Mark Wingfield
Encyclopedia
Mark Wingfield is a guitarist
and composer
based in the UK.
Most of his output is rooted in jazz
, but he is also active in contemporary classical music
.
Highly respected among his peers for his original and distinctive electric guitar
playing, much of his output is directed towards performing and studio work.
Wingfield cites other jazz, rock
, Indian
, Japanese, African and classical
music as influences, and as a composer, has written over 70 compositions. Part of the hallmark of both his guitar playing and his composing, is that these influences are fused with western classical music, and integrated into a distinctive musical voice.
His compositions blend lyrical melodies with a distinctive harmonic palette and sometimes complex rhythmic components.
He has recorded a number of albums as a leader, and has recorded or performed with Iain Ballamy
, Jeremy Stacey
, Robert Mitchell
, Yaron Stavi, Jane Chapman, René von Grünig, Christoph Leistner.
Wingfield was also involved with the ground breaking internet
band ResRocket within which he played with such musicians as Tricky
, Matt Black
, Peter Gabriel
, Elliott Randall
, Todd Rundgren
, and Dave Stewart
.
In addition to this, Wingfield, with jazz groups SMQ and Scapetrace, has collaborated with Christian Kuntner http://kuntner.ch/ and Roberto Di Martino, among others.
, Miles Davis
, Keith Jarrett
and Jan Garbarek
, as well as rock players such as Jimi Hendrix
as forming part of the foundation of his musical pallet.
On his CD Fallen Cities, he collaborated with Lebanese
singer Samia Afra, and continued his interest in non-western forms, working and performing with Turkish
musicians such as Gökhan Özyavuz in Istanbul
as well as Zambia
n musician KT Lumpa.
Wingfield’s interest in music technology came to the fore when he was asked by award winning songwriter Willy Henshall (of Londonbeat
) to join ResRocket, a band made up of respected musicians from around the world who, using especially developed software, played together live over the internet. As a core member of ResRocket http://www.jamwith.us/about_us/rocket_history.shtml, as well as recording an album
, he toured with the band, playing in London
, Paris
, LA
, Oslo
, and elsewhere. During concerts, some of the members were physically on stage, while others played live over the internet projected on giant screens on stage. This was the first time any of this had been done over the internet.
As a jazz guitarist, Wingfield has played widely in Europe with groups such as SMQ and Scapetrace. He now plays with his own band the Mark Wingfield Group and he has released six albums to date. He is currently recording on the Dark Energy Music label http://www.darkenergymusic.com/.
in 2006 to mark the opening of its new Contemporary Music Department http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/ccmc/index.php and have also been featured in lectures and workshops at The Royal College of Music
, London, Trinity College of Music
, London, and Dartington College of Arts
' music department.
The growing interest in his work has led to commissions for the BMIC’s Cutting Edge Series, SPNM’s Sound Source, the European Commission funded Waterways Celebration, Jane Chapman, Kate Ryder, Elaine Funaro http://www.elainefunaro.com/, Geoffrey Burgess, McFall’s Chamber http://www.sound-scotland.co.uk/site/artists2007/MrMcFallsChamber.htm and others.
His compositions have been performed in concert halls and festivals in cities across the UK including, London, Bath, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Southampton. His work has also been performed internationally including, New York City, Zurich and Luzern.
, and played in and around Boston
when young. Later moving to England
, he played in groups in Bristol
and London
. An interest in jazz lead him to begin playing in Europe where he worked as composer and performer, touring and recording with various jazz groups including SMQ, Scapetrace, as well as his own groups.
Though primarily self taught, he studied orchestration with Colin Huens, music fellow at the University of Cambridge
. He also studied western and non-western classical musical forms, and further developed his interest in Indian, African and Japanese music.
