“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.
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.
Track Listing
Love Without Hope 5’23” - John Metcalfe
The Ancestors Are Within 5’57” - Tunde Jegede
Unequal 6’55” - Dario Marianelli
Throw Your Pumpkin (& Pick Me Up) 4’34” - Yazz Ahmed
Come Sweet Death 6’25” - Joby Burgess
Species 6’39” - Graham Fitkin
Desert Swimmers 4’33” - Dobrinka Tabakova
Dr Calvin Remembers 6’30” - Gabriel Prokofiev
Take Me Home 4’42” - Joby Burgess
Photography by Nick White
REVIEWS
“Listening to percussionist Joby Burgess is like a musical shot in the arm. His recordings are so full of vibrant energy, vitality and freshness. So what’s the secret? … the virtuoso percussionist’s technical brilliance, fantastic agility and coordination, and innate musicality. ‘A Percussionist’s Songbook’ may well be Burgess’s best album yet.”
Pwyll ap Siôn, Gramophone, 2 December 2022
“Essential Classics ALBUM OF THE WEEK”
Georgia Mann, BBC Radio 3, 17 October 2022
“A fascinating record with wide-ranging ambition and, surely, mass appeal. Joby Burgess has created a release for classical label Signum that could sit equally comfortably in the rock or ‘world’ genres, such are its broad range of influences and audible sense of adventure. Warmly recommended.”
Adrian Ainsworth, ArtMuseLondon, 11 October 2022
“Combining a multi-genre passion for contemporary western music with explorations of ancient global traditions, Joby Burgess has done much to foster the art of percussion.”
Steph Power, BBC Music Magazine, 4 October 2022
“a commercially minded playlist of good vibe tracks that reward curiosity with aural treats … Joby Burgess achieves something very special in A Percussionists Songbook, combining 20th century musical ideas, each unmistakably of their time, into a composite sound that sounds fresh. And like all well produced albums it’s one you’ll want to listen to from beginning to end.”
Jon Jacob, Thoroughly Good, 30 September 2022
VIDEO
Live performances of the complete album were filmed by Andy Willsher and Iain Armstrong, with recording engineer Matt Fairclough. Produced by Joby Burgess for Cambridge Music Festival. Captured in 4K at West Road, Cambridge these videos were first shown as part of the 2021 Cambridge Music Festival.
LIVE
Wednesday 13 March 2024 UK, YORK, JACK LYONS CONCERT HALL
Wednesday 11 October 2023 UK, NOTTINGHAM, LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE
Sunday 8 October 2023 UK, TRURO, HALL FOR CORNWALL
Monday 10 July 2023 UK, OXFORD, JACQUELINE DU PRE MUSIC BUILDING - OXFORD FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS in partnership with OXFORD COMTEMPORARY MUSIC
Thursday 26 January 2023 CANADA, VANCOUVER, ORPHEUM ANNEX - PUSH INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL in association with MUSIC ON MAIN
Wednesday 25 January 2023 CANADA, VANCOUVER, ORPHEUM ANNEX - PUSH INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL in association with MUSIC ON MAIN
Friday 7 October 2022 UK, LEEDS, THE VENUE
Thursday 6 October 2022 UK, EDINBURGH, THE QUEEN’S HALL
Wednesday 5 October 2022 UK, LIVERPOOL, THE TUNG AUDITORIUM
Friday 30 September 2022 UK, LONDON, SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Performers
Joby Burgess Almglocken, Aluphone, Bass Drum, Crotales, Desk Bells, Kalimba, Marimba, Space Harp, SPD-SX, Thai Gongs, Vibraphone, Vocoder & Xylosynth
RECORDING Credits
Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9 recorded at Studio 65, Bedfordshire between September and November 2021, additional recording at RAK Studios on 10th October 2021.
Tracks 3 & 5 recorded at RAK Studios, London on 10th October 2021.
Produced by Joby Burgess
Mixed by Nick Wollage at Air Studios
Recording Engineer at Studio 65 Joby Burgess
Recording Engineer at RAK Studios Nick Wollage
Recording Assistant at RAK Studios Felipe Gutierrez
Mastered by Cicely Balston at Air Studios
Released 30 September 2022 on Signum Records.
Support
A Percussionist’s Songbook is generously supported with funds from Arts Council England, Cambridge Music Festival, PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund, The Marchus Trust and the RVW Trust.