Brittany Anjou

Brittany Anjou (born May 17, 1984) is a New York City-based musician, composer, pianist, vibraphonist and producer from Seattle, Washington. She performs with her own jazz groups, directs ensembles, works as a sideman and leads several projects as a composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter.

Biography

Anjou studied jazz while growing up in Seattle, performing in award-winning ensembles in the competitive vibrant jazz education scene. She performed with Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis before attending New York University, where she studied jazz with Stefon Harris, Don Friedman, Gil Goldstein, George Garzone, Sherrie Maricle, Jason Moran, Ralph Alessi, Vijay Iyer, and Rudresh Manhanthappa. She studied music in Prague, with Emil Viclicky and Milan Slavický, and studied traditional Gyil in Ghana, with xylophonists Bernard Woma, Jerome Balsab, and Alfred Kpebsaane.

Music

Anjou self-released nine albums of original music ranging from modern big band jazz, experimental improvisation, electronic experimental vibraphone, hardcore, punk, death metal, spoken word and jazz piano trio.

Enamiĝo Reciprokataj (2019)

In February 2019, Anjou released her debut piano album Enamiĝo Reciprokataj[1], on Origin Records, a phrase in the Esperanto language meaning "falling in love reciprocated" or "mutual breakdown". The album combines acoustic jazz piano trio with modern electronic manipulations reminiscent to the early 1960s. The album features Greg Chudzik, Nick Anderson, Ben Perowsky, and Ari Folman-Cohen. The album received positive reviews from Downbeat Magazine,[2] Amazon,[3] All About Jazz,[4] NYC Jazz Record,[5] and France Musique.[6] She has been called a "virtuosa" and "highly sophisticated".[7]

The Shaggs, Dot Wiggin Band, Bi TYRANT

In 2012 Anjou began performing with members of The Shaggs, and helped to form, record and tour The Dot Wiggin Band,[8] of which she is the co-vocalist, and frequently interviewed about.[9] At the invitation of American band Wilco, The Shaggs performed at the 2017 Solid Sound Festival at Mass MoCA. Anjou supported as the stand-in bassist and vocalist with Dot and Betty Wiggin for their second time onstage together in over 46 years. The backing band included guitarist Richard Bennett (Friendly Bears), drummer Laura Cromwell, and guitarist Jesse Krakow (Time of Orchids, Shudder to Think). With other members, Anjou fronts the experimental punk group, Bi TYRANT.

LARCENY Chamber Orchestra's Tribute to Portishead, live at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC, 2017

L.A.R.C.E.N.Y.

In 2013 Anjou founded LARCENY (Lethal Activists Revitalizing Creativity Enaction in New York), a 25-member chamber ensemble which performs Anjou's arrangements. Instrumentation includes trumpet, trombones, flute, alto flute, saxophones, violins, viola, cello, turntables and rhythm section. The group is known for an annual tribute concert of Portishead's Roseland NYC Live album at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC.[10]

Other Appearances

Anjou has toured as a pianist, keyboardist, vibraphonist, and background vocalist for US singer-songwriter Sophie Auster, the Dot Wiggin Band, The Shaggs, Ravens and Chimes, and Oren Bloedow. She appears as a multi-instrumentalist on records by Ravens and Chimes, Elysian Fields, the Dot Wiggin Band, Michael Eaton, Okkervil River, Doyle Bramhall II, Emanuel and the Fear, Mary Bragg, and Stick Against Stone.[11]

In 2016, Anjou composed a live score for theater piece In the Eruptive Mode: Hijacked Voices of the Arab Spring, by Sulayman Al Bassam. The work premiered in Kuwait, Beirut, Tunis, and Metz, France, and was reviewed positively by French and Arab press.[12]

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References
  1. Anjou, Brittany. "Enamiĝo Reciprokataj". Origin Records. Origin Arts.
  2. Freeman, Phillip. "DownBeat Magazine Review: Brittany Anjou's Enamiĝo Reciprokataj" (PDF). www.downbeat.com. Downbeat Magazine.
  3. Bibel, Debra Jean. "Brittany Anjou music review by Debra Jean Bibel". Origin Arts. Amazon.
  4. Bilawsky, Dan. "Brittany Anjou: Enamiĝo Reciprokataj". All About Jazz.
  5. Elfman, Donald. "Music Review of Enamiĝo Reciprokataj". NYC Jazz Record.
  6. Dutilh, Alex. "Brittany Anjou, une new-yorkaise en version esperanto". France Musique. France Musique. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. Freitas, Filipe. "Brittany Anjou: Enamiĝo Reciprokataj album review". Origin Arts. Jazz Trail.
  8. "How to Solve a Riddle Like The Shaggs". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  9. Klein, Eric. "Dot Wiggin of the Shaggs is Back". Medium. Medium. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  10. Interview, LPR. "Brittany Anjou shares her thoughts on Portishead". LPR. LPR. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  11. "Brittany Anjou Discography". Discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  12. Al-Bassam, Sulayman. "In the Eruptive Mode". Sulayman Al-Bassam Theater. Sabab Theater.
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