On his album Three Windows: "This is a unique and sophisticated musical statement by three of England's most accomplished players, as well as one of the year's most engaging recordings." Guitar Player Magazine
"There are so many electric guitar virtuoso albums ...it's so easy to overlook some of the better of these ...Mark Wingfield is a case in point... uplifting... inspiration... engaging" Guitar Techniques Magazine
"His lyrical melody lines weave in and out of those sophisticated tonalities with the deftness of a London cabbie negotiating midtown traffic" Guitar Player Magazine
"Cinematic eloquence... command of electronic textures..." The Guardian
"Wingfield's musical eclecticism is well attested... very distinctive-sounding" Jazzwise
“Almost moved me to tears.” BBC
“Simply one of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard in my long career, essential listening” Richard Newman (Producer and
presenter of a Channel 4
TV guitar documentary
, and author of numerous books on music).
“One of today’s most creative transatlantic musical voices” BMIC
“One of the UK’s best new composers” SPNM
2007
2006
2003–2007
2004
2003
2006
2004
2001
2007
2006
2005
2003
2001
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
based in the UK.
Most of his output is rooted in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, but he is also active in contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
.
Highly respected among his peers for his original and distinctive electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
playing, much of his output is directed towards performing and studio work.
Wingfield cites other jazz, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Indian
Music of India
The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, classical music and R&B. India's classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and developed over several eras. It remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as...
, Japanese, African and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
music as influences, and as a composer, has written over 70 compositions. Part of the hallmark of both his guitar playing and his composing, is that these influences are fused with western classical music, and integrated into a distinctive musical voice.
His compositions blend lyrical melodies with a distinctive harmonic palette and sometimes complex rhythmic components.
He has recorded a number of albums as a leader, and has recorded or performed with Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
, Jeremy Stacey
Jeremy Stacey
Jeremy Stacey is a British drummer. His early work included the 1990s band, The Lemon Trees and Denzil...
, Robert Mitchell
Robert Mitchell (jazz pianist)
Robert Mitchell is a British jazz musician, composer and teacher.Born in Ilford, Essex, Mitchell has forged a formidable reputation as a gifted pianist and composer. As part of the F-ire Collective, Robert won the Jazz on 3 Innovation Award at the 2004 BBC Jazz Awards; he has also been nominated...
, Yaron Stavi, Jane Chapman, René von Grünig, Christoph Leistner.
Wingfield was also involved with the ground breaking internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
band ResRocket within which he played with such musicians as Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Matt Black
Matt Black
Matt Black is a British DJ and one half of music duo Coldcut .As a college student, he was a member of a band called The Jazz Insects, whose first single was played by John Peel in his radio show...
, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Elliott Randall
Elliott Randall
Elliott Randall is an American guitarist, most known for being a session musician with popular artists. Randall has played the well-known guitar solos from Steely Dan's hit "Reelin' in the Years" and Fame. Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has reputedly said that Randall's solo on...
, Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, and Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
.
In addition to this, Wingfield, with jazz groups SMQ and Scapetrace, has collaborated with Christian Kuntner http://kuntner.ch/ and Roberto Di Martino, among others.
As a performer
As a guitarist, Wingfield cites jazz influences such as John ColtraneJohn Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
and Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter...
, as well as rock players such as Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
as forming part of the foundation of his musical pallet.
On his CD Fallen Cities, he collaborated with Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
singer Samia Afra, and continued his interest in non-western forms, working and performing with Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
musicians such as Gökhan Özyavuz in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
as well as Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n musician KT Lumpa.
Wingfield’s interest in music technology came to the fore when he was asked by award winning songwriter Willy Henshall (of Londonbeat
Londonbeat
Londonbeat was originally a UK and American R&B and Dance band who scored a number of pop and dance hits in the early 1990s.-History:Londonbeat's career started in the Netherlands where "There's a Beat Going On" reached the Top 10, and then "9 A.M " which subsequently became a modest success in the...
) to join ResRocket, a band made up of respected musicians from around the world who, using especially developed software, played together live over the internet. As a core member of ResRocket http://www.jamwith.us/about_us/rocket_history.shtml, as well as recording an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, he toured with the band, playing in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, LA
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and elsewhere. During concerts, some of the members were physically on stage, while others played live over the internet projected on giant screens on stage. This was the first time any of this had been done over the internet.
As a jazz guitarist, Wingfield has played widely in Europe with groups such as SMQ and Scapetrace. He now plays with his own band the Mark Wingfield Group and he has released six albums to date. He is currently recording on the Dark Energy Music label http://www.darkenergymusic.com/.
