Ged Kingsford

Percussionist Ged Kingsford began playing drums at the age of eleven. By the age of fifteen, he was playing in semi-professional bands. He first recorded a work solely for percussion, called 'Opening of Doors' at the age of nineteen.

Above: Ged Performing 'Symphony in Cut Glass' at the St. Ives
Theatre, Sept. 20, 2003

Since then, Ged has gone on to work with many musicians in both mainstream and experimental situations.

Ged was a founding member of the avant-garde rock band ‘Metabolist'. The band attracted considerable attention from the music press and from luminaries such as Brian Eno, and the band 'Can'. They attained the position of number four in the European Rock Chart, compiled by Sounds Magazine, who called the band "One of the most interesting bands in Britain" at that time.

Kerrang said about Ged "Outrageously Talented Sticksman, Truly Fine Musician"

Ged has recently returned to session work and to creating works for tuned and non-tuned percussion with prepared electronic sounds.

"All rhythms are overlapping throughout the world. and I am suggesting that differences in music/rhythm are more cultural/ stylistic as opposed to musical/ rhythmic." - Ged Kingsford.

  Equipment

Ged Kingsford Performs Symphony in Cut Glass

A work for non tuned percussion and sampled sounds.

Ged Kingsford demonstrates in this work a revolutionary new concept in percussion performance.

His fast works created a haunting and unusual sound collage, using prepared sounds to conjure an atmospheric backdrop before which, a virtuoso display of percussion is performed.

Ged has an extensive professional background in both mainstream and experimental music.

This is a unique and exceptional performance. His hand drumming alone is stunning. This is a truly profound and extraordinary experience.

Press Cuttings

THE CORNISHMAN, THURSDAY, 28 AUGUST 2003

September 20

Percussionist Jed Kingford performs his own compositions 'Symphony in Cut Glass' and 'Summer ghosts' at the St Ives Theatre from 8pm.

Using a wide range of instruments Jed extends the vocabulary of sound normally associated with percussion and creates a harmony between unlikely sound textures. Admission is £5.

The cutting edge of the fringe: Jed Kingsford brings his experimental percussion to the St Ives Theatre on September 20.

THE CORNISHMAN, THURSDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2003

Drum and no bass

PENZANCE musician Ged Kingsford will be performing an unusual solo concert this Saturday - using only percussion and ‘prepared sounds using sampled ideas’.

With tongue-firmly-in-cheek, the De Ja Voodoo drummer has titled the gig The Demise of the Long Playing Record, which he will perform at the Visionary Art of Sound at Old St Paul's School in Penzance.

Ged told The Info: I am trying to extend the vocabulary of sounds normally associated with percussion and create a harmony between unlikely sound textures.

“It isn't a concept idea but all instrumental music is evocative and down to the personal response of the listener.

Among the instruments Ged will be using are a standard drumkit, congas and jembe, with the sampled sounds cued by a sound man. The is also something of an ambition for Ged, who has done several other performances leading up to this one.

He added: “All rhythms are overlapping throughout the world and I'm suggesting that differences in music/rhythm are more cultural/stylistic as opposed to musical/rhythmic. And apart from this it is fun to do.”

THE CORNISHMAN, THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2003

And from sound and vision we move swiftly on to the Visionary Art of Sound - what a link that was, eh? Deja Voodoo drummer Ged's unique performance at St Paul's Old School whipped up a storm - as well as a down-pour - or so we are reliably Informed. We're told a large crowd turned up for Ged's performance, which lasted over an hour and saw him merge everything from drum and bass to 20th century symphonies. With a standard drum kit, congas and djembe we hear Ged took the audience through musical storms, forests, downpours and moments of stillness, as he: "beat, tapped, scratched and drummed at a dazzling speed, equalled with sensitivity and subtlety.” Nice.

CORNISHMAN, THURSDAY, 1 April 2004

Percussionist poses 'How far Babylon

Few people in Penwith can have dedicated themselves to making a racket as much as Ged Kingsford has. For the Penzance musician has spent years behind the drums although he we do him a dis­service by implying all he wants to do is create a noise.

Rather it might be more accurate to say that few musicians have tried to get so much out of their instrument, a hard task given that percussion can over be over-looked. Now, after occupying the drum stool in a wide range of bands – from Crosstown Traffic to De Ja Voodoo to name a few of late – Ged is pushing his love of per­cussion to the front of the stage.

“I'm still up for session drumming and teaching drums, but the big thing for me at the moment, are these solo projects," says Ged.

So far he's done several shows including Demise of the Long Playing Record, performed at Penzance Arts Club with the Vi­sionary Art of Sound, and Sym­phony in Cut Glass at St Ives Theatre. The works, meticu­lously put together by the mu­sician, are based on both tuned and non-tuned percussion with prepared electronic sounds and often feature a strong vi­sual element as well. There is too a method and a message in all of this.

