Mandolinquents

The Mandolinquents was formed in the aftermath of The Mandolin All Stars (1995–1997) in which Simon Mayor and Hilary James were joined by Maartin Allcock (mandocello) and Chris Leslie (mandolin, violin), both of whom are variously associated with the British folk-rock bands Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull and The Albion Band. In 1997 Maartin Allcock and Chris Leslie left to be replaced by Gerald Garcia and Richard Collins. The same year, the new line up recorded its first album Mandolinquents, with both Allcock and Leslie guesting. The new line up adopted the name The Mandolinquents and has remained together to the present day. They play regularly at arts centres and festivals within the UK and Europe, including a residency Mandolinquents & Friends since 2007 at New Greenham Arts, Newbury, England. They have been regular guests on the BBC Radio 2 programmes Friday Night Is Music Night{{cite web|title=Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC website)|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rxctb}} and In Tune.

The repertoire is eclectic,{{cite web|last=Rambles.net online cultural magazine|title=CD review: 'Dance Of The Comedians'|url=http://www.rambles.net/mandol_dance07.html}} and a mix of instrumental and vocal pieces. It draws on traditional music of Britain, Ireland, China and the Americas, swing, original music by band leader Simon Mayor, and adaptations of pieces from the classical repertoire for the core instrumental line up of two mandolins, classical guitar and mandobass. The bluegrass background of Richard Collins adds another dimension with occasional items featuring the 5 string banjo. Humour{{cite journal|last=North|first=John|title=High Notes|date=28 May 2009|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/mikeamos/johnnorth/4402188.High_notes/|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505060415/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/mikeamos/johnnorth/4402188.High_notes/|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead}} has always been an important feature of live performances.

Simon Mayor is a prominent British mandolinist{{cite web|last=mandolin.org.uk|title=preface to Simon Mayor interview|url=http://www.mandolin.org.uk/interviews/simon_mayor.php|access-date=18 November 2012|year=2005}} who has produced six solo albums, four instructional books and two instructional DVDs. He has toured internationally{{cite web|title=Festival de Mandolines, Lunel, France| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paOq4VErOMI|year=2009}} performing and teaching{{cite web|last=Good-Elliott|first=Phil|title=Mandolin Workshop|url=http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_0024.shtml|access-date=18 November 2012}} on the instrument. He contributes a regular column on the mandolin to Acoustic Magazine.{{cite web|title=Simon Mayor|url=http://acousticmagazine.com/index.php/acoustic-magazine-columnists/76-simon-mayor|work=Acoustic Magazine|access-date=20 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220001001/http://www.acousticmagazine.com/index.php/acoustic-magazine-columnists/76-simon-mayor|archive-date=20 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}

Gerald Garcia is a classical guitarist who became a professional musician after studying chemistry at Oxford University. He has recorded nine albums of guitar music on the Naxos label.{{cite web|title=Gerald Garcia on Naxos|url=http://naxosdirect.co.uk/performers/gerald-garcia-62035}} He has composed extensively for the guitar and for film scores. He is currently musical director of the National Youth Guitar Ensemble (NYGE).

Hilary James became a professional singer after completing a degree in fine art at Reading University. She has recorded five solo albums and various collaborations with her partner Simon Mayor. With Mayor, she developed a keen interest in writing and performing music for children and has written for children's programmes on BBC radio and television (see Greenclaws) and for her own Musical Mystery Tour{{cite web|title=Musical Mystery Tour CDs |url=http://www.childrensmusic.co.uk/cdlist.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813140912/http://www.childrensmusic.co.uk/cdlist.html |archive-date=13 August 2007 }} series of albums for children. In 2011 she co-wrote (with Mayor) and illustrated two children's rhyming story books for Top That! publishing.{{cite web | url=http://www.topthatpublishing.com/blog/tag/hilary-james/ | title=Hilary James | work=Top That! Publishing Blog| publisher=Top That! Publishing PLC }}

Richard Collins is a multi-instrumentalist primarily known for his skill on the 5 string banjo. He won the UK banjo championship three years in succession and has played with many British Bluegrass bands and touring American artists. He has appeared as both actor and musician with The Royal Shakespeare Company and is a trained piano tuner and restorer.

• Mandolinquents (1997)
• Dance of the Comedians (2007) – live album

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mandolinquents.com Mandolinquents' website]
• [http://www.mandolin.co.uk Simon Mayor's website]
• [http://www.folksong.co.uk Hilary James' website]
• [http://www.geraldgarcia.com Gerald Garcia's website]

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Category:British classical music groups

Category:British folk music groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1997

Category:British world music groups

Category:British musical quartets