Jim Hart
JIM HART
Vibraphone / Drums / Percussion / Composition
Originally form Cornwall, Jim Hart began playing piano and drums aged four and soon extended this to include tuned and orchestral percussion. He started playing jazz and working on modern harmony aged ten.
In 1994 he went to Manchester to do his A levels at Chetham’s School of Music. Whilst here he was a percussion finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and won the John Dankworth ‘Most Promising Musician’ award in the BBC Big Band of the Year competition.
He then moved to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he began to focus mainly on playing jazz, both on drums and piano. On leaving the Guildhall, Jim became the drummer for NYJO and stayed with them for three years. During this time Jim also developed as a vibraphone player and became in demand as a drummer and percussionist.
In 2002 Jim formed his own group Gemini with saxophonist Ivo Neame and began writing all the music for it. With this group he went on to be a founder member of London’s innovative LOOP Collective. Gemini’s first album ‘Emergence’ was received to critical acclaim and a successful UK tour followed. Jim used ‘Emergence’ to set up the collective’s label LOOP Records. He is currently working on the second Gemini album. Jim also fronts a second group called the Jim Hart Quartet with Ivo on piano. With this group he recently recorded for Woodville records for release later this year.
He was the late Sir John Dankworth’s drummer for the last two years and continues to play for Dame Cleo Laine. He also performs regularly with Neon, with Stan Sulzmann and Gwilym Simcock, The Liquorice Allsorts with Alan Barnes and Paul Clarvis, The Ivo Neame Quartet, The New Jazz Couriers, Tom Richards Jazz Orchestra among others.
Jim was the winner of a British Jazz award in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the Worshipful Company of Musicians Jazz medal in 2006. He has worked with a host of international stars including Phil Woods, Joel Frahm, Clarence Penn, Richie Barshay, Franco Ambrosetti, Julien Arguelles, The Herbaliser and The Heritage Orchestra.
“Some of the best music I’ve heard in a long time. Definitely the best vibes playing I’ve heard in a long time.” – Joe Locke
“Hart has developed an impressively individual voice.” – Jazzwize
“His vibes playing is a revelation” – The Times
DISCOGRAPHY:
As a leader:
Jim Hart’s Gemini – Emergence (Loop Records – loop1001)
Jim Hart’s Gemini – Narrada (Loop Records – loop1010)
Jim Hart Quartet – Words and Music (Woodville Records – WVCD124)
PRESS QUOTES:
On Gemini:
To become an outstanding performer on one instrument is tough enough – to manage it on two instruments as Jim Hart has done is quite remarkable. I’m certain that Jim’s skills as drummer and vibraphone specialist, allied to his energy and creativity, will ensure that he emerges as one of the brightest stars on the UK and European Jazz scene. John Surman
“The band weave a wittily intricate web of melody and mayhem…… a dazzling, rhythmically rigorous display of virtuoso composition and improvisation”. Chris Ingham, MOJO
“Right from the opening track, Narrada sounds like uncompromising but melodically very engaging contemporary postbop.” John Fordham – The Guardian
“Hart has developed an impressively individual voice, using a four mallet technique that allows him to switch between pointed chords and mellifluous runs with ease……”. Daniel Spicer – Jazzwize
“…deeply grooved ensemble playing, each player, classically, a part yet apart.” Andy Robson – Jazzwise
Images of Eric Dolphy and, by descent, Frank Zappa flit through the listener’s mind, which also senses a likeness to the more recent work of John Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet. Martin Longley – BBC Review
Definately the best vibes playing I’ve heard in a long time. Joe Locke
Outstanding……a stunning performance from the rhythmically poised Hart, who delivered a fine balance of ringing tones, deadened notes and hard-swinging lines. Mike Hobbart – Financial Times
For More Information:
www.jimhart.co.uk
www.loopcollective.org
