Justin Thurgur

Justin Thurgur (born 1974) is a British trombonist and composer/arranger.[1]

Biography

He is most well known for his work with the English folk group Bellowhead,[2] who he has played with since its formation in 2004. Bellowhead are winners of five ‘Best Live Act’ awards, two ‘Best Group’ awards and one ‘Best Album’ award from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[3] They have been Artists in Residence at the South Bank Centre since 2007. In 2014 they signed to Island Records for their sixth album ‘Revival’.

Thurgur has been collaborating with the pianist and composer Kishon Khan since 1996, initially in Khan’s Afro-Latin Jazz group ’The Bonobo Orchestra’. In 1999 they formed the Cuban-Funk outfit ’Motimba’ together. Currently Thurgur is working with Khan in the pianist’s Bangla/Latin/Afro/Jazz project ‘Lokkhi Terra’.[4] They are also recording an Afro Jazz album under Thurgur’s name, to be released on their label ‘Funkiwala’, and working on collaborations with the Bangladeshi Baul singers Baby Akhtar and Rob Fakir.[5] Thurgur appeared on a soundtrack of Khan’s for the Bangladeshi movie ‘The Last Thakur’, for which Khan won a Grand Jury award for ‘Best Music’ at the South Asian International Film Festival in New York. In 2010 Khan and Thurgur went to Cuba to record an album in Egrem Studios with Indian percussionist Pandit Dinesh and various Cuban artists, including Giraldo Piloto, Julito Padron and Changuito.[6]

Since 1998, Thurgur has also been working with ex-Fela and Femi Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi.[7] He has recorded, arranged and produced three albums with Sosimi, two under the leader’s name and one for the Nigerian poet Ikwunga. Sosimi’s latest album, ‘You No Fit Touch Am’, was released with Wah Wah 45’s in 2015.

As a session player, he has worked with Tony Allen, Africa Express (which specifically included work with Tony Allen Cheick Tidiane-Seck and Fatoumata Diowara), Tony Kofi, Bukky Leo, Wara,[8] Inemo, The Soothsayers, Osvaldo Chacon, Roberto Pla, The Selector and The Levellers. He was in the band for the Royal National Theatre production of ‘Fela’.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Justin Thurgur". brightyoungfolk.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  2. ↑ Smith, Caspar Llewellyn. "Bellowhead: 'We're a party band with serious intellectual pretensions'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  3. ↑ "Bellowhead – Songs, Playlists, Videos and Tours". BBC Music. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  4. ↑ "Lokkhi Terra – Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries | Songlines World Music News". www.songlines.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Songlines Magazine (June 2015, #108)". Issuu. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  6. ↑ "‘Un Momento de Percussion’ at The Forge (Camden), 22/01 - Pandit Dinesh". Pandit Dinesh. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  7. ↑ "Part 17 - Dele Sosimi: Identity". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Wara announce debut album and UK tour - World Music". www.worldmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-23.

External links

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