Francis Monkman
Best known as the founder of Curved Air, Francis Monkman was unusual even among the ranks of progressive rock's musicians for his level of musical training. As a student at the Westminster School in the '60s, he studied organ and harpsichord, and nursed the ambition to conduct a Mozart opera. Later in the decade, as a student at the Royal Academy of Music, he won the Raymond Russel Prize for his virtuosity on the harpsichord and he also took up playing the electric guitar. During this period, he also became a session musician. In 1970, Monkman was the catalyst in the formation of Curved Air out of an earlier group called Sisyphus. Their three albums carved out a permanent place for the group in the annals of progressive rock, but Monkman also worked as a session musician on records by the Shadows, David Essex, Kate Bush, Steve Harley, and Paul Nicholas, among many others. Monkman never stayed too far away from serious classical music, continuing to give performances at Royal Albert Hall and the Purcell Room. In the mid-'70s, he was introduced to classical guitarist John Williams and played on his album Travelling. The two later formed the group Sky with Herbie Flowers, Kevin Peek, and Tristan Fry. He also performed live with Brian Eno (which appeared on the album Dali's Car) and played on albums by acts including Renaissance, Al Stewart, the Alan Parsons Project, and Kate Bush, and moved into soundtrack composition during the '80s, most notably writing the music for The Long Good Friday. He also worked with the other John Williams (the soundtrack composer) on The Empire Strikes Back's score. Monkman has also occasionally mixed his classical and rock backgrounds more closely on albums such as Symphonic Rock: British Invasion, Vol. 1. Later in life, Monkman traveled throughout Europe, playing benefit shows to support the restoration of vintage organs, and would sometimes interpolate bits of Curved Air pieces into his Bach performances for the benefit of his fans. Francis Monkman was in treatment for cancer when he died on May 12, 2023; he was 73 years of age.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
Discographie
12 album(s) • Trié par Meilleures ventes
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The Long Good Friday
Bandes originales de films - Paru chez Silva Screen Records le 1 sept. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kpm 1000 Series: Pictures in the Mind
Francis Monkman, Malcolm Ironton, Richard Harvey
Jazz - Paru chez KPM 1000 LP Series le 1 janv. 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Martin Presents...
The Medici Quartet, John Williams, John Dankworth, Jack Brymer, Barbara Thompson, Francis Monkman
Classique - Paru chez The Sound Corporation le 3 mars 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kpm 1000 Series: Classical Odyssey
Francis Monkman, Daryl Runswick
Jazz - Paru chez KPM 1000 LP Series le 1 janv. 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Bach Family
Classique - Paru chez Explore Rights Management LTD le 5 nov. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kpm 1000 Series: Contemporary Impact
Francis Monkman, Malcolm Ironton, Pete Kelly
Jazz - Paru chez KPM 1000 LP Series le 1 janv. 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kpm 1000 Series: Classical Concussion
Jazz - Paru chez KPM 1000 LP Series le 1 janv. 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jam
Alternatif et Indé - Paru chez Floating World le 15 avr. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Virtual Classics
Francis Monkman, Graham Preskett
Bandes originales - Paru chez Music House - Specifics le 15 sept. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fast
Alain Feanch, John Fiddy, Francis Monkman, Sammy Burdson, Antonio Campo, Mac Prindy
Électronique - Paru chez Sonoton Vinyl le 31 juil. 1975
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
21st Century Blues & The Virtuous-Realiti Band
Blues - Paru chez Floating World le 15 avr. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kpm 1000 Series: Predictions Part 1
Francis Monkman, Malcolm Ironton
Jazz - Paru chez KPM 1000 LP Series le 1 janv. 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo