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2017
My 2016 composition entitled 'Great Expectations' (after Dickens) recorded by David Shipley and David Gowland is featured on this CD of Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist soloists past and present. The song is bourn out of my passion for early 20th Century Musical styles and you can hear the influence of Rachmaninoff, Quilter, Parry and Elgar
2015
A chance to own a piece of unique history - My 2015 composition entitled 'La Carnuaba Waltz' performed on my Gibson L-4 guitar, recorded in 2015 and availble to buy on wax cylinder from Vulcan Records, Sheffield, England.
Janice Rossen plays a selection of Café piano music and is joined by myself and Rupert Gillet on numerous stringed instruments and percussion. This albums draws inspiration from European/American and Celtic folk music, and has Chanson as well as 1970s, Eastern and Medieval influences.
Janice Rossen plays a selection of Café piano music and is joined by myself and Rupert Gillet on numerous stringed instruments and percussion.
A pioneering work of pre-jazz era research and authentic performance presenting popular songs of a hundred years ago. I arranged the music and directed the ensembles on this album. The final track - "There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding" is an explorative arrangement in which I play 18 different plucked-stringed instruments and intertwine several popular musical styles of the day, being to a great extent an hommage to the banjo orchestra - a popular instrumental ensemble of the 1910s. Listen here to a sampler on Youtube here
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2014
This disc features "fourteen hot sides of the most stingo Ragtime and Jass recorded this Century - full of 'Pep & Ginger'", as played by a great war era aviators' orchestra. On it I play the mandolin-banjo, a substitute for the melody banjo, banjaurine or banjolin which pre-dates (in recorded ensembles) and occupies the 'lead' role of the trumpet in the front line of trumpet, trombone and clarinet - a feature of bands playing embryonic forms of jazz at the turn of the 20th century. albertballsflyingaces.co.uk
2013
I am the tenor banjoist/guitarist in this 11-piece orchestra that authentically performs and records period dance band music from the Art Deco era. This is our limited editon 78-rpm record. alexmendham.com
This is the debut album from Alex Mendham & His Orchestra which features period arrangements from both British and American bands from the mid-1920s to mid-1930s.
2011
A CD of the retro mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond featuring 16 songs from 1840 to 1947, arranged, supervised, rehearsed, directed and mixed by myself and Nick Ball. Among the 20 different instruments featured in the arrangements, I play mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, ukulele, bouzouki and banjo. Featured on BBC Radio 2 and 3, NPR and Classic FM. I am currently working on a new album of WW1 songs with Patricia for small ensemble and voice to be released in Summer 2014.
patriciahammond.com
EP released prior to Our Lovely Day, with lively novelty songs "A Nice Cup of Tea", which showcases spoons, glockenspiel, kazoo, ukulele and a whistling chorus; and "Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry" from the 1945 movie The Way to the Stars. On this one I sing in a barbershop quartet.
2010
The only newly-recorded song on the double CD album - "One Day When We Were Young" sung by Patricia Hammond was co-arranged and directed by me for a 1930s film soundtrack-esque chamber ensemble. I also play mandolin and electric guitar on the track.
2008
Aged 18, whilst a student in 6th form, as a member of Chetham's Chamber Choir I augmented the Gabrelli Consort and Players under Paul McCreesh for this Archiv recording.