‘Ensemble Bash make playing percussion the coolest, noisiest and funniest occupation on earth’
The Times

Formed in 1992, ensemblebash use the music of West Africa as both the core of their repertoire and a guiding spiritual influence, mixed with contemporary, classical, theatre and jazz. Composers who have written for them include Stewart Copeland, Keith Tippett, Nitin Sawhney, Graham Fitkin and around fifty more. Collaborators include Joanna MacGregor, Nana Vasconcelos, Django Bates, Piers Adams, Evelyn Glennie, Chick Corea, Stewart Copeland, The Pan African Orchestra, The National Dance Company of Ghana and Steve Reich. In 1997 they played in Hong Kong to mark the handover of the island to the Chinese and performed for The Queen and Nelson Mandela at the 1998 Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Edinburgh. They’ve toured Europe extensively, appeared at the Sydney Festival, and the BBC Proms on two occasions.

2003 saw their 10th anniversary tour of the UK, followed by the Light and Shade tour with Joanna Macgregor and the Britten Sinfonia. They have frequently toured Italy since 2002, with Stewart Copeland, Radiodervish, Joanna MacGregor, Oficina Zöe, Ensemble Notte della Taranta and Raiz. In 2004 they performed La Notte della Taranta in Piazza San Giovanni, Rome to an audience of more than 500,000 to celebrate Labour Day. This was followed by a two week stadium tour of Italy and Greece with Stewart Copeland. The album of this tour was nominated for a 2006 Grammy. 2005 saw them playing with Nana Vasconcelos at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and in Australia for three weeks, culminating in an appearance in the Melbourne Festival. Ensemble Bash are also renowned for their educational work and workshops. 2007/8 sees the ‘Fiddlesticks’ UK tour with the internationally renowned violinist Madeleine Mitchell. They recently made a return visit to Italy followed by appearances at the Bath International and Henley Festivals amongst others and a featured artist slot with the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra.

CDs by ensemblebash include Damba Moon - traditional African music - on SoundCircus, Launch - music by Stewart Copeland, Michael Daugherty, Howard Skempton etc for Sony and part of a Graham Fitkin album for Argo/Decca.

ensemblebash is supported by the PRS Foundation and Bell Percussion

www.ensembelbash.com

released:
Fiddlesticks

ensemblebash
Chris Brannick
Joby Burgess
Stephen Hiscock
Andrew Martin