Born in London 1963, Junior
Gill is based in Zürich (Switzerland), where he has been studying and
teaching music since 1991. He is the musical director of the Music Center Affoltern, in Zürich, a music center which caters for Keyboard, Drums,
Guitar, Marimba, Percussion and studio technique courses.
JUNIOR has performed with quite a few well-known musicians, both on
stage and in jam sessions - Phil Collins, Santana, George Duke, Airto
Moreira and Victor Bailey – to name a few.
JUNIOR has mastered the pan, through listening and learning from
the panmen of the so-called "Old School": Gary Cheng, Ken Johnson, Selwyn Baptiste, Pedro Burgess, Sterling Betancourt, Russ Henderson, Aubrey
Bryan, Zigilee Constantine, Kenrick Isadore, Boots Davidson, Tony Charles,
and his first-ever teacher Clyde Dias.
He has been performing, touring, recording and composing with the
legendary Panamanian drummer, Professor William (Billy) Cobham and his new
fusion highlight "CULTUREMIX."
JUNIOR says that he owes a lot to Billy Cobham for taking the chance and
nurturing him through the highly professional music scene. To date, JUNIOR
has toured all over Europe, with television appearances and recording with
various musicians.
A lot of his success in Switzerland is due to the unlimited support from
Margrith Fischer, (an ex-member of the legendary Swiss Pan Round the Neck
Band, (Sandflöö)
Together they formed the Swiss National Steel Orchestra, founded the
Wilbert Gill Steelpan School and formed the KOOL KATS children Steelband.
Currently, they run the Music Center Affoltern together.
From the age of four JUNIOR had already begun to show very much interest
in music. He recalls being in trouble for dancing on the living room
table, trying to emulate Sammy Davis, Jr. His sisters encouraged him to
play the piano. In primary school he excelled in playing the xylophone,
marimba and bongos.
In secondary school (Clement Danes Grammar) he took lessons in drumming.
He also performed with the Christopher Wren School Steelband, where
his good friend Tamla Batra also played. He attended the Middlesex
Polytechnic in Trent Park, where he combined music as a major study, and
Quantitative Mathematics as a minor, in a combined studies degree course.
Bibliography (highlights)
1974
Performed at Hammersmith Town Hall with the Ellerslie School band,
as soloist on xylophone + marimba.
1976
Arranged “Auld Lang Syne“ for Sukuya Steelband, for the new year
celebrations
1977
Royal
Albert Hall, concert for the Rotary Club of Great Britain, with
Christopher Wren School Steelband.
1978
Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta/CANADA.
TV appearance on BBC TWO’s “Rhythm on TWO“ with The Groovers Steel
Orchestra, led by Terry Noel.
1979
First
performance in the Notting Hill Carnival with LONDON ALL STARS, led
by Frank Rollock.
1982
1984
Captained and assisted as arranger the GLISSANDO STEEL ORCHESTRA led
by 1984 Parris + Pedro.
Three times in a row, festival winners in England.
1985
Member
of the resident Steelband at the Dubai International Hotel.
1986
Session recording for David Bowie + Patsy Kensit film “absolute
beginners“
1989
Munich
Film Festival with the Caribbean Safari Steelband.
1994
10th
placed soloist at Pan Is Beautiful VII classic music festival,
Trinidad. First person from outside of the caribbean region to take
part.
1996
“Benissimo“ national television Switzerland and Pan Is Beautiful
VIII, Trinidad, with the Swiss National Steel Orchestra;
Special guest at 30th Montreux Festival and 50 years Quincy Jones
celebration
One week at MJF.
1997
Produced Galaxy CD/video Milestones featuring Swiss National Steel
Orchestra
1998
Founded 21st Century Steel Music Production, a label which recorded
only live, with aims of catching the spirit of the moment, (CD
“Morning Sunrise“ - featuring Russ Henderson [on] Piano + Annisse Hadeed
on pans, and “Caribeye“)
1999
Extensive work
with children from the School and Sports department of Zürich.
2000
1st youth steelband
festival held in Barbados - as leader of the KOOL KATS children band
2001
Founding, together
with Margrith Fischer, of the Music Center Affoltern
2001
2002
Recording and
performances with Billy Cobham
2003
Recorded second CD with Bill Cobham’s
CULTUREMIX
2004
Performances with Billy
Cobham
CD released in August 2004
An
educational, historical, cultural and artistic masterpiece that
showcases one of the most vibrant live music performance movements
in the United States today...
