Byron Wallen

Meeting Ground (2007)

"British trumpeter Byron Wallen sometimes suggests an absorbing fusion of the fragmentary lyricism of late period Miles Davis and the spiky euphoria of Don Cherry.

Just as frequently he will seem closer to Asian or North African music, or reveal an informed appreciation of some of the earliest trumpet pioneers in jazz, and be equally at ease playing postbop, Talvin Singh's music, or Craig David's.

An eager globetrotter in pursuit of new sounds, Wallen has developed both his playing and his compositional resources through a decade of trips to Africa and Indonesia to work with local players, and his new album Meeting Ground is an eclectic programme of grooves, Moroccan gnawa music and free jazz. The album marks a reactivation of his fine quartet Indigo, made up of gifted players saxophonist Tony Kofi, bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Tom Skinner." – JOHN L. WALTERS

Indigo (2002)

"A fascinating set of his own pieces reflecting the influence of various strands in the evolution of black music … the effect is mesmeric." – JAZZ UK

"A timeless album … it's as tasty as an organic loaf, fresh out of the oven …" – THE GUARDIAN

"Wallen cleverly incorporates the most modern musical techniques of sampling sounds with such ancient instruments as the ocarina, shells and the gamelan." – BIRMINGHAM POST

"On Indigo his quartet creates a joyous head of steam. Odd time signatures abound but Wallen remains funky and accessible …" – THE TIMES

"Byron has returned with his most convincing disc to date." – THE SCOTSMAN

"The trumpeter's compositions reflect his love for both traditional ethnic musics, contemporary dance and funk as well as the jazz which lies at its heart." – JAZZWISE

Earth Roots (1997)

"Byron tackles areas of music only the extremely talented can venture into, this is world jazz of the highest quality, an exceptional piece and one to expand with." – TOUCH

"One to make the garden grow" – GQ

"The overall results are graceful, intelligent and consistently creative." – THE EVENING STANDARD

"This weird and wonderful collection is way, way out on its own … like nothing out there." – BLUES & SOUL

"Byron has written, arranged, composed and produced a work filled with love and melody." – STRAIGHT NO CHASER

"Earth Roots is like nourishing the soul as well as the senses. The tracks flow into each other like rivers to the wide open mouth of the sea." – THE JOURNAL

Bambaraka (1997)

The sound of the African Diaspora from Mali to London through the lens of the Gnawa. Recorded on Location with traditional musicians from Niger and Morocco. The album features Byron Wallen on trumpet.

This recording of Bambaraka was made in October 1996 in the town of Sale, close to the Moroccan capital during a two part ceremony whose unique form the participants intend to develop and continue in times to come. The musical encounter of two consecrated masters, Oumarou Namazarou – Peul Flautist from Niger, and Si Mohamed Chaouqi – Tbel Drum and Guimbri player from Morocco, translates a feeling of belonging to a common history, which marked ancient trans-Saharan migrations. The real history of the movement of black populations towards the North of the Sahara survives in the memory of the Moroccan Gnawas who claim and celebrate its heritage. It is upon the individual initiatives of Byron Wallen and Martin Colliver who share production of the album that these two african master musicians can be reunited.

Sound Advice (1995)

"Powerful, beautifully performed, touching and astonishingly varied debut album … superb and challenging from start to finish." – ECHOES

"A key mover and shaker in the generation of London jazz based talent. A confident and eclectic record." – TIME OUT

"Bop-to-rap spectrum spanned by versatile trumpeter." – THE EVENING STANDARD

"An ambitious and formidably skilful debut." – THE GUARDIAN

"One to watch." – Q

"Sound Advice … just what the doctor ordered." – BLUES & SOUL

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2007 Meeting Ground – recorded on Twilight Jaguar Records.

2002 Indigo – recorded on Twilight Jaguar Records.

2001 Sacred Circles project – playing a wide range of traditional instruments, conch shells and technology to create a spiral labyrinth of sound with Cleveland Watkiss on vocals and turntables.

2000 Gayan project – focusing on Indonesia and East Africa, and fusing it with the urban sounds of modern dance music and contemporary classical traditions.

1997 Second solo album Earth Roots – recorded for MELT 2000. This album presents the trumpet as a voice travelling through the continents of the world. It is a social comment on the plight of indigenous peoples and the violation of nature. Earth Roots was nominated for a MOBO award.

1995 First album Sound Advice co-produced with Airto Moreira and an all-star cast – released on B&W Music.

1994 Tarot Suite – drawing inspiration from the symbols and imagery of the tarot cards, the twenty-two piece suite was written for ten musicians. Commissioned by Nottingham County Council.

