Shelly Art - 4-Mality Percussion Quartet

BIOGRAPHY

JAN BRADLEY SOPHIE HASTINGS
ADRIAN SPILLETT MARK NORMAN

4-MALITY is a powerful & inventive percussion quartet of young musicians formed by Adrian Spillett, the first percussionist to win the prestigious BBC Young Musicians competition.

4-MALITY deploy an immaculately coordinated warehouse of instruments arranged into a purpose-built musical sculpture: over 80 drums, gongs, vibraphone & 7 ft marimbas to name but a few. 4-MALITY create a fusion of global music which is both funky & fast, sensuous & sensitive. Their show's are visually inspirational and their music defies musical categorisation, sweeping from Japan, to Africa, to the Caribbean, with virtuosic skill & infectious energy giving a nod to Steve Reich on the way, all of which they perform with the skill and artistry of dedicated chamber musicians.

4-MALITY has appeared at many major British Music Festivals including the BBC Proms, Rhythm Sticks, Newbury, Cheltenham, Edinburgh Fringe, and Bath. Other venues include Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and the Linbury Studio. BBC Radio 3 have featured 4-MALITY on numerous occassions as well as the BBC World Service and and BBCTV. Overseas trips include Australia, Taiwan, Turkey, France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Finland.

4-MALITY have commissioned new works by Ian Vine, Julian Warburton, Eric Sammut, Benjamin Wallfisch, Dinuk Wijeratne with the Apollo Sax Quartet.

REVIEWS

BBC Proms
'...4-MALITY perform with a flamboyant theatricality...as much performance art as it is music.'
The Guardian, September 2001

Art Gallery of Western Australia
'as soothing as Valium... drum sufaces are relentlessly attacked by the seemingly tireless quartet....superbly virtuosic!
The Western Australian Times, November 2005

Music Network Tour, Dublin
'... Think of Liszt putting pianists through their paces in his operatic paraphrases or fantasias and you'll be on the right track. The 4-MALITY players take the theatricality of percussion performance as a gift to be seized on, and their show runs with a slick, well-oiled purr behind the blur of mallets and the finely co-ordinated drills.'
Irish Times, (Michael Dervan) November 2003

Mad, Fast, Physical
'The Concert Hall was packed and the audiences gave a standing ovation. The audiences were taken a back by the groups unique stage presentation.'
International Ajans Press, Turkey, May 2002

Stroud Fringe Festival
'...4-MALITY are truly masters of percussion and their technical skill is really very impressive. They managed to coax some pretty improbable sounds out of their instruments and their timing was impeccable. It crossed my mind that 4-MALITY were not really a band but secret ambassadors for the marimba...There were moments of brilliance, yes they have really got something.'
Stroud Fringe Festival, September 2002

"...good percussion quartets are a rarit,. 4-Mality is one of those rare gems...For something outside your normal musical diet, take a bite out of 4-Mality - you’ll be glad you did.'
Edinburgh Evening News *****, July 2001

Evelyn Glennie watch your back: this Manchester-based quartet of young percussionists have picked up your baton and are running with it in exhilarating style.
Metro ****, July 2001

Exhilarating Performance
'...the group exudes a deep-rooted camaraderie and immaculate but unobtrusive coordination...'

'For breathtaking ensemble skills, visual display and sheer bravado, Jan Bradley's stunning In-Line was appropriately reserved for the finale of this exhilarating, liberating presentation.'
Birmingham Post, January 2001

Critics Choice
'Boundary-Leaping Percussionists'
Time Out Magazine, November 2000

Rhythm Sticks 2000
'...their music making was simply outstanding, young artists grooving at their considerable best...'

'Part of this quartet's success lies in their own enjoyment in making music not just for themselves but for others... Their rapport and banter with the audience were key elements of the evening. I urge everyone to hear them.'
Music on the Web(UK), July 2000

Marimba maestros
'The performers demonstrated musical mastery as they played solo, as a duo and, most impressively, as a quartet... It was amazing and the audience loved it, sheer showmanship.'
Newbury Weekly News, Newbury Spring Festival May 2000