Hands_In_Hair_BW_NickWhite_Web.jpg
 

Joby Burgess

‘Joby Burgess, the insanely talented British percussionist, did the honors as soloist as we all got schooled in Creativity 101.’ 
Chicago Classical Music

‘with percussionist extraordinaire Joby Burgess ... thunder and menace are offset by taps, rattles and delicate whispers redolent of an entire percussion section.’
BBC Music Magazine

‘… Burgess’ blend of virtuosity, good humour and taste … combining rigorous attention to complex musical detail with a sincere passion for the rhythms of dance music.’
Bachtrack

 
JobyBurgessPioneersBNickWhiteWeb.jpg

About

 
 

One of Britain’s most diverse percussionists, Joby is equally at home performing with Peter Gabriel at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Who at Wembley Stadium as reimagining Blade Runner at Sydney Opera House and Ibiza Classics at the Royal Albert Hall.

Known for his virtuosic performances, Joby’s solo projects Powerplant and Pioneers of Percussion have taken him from Berghain, Berlin to SESC Pompéia, São Paulo. Recent releases for Signum include Gabriel Prokofiev’s ‘Concerto for Bass Drum’, Eric Whitacre’s ‘Marimba Quartets’ and BBC Radio 3’s Album of the Week ‘A Percussionist’s Songbook’.

Often found at London’s Abbey Road and Air Studios, Joby’s playing can be heard on major film and TV scores, notably leading the percussion sections on the Black Panther and Ant-man franchises, Spirited, The Harder They Fall, Rocketman, Ad Astra, The Darkest Hour, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Doctor Who.

In demand as an educationalist, Joby created the Virtual Marimba Choir, which brought together 227 percussionists from around the world during Spring 2020.

‘a prominent figure in the alt-classical scene … Joby Burgess, the soloist coaxed all manner of sounds from the oxlike instrument, often wielding multiple sticks in each hand and even using his fingers and elbows … the words athleticism and stamina come to mind.’ New York Times

‘one of the best concertos written this century … Joby Burgess has made the Bass Drum Concerto his own, and the Ural Philharmonic under Alexei Bogorad clearly respond to the percussionists’s virtuoso treatment of an instrument that resided in the lower reaches of the orchestral hierarchy for far too long.’ Gramophone

‘Wow factor was supplied by Joby Burgess’ percussion, which exquisitely enhanced the music – hauntingly tribal at one moment and fantastically futuristic at another.’ The Upcoming

 
 
JobyBurgessTaikosHazyNickWhiteWeb.jpg

 Live

 

No live performances are currently scheduled, check back soon!

 

Projects

 
 

A Percussionist’s Songbook

“Percussionist extraordinaire Joby Burgess” presents his new album A Percussionist’s Songbook - a collection of specially commissioned ‘songs without words’ from John Metcalfe, Tunde Jegede, Dario Marianelli, Yazz Ahmed, Graham Fitkin, Dobrinka Tabakova and Gabriel Prokofiev.

“Essential Classics ALBUM OF THE WEEK”
Georgia Mann, BBC Radio 3, October 2022

Marimba Quartets

This unique recording for Signum Records shows the warm, earthly tones of the marimba, beautifully playing the lush harmonies of Whitacre’s choral works. Eric Whitacre, normally known for his choral compositions and arrangements, personally requested Joby Burgess arrange some of his well-known works for Marimba quartet.

“Joby Burgess is a musical genius. These are really clever, beautiful arrangements.” Eric Whitacre

Pioneers of Percussion

Joby Burgess, the “insanely talented British percussionist” (Chicago Classical Music) presents Pioneers of Percussion, a solo recital programme of new commissions and pioneering works, from the most innovative and creative composers of the 20th Century.

“... it’s hard to resist being pinioned to the spot by the abrasive attack of Xenakis classic Psappha or, in a quieter way, the abstract tapestry of Feldman’s The King of Denmark, music with no centre of gravity.”
Geoff Brown, The Times, March 2021

Import/Export

British percussionist Joby Burgess and his audio visual trio Powerplant present Import/Export a landmark new commission from composer Gabriel Prokofiev.

The seven voyages of Import/Export explore a quartet of global ‘junk’ objects. Oil drums, plastic bags, soda bottles and wooden pallets all travel the world; soldiers that have carried out the globalisation of our planet: transporting, polluting and keeping our modern economy moving - the innocent yet destructive messengers of an ever hungry free-market.

“Import/Export is that rare achievement: music wholly sufficient in itself that is shot through with the cultural fall-out which inspired it.” Richard Whitehouse, Gramophone, March 2011

 
JobyBurgessBerimbauAtomsGoldNickWhiteWeb.jpg

Music

 

Released on 30th September 2022, A PERCUSSIONIST’S SONGBOOK is Joby Burgess’ new album - a collection of specially commissioned ‘songs without words’ from John Metcalfe, Tunde Jegede, Dario Marianelli, Yazz Ahmed, Graham Fitkin, Dobrinka Tabakova and Gabriel Prokofiev.

Scored for an arsenal of pitched percussion and electronics the songbook is inspired by texts ranging from the poetry of Robert Graves and Birago Diop to novels by Michael Ondaatje and Isaac Asimov; American philosopher Michael Sandel, songwriter Peter Gabriel, United Nation population growth statistics and Saudi Arabian folk tales.