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2007 Meeting Ground – Twilight Jaguar Records

2002 Indigo – Twilight Jaguar Records

1997 Winds of Change 12" – MELT 2000

1997 Earth Roots – MELT 2000

1995 Sound Advice – B&W Music

1994 A Compilation – Dorado Records

1993 Planet London compilation – Tongue & Groove Records

1993 Progress 12" – Tongue & Groove Records

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2008 Courtney Pine – Afropeans – Destin-E Records

2006 Tony Kofi – Future Passed – Proper Records

2003 Courtney Pine – Devotion

2001 Ingrid Laubrock – Some Times – Candid Records

2000 Courtney Pine – Back in the Day – Verve Music

1998 Felix Jay – Acoustic Masks – FMR Records

1997 Cleveland Watkiss – Blessing in Disguise – Polydor Records

1997 Ed Jones Quintet – Out in the Open – ASC Records

1996 Malta – UK Underground – JVC Records

1996 Nigel Thomas Quintet – Yoichi – Ojin Records

1994 John Stevens Quartet – New Cool – The Jazz Label

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2002 Craig David – Slicker Than Your Average – Wildstar

2000 Talvin Singh – OK – Island Records

1998 Red Snapper – Making Bones – Warp Records

1997 Kwesi – Testimony – Sony Music

1997 Outside – Discoveries – Dorado Records

1997 21st Century Soul – Talkin' Loud

1996 Incognito – Remixed – Talkin' Loud

1996 Sandra Cross – Just a Dream – Pioneer Records

1995 Outside – The Rough and the Smooth – Dorado Records

1995 Jazz Jamaica – The Jamaican Beat Vol. 2 – Toshiba EMI

1994 The Powdered Rhino Horns – Blow Job – Tongue & Groove Records

1993 Izit – The Whole Affair – Tongue & Groove Records

1993 Outside – Almost In – Dorado Records

1991 The Escofferys – Opinions – Atlantic Records

1990 Loose Ends – Look How Long – Ten Records

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2006 Toumani Diabate – Symmetric Orchestra – World Circuit

2005 Cheikh Lo – Lamp Fall – World Circuit

2000 Master Musicians of Joujouka – Universal

1998 Moses Molelekwa – Genes and Spirits – MELT 2000

1997 Richard Horowitz & Sussan Deyhim – Majoun – Sony Classical

1997 Brice Wassy – Shrine Dance – MELT 2000

1997 Ammampondo – Drums for Tomorrow – MELT 2000

1997 Vusi Khumalo – Follow your Dream – MELT 2000

1997 Bambaraka – Automatic Original – Sakti Music

1995 Outernational Meltdown South Africa – Jazzin' Universally, Healers Brew, Free at Last – B&W Music

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2008 Toured with Jason Moran CMN UK Tour; Artist in Africa! Africa! Circus Production; Jack Johnson movie project with Jack DeJohnette; Callejoneada project in Zacatecas, Mexico.

2007 Toured with Indigo promoting album Meeting Ground; World Tour with Jack DeJohnette's Intercontinental; UK Tour with Guy Barker's Amadeus project and Michael Brandon; Barbican performance with McCoy Tyner Septet.

2006 Toured the world with Andrew Hill, the legendary Blue Note Artist; Recorded with Toumani Diabate for World Circuit Records.

2005 Performed with Baaba Maal; Recorded with Cheik-Lo for World Circuit Records; Recorded with William Orbit for forthcoming album.

2003 Recorded on Courtney Pine's album Devotion.

2002 Collaboration with Craig David Ensemble and soloing on the title track Slicker Than Your Average; Recorded on Courtney Pine's album Urban Grooves; Performed for Commonwealth Games.

2001 Windrush Gala Concert – a culmination of a remarkable season of programmes by the BBC, collaborating with Mica Paris, Caron Wheeler, Shola Ama, Roland Gift, Desmond Decker, Janet Kay and Grace Jones.

2000 Recorded on Jean Toussaint's album Street Above The Underground and toured with his Nazaire group; Recorded on Courtney Pine's album Back In The Day; Collaborated with Talvin Singh on his Mercury prize award-winning album OK (Island Records); Performed with George Benson, Brice Wassy; Collaborated with the Arabian tabla master Rony Barak and Alaadin in Kano, Nigeria for a project launching the new British Council building.

1997–1998 Co-wrote and toured with the band Red Snapper, as special guests of The Prodigy. The resulting album is called Making Bones; Incognito world tour; Chaka Khan; George Benson.

1996–2005 Performing with David Murray, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill and Butch Morris; Performing with Hugh Masekela, Manu Dibango and Ammampondo.

1996–1997 Performing with Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronnie Laws, Chaka Khan; Performing with rap outfits including The Roots, Digable Planets and Us3.

1996 Travelled to Morocco performing and recording with master Gnawa musician Si Muhammed culminating in the release of Automatic Original.

1989–1995 Performing with Gary Crosby, Nu Troop, John Stevens, London Afro-Bloco, Errollyn Wallen, Ensemble X, Free Speech, Outside.

1989–1992 Performing with Loose Ends, Mervyn Africa, The Style Council, Charles Earland, Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint.

1989 Recorded with Loose Ends Look How Long and Cleveland Watkiss.

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