About Ben Comeau
London-based pianist, composer and organist
Ben Comeau Description
"Preternaturally talented. . . something of a musical savant" - Spectator
"One of Truro's excellent musical exports" - Richard Gowers
Ben Comeau is rapidly emerging as a uniquely versatile musician. Active as a pianist, composer and organist, he is very active in both the classical and jazz worlds, and is based in London. He has written and recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and his compositions have been heard in venues including the Wigmore Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Aged just 18 he won the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition; he regularly performs piano and organ recitals across the UK and France. He graduated with a starred first from the University of Cambridge, where he is now employed to teach harmony, counterpoint, aural and keyboard skills. He is shortly to be embarking on postgraduate study of jazz piano at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Reviews
Another clip from my masters' final recital in Guildhall. Featuring a free improv section with singer Alice McCarthy which segues into Oscar Georges's tune 'Epic Short Story', here performed with Andrea di Biase (bass) & Felix Ambach (drums)...
Uploading a couple of clips from my final master's recital at Guildhall School of Music and Drama a few days ago.
Here's an irreverent reworking of Edith Piaf's iconic song 'La Vie en rose', featuring maybe the riskiest solo piano improvisation I've ever attempted from 0.56...
- with https://www.facebook.com/alice.mlnjbbvkbv kb
Something for your diaries...
v excited to be performing at the inaugural Muswell Hill Music Festival in duo with Alice McCarthy!
12th July 20.00-21.00
... We'll perform repertoire exploring American/French connections in the 20th century including Gershwin, Michel Legrand, Edith Piaf etc...plus brand new compositions from each of us.
This is a brand new festival in North London that has a v exciting programme of choral and chamber music from 8-13 July 2019.
A Festival Pass, which gives access to all events and includes a complimentary programme can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/2Qiuygo
More info: http://www.mhmusicfest.co.uk
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Reminder - TOMORROW 11am - new music by myself and Elsa Hackett, plus meditation led by Henry Tozer and music by David Liddle. Union Chapel Islington, part of London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. Free entry!
https://m.facebook.com/events/68539003189 1804
THIS SUNDAY MORNING
*THREE* world premiere compositions from Elsa Hackett and myself featuring a mystical Sufi text from Rumi and musical themes from Hildegaard von Bingen... PLUS a meditation led by Henry Tozer PLUS organ music from David Liddle and more!
Part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.
11am, Union Chapel, Islington, free entry.
Come!!!!
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TOMORROW LUNCHTIME I'm giving a piano/voice recital with Alice McCarthy at St Stephen Walbrook church (near Bank tube).
We'll perform French impressionist songs, followed by jazz standards, chansons and Alice's originals.
13.00-13.50, FREE ENTRY
... Here's a clip of us last year improvising around Gershwin's Summertime.
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Couple of weeks ago I played with 'XRBaroque' - a band of early music players with a shared concern for climate change, who came together to perform for Extinction Rebellion (XR) climate protest actions in London. I'm still mulling over the role that music plays in political actions (it's complicated!!) but my experiences last month playing music in climate protests were very positive.
This was at Marble Arch on the night of 21st April. We went on stage just after a rave band, and were unsure how the crowd would respond to our mix of Bach and Purcell. I'm very glad we took the risk - it was a special night. I'm at the back playing continuo on a Yamaha keyboard - you can't hear me, which perhaps isn't a bad thing given my baroque-pitch-transposition errors! We're hoping to do more similar performances in future - watch this space...
Performing in support of pan-European unity in Berlin, December 2016
On Friday 19th April I'm performing alongside acts including BBC Gospel Choir of the Year, 'Shalom Chorale', in an evening of music, poetry and dance at the Union Chapel, Islington, that both examines and questions the future for our planet.
I'll be leading my band, the Ben Comeau Ensemble, in a couple of original compositions, and the concert also features songs made famous by Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Pete Seeger and others.
FREE ENTRY but you need to book in advance here: https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/…/19-04- 2019-dark-sacred-ni…/
'Dark Sacred Nights' - a night of music, poetry and dance at the Union Chapel, Islington, that both examines and questions the future for our planet.
I'm performing alongside acts including BBC Gospel Choir of the Year, 'Shalom Chorale'.
Friday 19th April, music from 7pm.
... FREE ENTRY but you need to book in advance here: https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/…/19-04- 2019-dark-sacred-ni…/
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Had a lot of fun with Meow Meow in the BBC Radio 3 studio today! We performed Kurt Weill, Michel Legrand and Astor Piazzolla. On iPlayer for the next month...
I'm accompanying cabaret star Meow Meow today, live on BBC Radio 3, around 18.30. Featuring songs by Kurt Weill, Astor Piazzolla and Michel Legrand. Meow Meow last sang the latter accompanied by none other than the late Michel Legrand himself. No pressure then...
Here's a video from Meow Meow's recent tour with Pink Martini, with whom she has just released an album, 'Hotel Amour', featuring guest appearances from Legrand, Barry Humphries, Rufus Wainwright and the Von Trapps.
Back in 2012 I transcribed Debussy's orchestral showpiece 'Fêtes' for pipe organ. Tomorrow I'm performing it in Westminster Abbey, alongside works by Bach, Messiaen and an original composition. 5.45-6.15pm, free entry.
Here's an excerpt from my performance of 'Fêtes' in Truro Cathedral a few years ago.
Final reminder - TONIGHT! The only chance to catch my German trio in the UK (who knows how much harder it will be for EU musicians to do gigs here in a few weeks??)
Union chapel bar, Islington. Doors open 19.00. Ends c22.00.
Here's a practice clip from a jazz fugue I wrote for my Trio de Cologne.
We're performing THIS WEDNESDAY at Union Chapel bar, Islington...don't miss!! TICKETS HERE: https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/…/27-03- 2019-trio-de-cologne/
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/302964200 623472/
REMINDER - my jazz trio from Cologne is coming all the way to London for ONE GIG ONLY!
Union Chapel bar, Islington, Wed 27th, 19.30.
All-original compositions, feat. lots of spontaneity & grooviness from Oscar, Jonas & myself.
... BUY TICKETS HERE: https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/…/27-03- 2019-trio-de-cologne/
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I'm performing with 'Trio de Cologne' at the Union Chapel bar, Islington, Wed 27th March, 19.30-22.00.
BOOK NOW - limited ticket availability! - https://www.unionchapel.org.uk/…/27-03- 2019-trio-de-cologne/
Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/302964200 623472/
... Expect lots of Bach-infused odd-time-signature jazzy counterpoint...
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