All rhythms are overlapping throughout the world," says Ged. "And I am suggesting that differences in music/rhythm are more cultural/stylistic as opposed to musical/rhythmic." You'd guess the musician would be in a position to know since Ged has been playing the drums since the age of 11. And he's no stranger to concentrating on his own work - at the age of 19 he recorded a solo piece called Opening of Doors. His influences are varied, and range from Japanese percussionist Stomu Mayshata to Carl Palmer. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame so far has been as a founding member of the avant garde rock band Metabolist, which attained number four in the European Rock Chart, compiled by Sounds Magazine, who called the band "one of the most interesting bands in Britain ". Ged is always forward looking though, and his main concern at the moment will be his new solo show, a follow-up to Symphony in Cut Glass, How Far Babylon? The odyssey will be performed at Falmouth Arts Centre on July 24 at 8pm .

“I will be developing the ideas from the other show, but it is not based on any theme this time," says Ged. "It's a show in its own right, with many more sounds. It really will be a multimedia show." One of his greatest inspirations today is fellow percussionist Evelyn Glennie OBE. I would never make comparisons between myself and her," says Ged. "But I had to do these shows, to put myself on the line and do these as virtuoso performances."

THE CORNISHMAN, THURSDAY, 15 JULY 2004

Ged Kingsford Performs Symphony in Cut Glass

ARTS FALMOUTH

Ged Kingsford demonstrates in this work, a revolutionary new concept in percussion performance. His last works created a haunting and unusual sound collage, using prepared sounds to conjure an atmospheric backdrop before which a virtuoso display of percussion is performed.

Ged has an extensive professional background in both mainstream and experimental music.

This is a unique and exceptional performance. His hand drumming alone is stunning.

This is a truly profound and extraordinary experience.

Above: Ged Performing 'Symphony in Cut Glass' at
Falmouth Arts Centre July, 24, 2004

FALMOUTH PACKET

Percussionist drums up trade

An unusual gig on Saturday as master percussionist Ged Kingsford brings his Symphony in Cut Glass to the Arts Centre.

Penzance-based Kingsford has been described by Kerrang magazine as "a truly talented musician" and has enjoyed many years acclaim in the music business as  virtuoso sticksman and percussionist.

In this solo concert, Kingsford uses a variety of drums from around the world set to ambient backing tracks. This is a unique and exceptional performance. Not to be missed.

Master percussionist and drummer Ged Kingsford.

Above: Ged Performing 'Symphony in Cut Glass' at
Falmouth Arts Centre July, 24, 2004

Ordininalia 2004 The Full Cycle

Ged played in the band line up of this important play, held at St Just's plen-an-gwarry.

THE CORNISHMAN THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2004

Babylon beats at Acorn

PENWITH based drummer and percussionist Ged Kingsford will be staging his solo virtuoso performance at Penzance Arts Club tonight (November 25). The musician will be playing extracts from How far Babylon?, as performed at Falmouth Arts Centre, a show comprising a complete range of diverse acoustic percussion instruments.

''I won't be using a drum kit, but will be using congas, bongos, timpali, djembe, different snares and other percussive effects." Ged will be performing on the Cafe Frug night at the club, and although it will have to be a slightly stripped down show, he hopes to team up with other performers. "Although the show will be the same, I will be improvising with the poets  and that makes it different everytime. It can be a bit like playing jazz when improvising, and nine times out of ten it works out."

Meanwhile, Ged is also preparing material for a brand new show, which will debut at The Acorn Theatre in Penzance on May 20. The drummer is also keeping himself busy with his latest rock band, the STG Project, which will be playing at The Acorn on December 4, and The Regent, also in Penzance, on December 9.

THE CORNISHMAN THURSDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2005

Ged and Steve Tranceformed

LIVE music fans looking for something a little different need look no further than Tranceform, which will take place this Saturday evening at Penzance Art Club.

The event is effectively two concerts in one, featuring the 'percussion and sound orchestra of Marazion based musician Ged Kingsford and multi-instrumentalist Steve Gardiner of Sancreed.

Ged, who has featured as the drummer in numerous local bands, needs little introduction on these pages   his latest solo show at the weekend is called Chased by Lions and will include both live and sampled sounds.

He says: "This piece is in the style of my other solo work but is made up of different sounds. I'm really trying to push the boundaries of what I can do with them."

Part of the challenging performance will include a carefully transcribed recital of a piece by German musician Steve Reich.

Steve Gardiner, meanwhile, will take listeners on a second hypnotic musical journey using his voice and Indian harmonium-whose recent solo music marathon at St Mary's Parish Church, Penzance proved a huge success, raising more than £2,500 for charities in Africa and India.

Tranceform starts at 8pm. Admission is £2 members and £4 for non members.

INSIDE CORNWALL MAY 2006

Ged Kinsford

This internationally acclaimed virtuoso solo percussionist performs his unique music and will be joined by Steve Gardiner playing the Indian harmonium.

12 May 8 pm, £12 incl organic meal, Yoga Farm, Madron, Penzance 01736 332224

For Booking Information Contact:

Desperate Records

01736 719338

email: info@treeoflifeproject.org.uk