A Short Biography

Chris Gradwell is an associate of the Royal Academy of Music and has freelanced with all the London orchestras, especially the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and National Philharmonic. He also founded and played with the London Saxophone Quartet, and has had his own big band - The Little Big Band. Over the years he has had a diverse range of engagements with many Wigmore and Purcell Room recitals, recording with many of the well-known film composers such as Henry Mancini and Gerry Goldsmith. Chris has recorded with Kiri Te Kanawa, John Williams, Joan Sutherland, Pink Floyd and Genesis for Dee Palmer. He taught Clarinet and Saxophone at Trinity College of Music in London for fifteen years. Since moving to Devon five years ago, Chris plays with The Beare Trio with Hilary Boxer and Andrew Daldorph, Le Jazz, The Little Big Band and AJ's Big Band. He is always exited by good music but especially the classical repertoire, and the jazz classic tunes from the twenties to the present day.

Last summer (2008) he was the special guest in two concerts with the E M G Symphony Orchestra performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, conducted by Roger Hendy & Sir Neville Mariner. This year (2009) he was the soloist with the Isca Ensemble, performing the Finzi Clarinet Concerto" also conducted by Roger Hendy.

"Chris Gradwell's fluent versatile playing is the strongest possible argument of the saxophone's virtues as a recital instrument" The Stage

Educated at: Stonyhurst, Royal Academy of Music, Salzburg Mozarteum.

Teaching posts: Eton College, Trinity College of Music, International Woodwind Workshop. Whilst at the RAM, he took part in what was to turn out to be the first concert performance of Quatour pour la Fin du Temps, Olivier Messian, 21^st March 1963.

Full-time playing engagements: London Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, London Saxophone Quartet, London Palladium Orchestra, Max Jaffa & Cyril Stapleton Orchestras, The Queen Mary, Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in London.

Freelance: With all the London orchestras, 36 years moving around the recording studios and theatres. Chris has played Benny Goodmans solo part Sing Sing Sing, in Bob Fosse's Dancin' on stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Chris has played the Saxophone feature in The Prisoner of Zenda for Henry Mancini. Recordings for Polydor/Deutsche Gramophone with Tito Gobbi, Joan Sutherland, Domingo, Pavarotti and Kiri Te Kanawa etc the schedule took 6 years to complete.

Soloist with: BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Mozarteum Orchestra, Bayerisher Funfunk Orchestra, The Thames Chamber Orchestra, The Grand Duchy Wind Band of Luxembourg, Music Deco, Broadcasts and Recitals with Christine Croshaw, Matters Matrimonial with Wendy Craig & Francis Mathews.

Le Jazz: specialising in the great jazz classics. Le Jazz and Jewels of Jazz CDs available.

The London Saxophone Quartet: From 1969 to 1985, Chris with his colleagues in the London Saxophone Quartet, championed the classical saxophone. Their efforts in promoting composition, concerts and recording with teaching as a high priority won them international acclaim in the legitimate world of saxophone playing. The London Saxophone Quartet has produced many of today's top soloists; many of whom were pupils at the 1976 World Saxophone Congress

Albums: Pink Floyd and Genesis for Dee Palmer, Cantabile, Metropolis, Carmen Jones, Peter Skellern, Richard Stillgoe, London Symphonic Wind Orchestra, John Boorman, Richard Stanard, Five, Yazoo, Rage of the Heart, Screens & Stages, Screen Notes.

TV Series: Hetty Wainthrop Investigates, Just William, Ain't Misbehaven, Anything Goes, Rebecca, Dangerfield, Demob, Campion, Margot Fonteyn, All Passion Spent, Jane Eyre, Anna of the five Towns, Woman of Substance, Vanity Fair, Reunion at Fairborough, Titmus Regained, Monet, Growing Pains, Up the Garden Path, Us Girls, & 4 Years of Crackerjack.

Music & Musicians Ltd: Responsible for: Nigel Hess, David Cullen, David Firman, Peter Martin, Francis Shaw, Paul Reade, John Boorman (3 films), Peter Skellern, David Palmer, Carmen Jones London Production, London Saxophone Quartet 1969 to 1985.

Awards and nominations Music and Musicians Ltd have been involved with:

• Carmen Jones at the Old Vic Musical/David Cullen
  Evening Standard Award 1991 Olivier Award 1992
• Hope and Glory John Boorman/Peter Martin
  Academy and Oscar Nominations: International Critic Award for the music 1989
• Maigert Theme Nigel Hess/Granada
  Ivor Novello , Nomination
• Testament Nigel Hess/CH4
  Ivor Novello Award, Best Theme
• Summers Lease Nigel Hess/BBCTV
  Radio and TV Industries Club Award
• Classic Adventure Nigel Hess/BBCTV
  Silent Satellites 1992, Best Theme
• Screen Play Nigel Hess/Bare Boards
  Oscar Nomination 1993
• Hetty Wainthrop Investigates Nigel Hess/BBCTV
  Ivor Novello Award Best Theme 1999

Miscellaneous: Anything Goes, live TV at the Manchester Opera House. Hope and Glory; Where the Heart is; The Tigers Tale feature films by John Boorman. Bedroom and Hallways, feature film Rose Troche & Ian Macpherson. Odd sessions for Richard Stanard, Steve Mckeon, Ian Macpherson, David Firman, David Cullen, Peter Martin, Nigel Hess. Little Big Band, with Peter Skellern, Richard Stillgoe, Ian Carmichael, Stephanie Lawrence, Instant Sunshine. Agent for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor David Atherton.