As the world catches its breath, possibly,
at the dawn of a new age of
mandolin activity, that most dazzlingly
dextrous protagonist of the instrument Mr
Simon Mayor assembles an all star cast.
The mission: to pay homage to the heyday
of mandolin orchestras (the 1920s, 30s,
40s, and 1780s) and to raise the level of
mandolin consciousness for generations to
come!
But how could musicians be found
for such diverse endeavour...?
Fresh from recent tours of the Arctic
Circle, China, the jungles of Borneo
and most places in-between comes that
most refreshing of classical guitarists, Mr
Gerald Garcia.
And could
a finer vocal talent suit such multifarious
mandolinquency as the wielder of the
mighty mandobass (“yes, I think we have
one in stock, Madam”) Ms Hilary James?
Finally, from the world of hard-driving
bluegrass, arguably the baldest member of the celebrated quartet, Mr Richard Collins proves
his talents on mandolin and five string banjo to be
equally hair-raising
Festivals, concert halls, music societies throughout Britain and abroad... Buxton Opera House, Henley Festival, Sage Gateshead, Guildford International Festival, 'In Tune' BBC Radio 3, 'Friday Night Is Music Night' BBC Radio 2, 'Loose Ends' BBC Radio 4, Paderborn Guitar Festival (Germany), Mandolines de Lunel (France), Sheffield Crucible, Chipping Sodbury, Margate, Neasden, Chilly-Bottom-in-the-Marsh etc... etc....
Reels and traditional airs, hot swing and ragtime, Grieg, Vivaldi, Dvorak, Bizet, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Chinese and Brazilian folk melodies and much, much more... all played with infectious fun, stunning virtuosity and offbeat humour.
Hilary James - “One of Britain’s finest voices” BBC Radio 4... (read more)
Simon Mayor - “Britain’s leading hot-fingered mandolin virtuoso” Cosmopolitan... (read more)
Richard Collins - 3 time UK banjo champion... Nashville to the Royal Shakespeare Company... (read more)
Gerald Garcia - The first western guitarist to tour China (in a duo with John Williams)... (read more)
