Pianist Jonathan Gee

Singer pianist Jonathan Gee brings his scintillating set to the Chandos on the back of his trio selling out Jazz at Lincoln Centre in New York. Playing music from Stevie Wonder to Frank Sinatra to Pat Metheny, he has worked with artists as varied as Alison Moyet, Art Farmer, Bobby Wellins, Mornington Lockett and Claire Martin.
Humphrey Lyttleton said his playing of the music of Thelonious Monk was the best he had heard since Monk himself.
Since being voted Guardian/Wire British Jazz Awards “Most Promising Newcomer” in 1991, Jonathan Gee enjoyed a highly successful ten-year collaboration with bassist Steve Rose and drummer Winston Clifford, also working with many of the country’s leading jazz musicians, including Steve Williamson, Iain Ballamy, Orphy Robinson, Ed Jones, Claire Martin, Tim Whitehead, Christine Tobin and poet Lemn Sissay. In Europe he has appeared with US musicians David Murray, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Harry Allen, James Spaulding, Sonny Fortune and Ted Curson.
Jonathan has performed in 18 countries around the world including Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy. His trio has toured Azerbaijan, Israel, Cameroon, Singapore and performed in Nicosia with the Cyprus Chamber Orchestra.
In the UK, along with Tony Kofi, Ben Hazleton and Winston Clifford, Jonathan co-founded the Monk Liberation Front, dedicated to the work of pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. The band has appeared twice at the London Jazz Festival performing Monk’s complete works in day-long sessions. Humphrey Lyttleton said his playing of the music of Thelonious Monk was the best he had heard since Monk himself.
Jonathan joined the Tony Kofi Quartet for its award-winning 2005 tribute to Thelonious Monk, All Is Know, and The Silent Truth.
Jonathan also sings with bassist Larry Bartley, and is a member of Michael Mwensos Male Vocal Combustion.
Jonathan has formed many musical ties abroad. In Italy he has toured and recorded with Danilo Gallo and Alessandro Minetto, with Joseph Lepore and Enzo Zirilli, as well as saxophonist Tommaso Starace.
In France he has worked with the Didier Conchon/Ramon Layzelles Quintet featuring Wayne Dockery on bass and Antoine Banville on drums. In Finland his trio has been resident annually at the Helsinki Jazz Festival and he has also enjoyed a long-term collaboration with trumpeter/producer Mika Myllari: their Northern Star People project album, View from the Pocket, was launched at the 2008 London Jazz Festival.
“Reflective, beautifully poised pianist” Independent
“Meticulously crafted themes contain much thought and originality…inventive original pianist.” Evening Standard
“Gee has a persuasively lucid touch when it comes to exploring even the knottiest clusters of notes… and a fast-talking intensity that endows his playing with gritty elegance…”Jazzwise

with Phil Scragg: bass • Jeremy Shoham: sax • Rick Finlay: drums