchestras and chamber music groups
after leaving college, but also found time to pursue other areas of work
including teaching, selling instruments, managing a record shop and
working for a music publishing company. His love of jazz resulted in a
switch to double bass in his mid-twenties.
Malcolm toured the world with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth from 1991 to
2001, and played with Stan Tracey for six years. He has performed or
recorded with George Shearing, Mel Tormé, Barbara Cook, Art Farmer,
Harold Land, Benny Green, Junior Mance, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George
Benson, Warren Vaché, Scott Hamilton, Mose Allison, The BBC Big Band,
Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Adelaide Hall, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Kenny
Wheeler, Sting, Diana Ross, Georgie Fame, The Divine Comedy, Depeche
Mode, James Galway, John Williams, Lesley Garrett, and The London
Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras.
For five years during the nineties Malcolm played in an acoustic trio
with reedsman Tony Coe and pianist John Horler. Their album 'In Concert'
was hailed as one of the finest British jazz albums of all time. In 1996
Malcolm directed a highly acclaimed series of concerts and BBC
broadcasts with an all-star nine-piece ensemble, which included Lee
Konitz, Mark Nightingale, Tony Coe and Norma Winstone.
Malcolm now leads his own trio - Acoustic Triangle - which includes
Chick Corea's brilliant saxophonist Tim Garland. Their innovative
repertoire includes music by Maurice Ravel, Ralph Towner, Bill Evans and
Kenny Wheeler. The trio (with John Horler on piano) released their
award-winning first CD (Interactions - Audio-B - ABCD 5012) in 2001.
Malcolm started Audio-B (originally 'ABCDs') in 1990. The company
specialises in producing fine recordings of top British jazz artists
including Tony Coe, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Matt Wates, John
Etheridge, Christian Garrick, Tim Garland and John Horler. Malcolm has
also produced albums, both jazz and classical, for several other labels.
Malcolm is on the teaching staff at London's Trinity College of Music.
He is a member of the advisory board for Jazz Services Ltd., and he
writes record reviews for Double Bassist Magazine. He has been nominated
at the British Jazz Awards 12 times, and came second in the 2002
'Critics Choice' (double bass category).
Critic Geoffrey Smith described Malcolm's solos at a recent Wigmore Hall
concert as "...immaculately in tune and superbly executed", and he was
described in The Stage as "a warm and exciting virtuoso". John Fordham,
writing in The Guardian, said "Creese is a highly musical double bassist
of rich, plummy tone, penetrating attack and distinctive phrasing."
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