Composition
His compositions were the subject of a lecture at Goldsmiths College, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2006 to mark the opening of its new Contemporary Music Department http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/ccmc/index.php and have also been featured in lectures and workshops at The Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, London, Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
, London, and Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
' music department.
The growing interest in his work has led to commissions for the BMIC’s Cutting Edge Series, SPNM’s Sound Source, the European Commission funded Waterways Celebration, Jane Chapman, Kate Ryder, Elaine Funaro http://www.elainefunaro.com/, Geoffrey Burgess, McFall’s Chamber http://www.sound-scotland.co.uk/site/artists2007/MrMcFallsChamber.htm and others.
His compositions have been performed in concert halls and festivals in cities across the UK including, London, Bath, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Southampton. His work has also been performed internationally including, New York City, Zurich and Luzern.
Background
Wingfield was brought up in AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and played in and around Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
when young. Later moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he played in groups in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. An interest in jazz lead him to begin playing in Europe where he worked as composer and performer, touring and recording with various jazz groups including SMQ, Scapetrace, as well as his own groups.
Though primarily self taught, he studied orchestration with Colin Huens, music fellow at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He also studied western and non-western classical musical forms, and further developed his interest in Indian, African and Japanese music.
Critical reaction
"Wingfield's guitar playing is mysterious, majestic, and blazing in turns" Guitar Player MagazineOn his album Three Windows: "This is a unique and sophisticated musical statement by three of England's most accomplished players, as well as one of the year's most engaging recordings." Guitar Player Magazine
"There are so many electric guitar virtuoso albums ...it's so easy to overlook some of the better of these ...Mark Wingfield is a case in point... uplifting... inspiration... engaging" Guitar Techniques Magazine
"His lyrical melody lines weave in and out of those sophisticated tonalities with the deftness of a London cabbie negotiating midtown traffic" Guitar Player Magazine
"Cinematic eloquence... command of electronic textures..." The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
"Wingfield's musical eclecticism is well attested... very distinctive-sounding" Jazzwise
Jazzwise
Jazzwise Publications Limited is a UK-based specialist jazz music publisher and education company. It was founded in 1984 as a mail-order company promoting jazz and improvisation through catalogues and short courses and workshops for musicians...
“Almost moved me to tears.” BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
“Simply one of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard in my long career, essential listening” Richard Newman (Producer and
presenter of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
TV guitar documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, and author of numerous books on music).
“One of today’s most creative transatlantic musical voices” BMIC
“One of the UK’s best new composers” SPNM
Compositions
- (This is an incomplete list)
2007
- Trango
- Premonition at Dalston Junction
2006
- Orange Sky : Blue Storm
- Keyenta Ghosts
- Serra Central
- Naiads
2003–2007
- over 50 jazz compositions for various albums recorded by himself and commissioned by others.
2004
- Kayenta Spires
2003
- Tryfan
Composing Commissions
2007- Trango a piece for harpsichord and baroque oboe by Elaine Funaro and Geoffry Burgess.
2006
- Commissioned to compose Orange Sky : Blue Storm, premiered at the BMIC Cutting Edge Series by renowned classical players Kate Ryder and Jane Chapman.
- Commissioned to compose two pieces for SPNM’s Sound Source, premiered at Cargo in London. Keyenta Ghosts and Keyenta Ghosts for harpsichord and electronics
- Commissioned by European Development Funded Waterways to compose Naiads, a piece for oboe harpsichord and piano.
2004
- Kayenta Spires for Jane Chapman
2001
- Tryfan string quartet for McFall's Chamber
Discography
2008- Three Windows with Jane Chapman and Iain Ballamy
2007
- Guitar Encryptions with René von Grünig
2006
- Liquid Maps
2005
- Fallen Cities
2003
- Pulse
2001
- Sedan's Mask
External links
- Mark Wingfield's website: http://www.markwingfield.com
- Mark Wingfield's MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page: http://myspace.com/markwingfieldguitar - Mark Wingfield and Jane Chapman: http://www.chapmanwingfield.co.uk
- Dark Energy Music website: http://www.darkenergymusic.com
- Biography at All About Jazz: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=15552