TG Collective
The TG Collective was born in September 2006, bringing together a spirited brew of young, Birmingham-based musicians.
TGC was founded by Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater - two of the three guitars of Trio Gitano, whose debut album Who Ate All The Tapas? surprised everyone, finishing 2005 at No.4 in the Sunday Times' Records of the Year.
"Stylish, very stylish ..." - The Times ****
"A triumph..." - The Sunday Times ****
"Bold, expressive playing that's liberatingly inventive..." - Songlines ****
"As refreshing as it is infectious..." - Jazzwise ***
"Dazzling dynamic..." - The Metro *****
The Collective follow similar musical paths that won much praise from critics in previous years. Moving through flamenco, jazz, gypsy, hotclub and contemporary classical influences, the group is centered around two acoustic guitars, set alongside a core of double bass, flute and violin, and often growing to feature trumpets, percussion and flamenco dance, with new and interchanging shapes and sizes of ensemble from gig to gig, and within a performance.
Touching on the influences and new arrangements of works by such luminaries as Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt and Horace Silver, the Collective also perform self-penned compositions and arrangements, and music by longstanding TG Guru Bryan Lester.
The previous twelve months have found TGC at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France; Barcelona, Spain; and throughout the UK, from Edinburgh to London, Liverpool to Glasgow. In October, the group sold out Birmingham's Glee Club for a performance collaboration with eminent flamenco dancer and choreographer Ana Garcia, now a key part of the Collective, and followed with a spring sell-out at the 2008 Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Summer 2008 finds TGC continuing to work on new compositions, arrangements and recordings for the keenly awaited follow-up album, which will be released towards the end of the year, with a 20 date UK autumn tour beginning in September. The group are also beginning work on a new suite of music by composer Bryan Lester, featuring strong influences from North Indian classical music.
