CD, 13 tracks, W140mm x H125mm
The original line-up of Trio Gitano - Jamie Fekete,
Sam Slater and Sophie Johnson -
performed together between 2001 and summer 2006, releasing their
debut album, Who Ate All The Tapas?,
in 2005.
The Trio began simply, when
three young guitarists first crossed paths in their mid-teens,
performing together as part of the Birmingham School's Guitar Ensemble,
which gave them a taste of venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and
The Royal Festival Hall. It was here they struck up a rapport with
Bryan Lester - the then director of the Schools' ensemble, and now
long-term composer-in-residence, guru and Musical Director of TG.
On graduating from University in
the summer of 2004, Trio Gitano were finally able to set about recording
their long-awaited debut album, Who Ate All the Tapas? which they
released in August 2005, with
the fledgling Birmingham label, The Birds Recording Company.
The Trio also developed a fine relationship
with two top Midland-based trumpeters that year, with Ray
Butcher and Bryan Corbett both performing live
with the Trio, with Bryan also featuring on the Trio's album.
After leaving the ensemble at 18, Jamie, Sam
and Sophie continued playing together, which developed and evolved into
'Trio Gitano' sometime in 2001. Staying in Birmingham as students, the
trio found themselves performing to a gathering fan base drawn in by
their intense live performances, which took them to a wide range of
venues throughout the UK, from theatres to jazz clubs, the Royal Opera
House to the RSC.