Bryon Wallen

The Story

Raised in a musical family, as a small child Byron studied classical piano. He also played euphonium but then switched to trumpet, studying with Peter Ruderforth in London and with Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd and Jon Faddis in New York in the mid to late 80s. In 1992, Wallen graduated from Sussex University with a degree in psychology, philosophy and mathematics. He played trumpet in various contexts and through into the early 00s was heard with jazz and pop artists, sometimes on record. Among these artists and bands are George Benson, Charles Earland, Chaka Khan, Ingrid Laubrock, Ronnie Laws, Hugh Masekela, Courtney Pine, Lonnie Liston Smith, Style Council, Jean Toussaint, and Cleveland Watkiss. In 1992, Wallen formed Sound Advice touring the UK and playing in Syria in 1996 and the Czech Republic in 1997. The band also appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival, gaining critical and audience acclaim.

His compositions include Live, with Sheron Wray’s dance company, Langston Hughes Suite, The Trumpet Kings, and Tarot Suite, an extended work of 22 movements, written for a 10-piece band. In 2003, Wallen won the BBC’s Innovation In Jazz award for his third album Indigo.

In 1994 Wallen played in South Africa during the OUTERNATIONAL MELTDOWN recordings with Airto Moreira and a.o. Moses Molelekwa. The same year he released the album Sound Advice , co-produced by AIRTO. A documentary film, Travelling, traces his 1998 trip to Uganda. In 2001 he appeared at the Harare Jazz festival in Zimbabwe and at South Africa’s ARTS Alive Earth Summit festival in 2002. His second album for MELT 2000 named Earth Roots is regarded as one of the highlights of contemporary music from the late 90’s.

He has also visited East Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Indonesia and Belize (his parents’ homeland). On tour Wallen works with local musicians, developing new ideas for his performances and compositions.

In the UK and during his overseas tours, Wallen has taught in schools; he also lectures and gives private lessons at London’s Trinity College and Royal Academy. Wallen’s performing, composing and teaching skills combine to make him a leading figure among the new wave of creative jazz musicians centred upon London.

Source AllMusic.com

Byron in Zulu head attire during the 1994 recordings in Johannesburg

Performing in the township of Gugulethu, Cape Town with Airto Moreira on drums

Byron with PedXulu at the 2002 Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg

Byron at the Cape Town Jazz Festival 2007

Byron featuring on Bambaraka, recorded in Morocco

PROJECT PEDXULU LIVE SESSIONS SOUTH AFRICA (2002)

PedXulu is the United South African Tribal Gathering – united to showcase the country’s most talented drummers and percussionists forming the rhythmic carpet for the many musical art forms ranging from the jive of Township Jazz to organic club rhythms and songs influenced by the many traditional and sacred tribal sounds of ancestral Africa.

PedXulu is a revolving and changing gathering headed by Pedi veteran master drummer Mabi ‘Gabriel’ Thobejane joined by his 23-year-old cousin Thabang Philip Tabane (Malombo), Bernard Sibusiso Mndaweni and members of the legendary percussion and marimba group Amampondo, Mandla Lande, Simpiwa Matole, Michael Ludonga, Duke Norman & Dave Mayakane. Guest performances by Olombelo Ricky (Madagascar), trumpet player Byron Wallen (U.K.) and Ivan Mazuze (Mozambique).