Jonny Gee

Non-music stuff first, I reckon... FREE TIME: As well as practising Tai Chi, I'm a keen freediver (Saltfree Divers) & Scuba diver (instructed with BSAC in my teens). I also love wild-camping, hiking, outdoor swimming & flying kites of all shapes & sizes (but I quit flying seriously BIG kites after a trip to A&E via ambulance...ouch!) Bike is my preferred mode of transport - occasionally even with double bass (see below). PHILOSOPHY: Pastime with good company, good food & good drink ought to accompany music whenever possible, methinks...and (it's a no-brainer) car-sharing lifts to gigs keeps CO2 & money-drainage at a minimum, doesn't it? WRONG QUESTION: "What is your favourite kind of music?" Bollocks to that!! There is fab (and crap) music of all genres -- and it is often the intent & integrity of the performance that is most important...but I will admit to loving playing &/or listening to: Bach, Piazzolla, Red Garland Trio (Paul Chambers on jazz bass!), acoustic folk music (sometimes), Chet Baker (always), Doris Day (check out her jazz albums), Gypsy Swing/Parisian Hot Club, Pete Rodriguez (salsa), Mozart, Madness & Sting. Yes, Sting - but NOT his Dowland catastrophe! TRAINING: At uni & music college (Trinity & Copenhagen) I studied double bass, voice & conducting (orchestral, choral & band leadership) and was in the National Youth Choir from 15 until they threw me out when I lost my youth. I also have a lot of experience with logistics: Tour Management, Tech Specs & PA systems. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Too varied to list here...but it includes: opera, jazz, salsa & tango with internationally recognised groups including: The 16, the RPO, Sir Roger Norrington, Dame Cleo Laine & Joanna Eden, sitar guru Ravi Shankar, La Mariposa Tango from Buenos Aires, salsa legend Roberto Pla, afro-beat with Antonio Forcione, plus many live broadcasts on BBC Radio 2,3 & 4 plus German, French, Scottish & Irish Radio & Jazz FM. Orchestrally I play co-principal bass for Southern Sinfonia, and guest principal for Welsh Sinfonia - & I've also played bass guitar on the Queen rig in front of 500 people with Sir Brian May, Sir Roger Daltrey & Ben Elton at Roger Taylor's wedding (with Roger on drums) which was a scream. SESSIONS & RECORDINGS: As well as some award-winning TV & film soundtracks (orchestral & bands), I've played on about 40 or so CDs that I am not embarrassed to listen to (plus countless more that now make excellent coasters & pocket Emergency Signal Mirrors in my Scuba kit. TEACHING: - Dartington International Summer School 1996-2010: tutor on courses including tango, baroque, film music & I designed/directed the salsa course; - Schools (from 1995 til 2015 when my freelance playing took over completely): double bass & jazz at secondary schools including UCS, South Hampstead, LEH, Hampton, Cardinal Vaughan & Slough Grammar; - University: I've led under-graduate workshops at Cambridge University & Royal Holloway, with topics like: improvisation for beginners; the maths of the harmonic series & how the cycle of 5ths is determined by it; free impro to poetry...without obliterating the words! - Primary: a lot of jazz impro (esp.at SHHS Junior) & I currently coach a pop-group of 9-year olds, led by a little girl of 9: an amazing young singer-songwriter called Naira. TRAVEL: If possible I'll travel by train, but drive a lot: I have a 6-seat VW T5 Transporter with comfortable space for 6 adults, plus all their instruments (e.g.including 2 double basses & a few cellos OR a whole jazz band with keys, double bass, drums & PA). FLYING: I have a beautiful French-made removable-neck double bass that is ideal for baroque & chamber music, jazz & tango... it fits in Eurostar luggage racks & I'm happy chucking it in the hold with EasyJet as my standard 20kg hold luggage. I have occasionally hiked & cycled with it... Have you REALLY read this far? If so, stop wasting time & call me ;-)