 
 
DSC_0093.JPG

Video

 

Take Me Home

Joby Burgess performs Take Me Home for Percussion & Electronics

 

Engine Multiplier

Joby Burgess performs Gabriel Prokofiev’s Engine Multiplier for Oil Drum & Electronics

 

Temazcal

Joby Burgess performs Javier Alvarez’s Temazcal for Maracas & Electronics

 
JobyBurgessTaikosBlueNickWhiteWeb.jpg

SESSION MUSICIAN

 

As a session musician Joby can regularly be found in London’s finest recording studios - Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios, Angel Recording Studios, RAK Studios and British Grove Studios. Joby’s is contracted to perform percussion (orchestral and rhythm) and timpani by fixers including Isobel Griffiths, Hilary Skewes, Cool Music, Andy Brown and Rosie Danvers. Joby’s discography includes film scores, TV shows, adverts and albums for a wide range of classical, pop and rock artists.

DISCOGRAPHY

Over the past 15 years Joby’s playing has been heard on feature films and TV shows including Ad Astra, Rocketman, Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Annihilation, The Darkest Hour, Paddington 2, Trolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, Ant-Man, Edge of Tomorrow, Ex-Machina, Gentleman Jack, The Little Drummer Girl, Thunderbirds are Go! The Last Kingdom, Taboo, Life Story, Hidden Kingdoms, Torchwood, Doctor Who and for artists including Robert Tear, Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, John Rutter, Joanna MacGregor, Graham Fitkin, Gabriel Prokofiev, Sam Smith, Trevor Horn, Pete Tong, Sasha, Goldfrapp, Peter Gabriel, Stewart Copeland, The Who. 

 

PERCUSSION GEAR

Over the years Joby has built up a vast collection of percussion instruments, view the collection and discover the manufactures he works with.

 

Remote Recording

Located just north of London in a former coach house, Studio 65 is where Joby records remotely a vast range of percussion instruments for a variety of composers and artists.

 

Samples

 
 

Abbey Road Orchestra

Crafted for professional composers, producers, sound designers and music editors alike, Spitfire Audio’s Abbey Road Orchestra brings you every section of the orchestra in breathtaking detail. The culmination of over 20 years of sampling experience and innovation, it’s designed to help you work efficiently without sacrificing performance and nuance.

Captured in the worlds most famous recording studio and engineered by Grammy-winning engineer Simon Rhodes (Skyfall, Avatar), it’s like having your very own world-class percussionist.

Superball and Abstract

An innovative collection of evolving percussion samples from Sonixinema. Superball features a unique ensemble of instruments such as Orchestral Bass Drums, Taikos, Timpani, Gongs and Thunder Sheets. Perfect for creating dark cinematic soundscapes and atmospheres. Abstract is a steel percussion library like no other. Recorded in exceptional detail and performed with a range of sticks, mallets, bows, this wonderful library features a range of energetic hits and abstract effects.

Performed by world class percussionist Joby Burgess (Black Panther, Mission Impossible & Alien) and recorded by Emmy nominated engineer Nick Wollage (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Wonder Woman & How to Train Your Dragon).

Spitfire Percussion

A collection full of life and character, Spitfire Audio’s definitive percussion library provides the bedrock for your orchestral compositions, performed by world-renowned British percussionist Joby Burgess. Spitfire Percussion has been expertly recorded in The Hall at AIR Studios, the home of blockbuster scores and the same space as our Symphonic and Chamber library recordings.

“If you were scoring a cinematic sequence on the scale of Gladiator’s opening battle scene, you’d be glad to have Spitfire’s timpani at your disposal.”
Dave Stewart, Sound on Sound, February 2011

SIGCD625_Cover_No_Text.jpg

Virtual Marimba Choir

 

Hi Percussion Pals!

During the second half of March 2020 with the global COVID-19 Pandemic spreading alarmingly and my home (the United Kingdom) on the brink of lockdown, I began to play with the idea of creating a virtual performance project for percussionists.

With most of us quickly spending the majority of our time at home, there was (and still remains) little or no opportunity to perform as part of our regular percussion section, ensemble or group.

I was moved by the footage of quarantined Italians making music from balconies earlier in March, using music to both connect and bring solace as we so often do in difficult moments.

Having worked for several years with composer Eric Whitacre - the godfather of virtual music making - I decided to build a project using my arrangement of Eric’s Sleep to create a virtual marimba choir.

With ‘No Click Track’ each player would perform and record their individual part following my virtual conductor video and a scrolling score.

The project launched on Monday the 20th of April with the challenge to get videos recorded and uploaded by Monday the 11th of May - just 3 weeks!

227 percussionists from 40 countries joined the party, submitting their individual performances on marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, steel pan or electronic mallet synth.

Over the next 17 days myself and my incredible team - Nick Wollage (audio mix), Jack Mills (audio editing and mix preparation) and Howie Bailey (video design) - worked tirelessly to pull the audio and video into shape to present the first ‘Virtual Marimba Choir’ performance.

Special thanks to all the percussionists who took part and those who supported them.

I hope you enjoy our performance.

Joby Burgess 29/05/2020

Sleep

Joby Burgess’ Virtual Marimba Choir presents Eric Whitacre’s Sleep

Arrangement

If you would like to perform the Virtual Marimba Choir’s version of Sleep, the sheet music is published by Hal Leonard.

 

Marimba Quartets

Released on 28th February 2020 ‘Marimba Quartets’ features Sleep performed by Joby Burgess with Sam Wilson, Calum Huggan and Rob Farrer.

 

MAILING LIST

Sign up with your email to receive news and updates on the Virtual Marimba Choir.

 Gallery

 

“with percussionist extraordinaire Joby Burgess ... thunder and menace are offset by taps, rattles and delicate whispers redolent of an entire percussion section.” BBC Music Magazine