Neil Cowley
{{Short description|English pianist and composer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Neil Cowley
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|11|05}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = London, England
| instrument = Piano
| genre =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| label = Hide Inside
| associated_acts = Diamond Wookie
/Fragile State
Green Nuns of the Revolution
Adele
Birdy
Emeli Sandé
| website =
}}
Neil Cowley (born 5 November 1972) is an English contemporary pianist and composer. He has also released music as part of Fragile State, the Green Nuns of the Revolution, and the Neil Cowley Trio. With his trio, he appeared on Later... with Jools Holland in April 2008 and won the 2007 BBC Jazz Award for best album for Displaced.{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Sowerby |title=Cowley's clash of genius |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/world_music/s/1045789_cowleys_clash_of_genius |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=17 April 2008 }} In 2018, Cowley announced he was working on a new electronic focused solo project.{{Cite web|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/jazz-fm/news/music-news/neil-cowley-calls-time-on-his-trio/|title=Neil Cowley calls time on his trio|website=Planetradio.co.uk|accessdate=8 August 2020}} In 2020, Cowley announced his debut solo album, Hall of Mirrors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CHqMddxpAdX/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/neilcowleymusic/2443820549196220247 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=I've written my debut solo album!|website=Instagram.com|accessdate=3 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}
Biography
Cowley was born in London, England.{{cite web|url=https://spellbindingmusic.com/neil-cowley-trio-slims/|title=Neil Cowley Trio: Slims|date=18 April 2013|publisher=spellbindingmusic.com|accessdate=5 June 2018}} He began as a classical pianist and performed a Shostakovich piano concerto at the age of 10 at Queen Elizabeth Hall. In his late teens Cowley moved into being a keyboardist for soul and funk acts Mission Impossible, the Brand New Heavies, Gabrielle and Zero 7. He also appeared as a co-composer and session musician with the jazz-rock group Samuel Purdey. An early album was Foxbury Rules, released under the pseudonym Diamond Wookie.
In 2002, he formed the duo Fragile State with Ben Mynott; after its end, the Neil Cowley Trio. In 2006, he released an album called Soundcastles under the name Pretz.
In 2008, the Neil Cowley Trio recorded cover versions of the Beatles' "Revolution 1" and "Revolution 9" for Mojo magazine. In 2012, he appeared as the session pianist on Adele's album 21.
In 2013, he was Musician in Residence for Derry, when it was designated the inaugural UK City of Culture.{{Cite web|url=http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/partnerships/residencies/derry-londonderry-musician-in-residence/meet-neil-cowley/|title=Meet Neil Cowley – PRS for Music Foundation|website=Prsformusicfoundation.com|language=en-GB|access-date=21 June 2016}}
On 16 September 2016, the album Spacebound Apes was released by Neil Cowley Trio.{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/neil-cowley-trio-spacebound-apes-neil-cowley-hide-inside-records-review-by-phil-barnes.php|title=Neil Cowley Trio: Spacebound Apes|website=Allaboutjazz.com|accessdate=5 June 2018}}
In 2018, Cowley announced that the trio was on hiatus and he was working on a new electronic focused project.
The trio reunited in 2024 to release an album "Entity" which has been supported by UK and European tour dates in 2024 and 2025.
Discography
=Solo albums=
Diamond Wookie
- Foxbury Rules (1997){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/master/271302-Diamond-Wookie-Foxbury-Rules |title=Diamond Wookie – Foxbury Rules |publisher=Discogs |accessdate= 3 October 2021}}
Pretz
- Soundcastles (2006)
Neil Cowley
- Hall of Mirrors (2021)
- Battery Life (2023){{cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/neil-cowley-battery-life-album-review/|title=Neil Cowley: Battery Life – album review|website=louderthanwar.com|accessdate=4 April 2023}}
- Fragmented Recall (2023)
- Battery: Live (2023)
= Solo EPs =
Neil Cowley
- Grains & Motes (2019)
- Beat Infinitum (2019)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 1 (2020)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 2 (2020)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 3 (2020)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 4 (2022)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 5 (2022)
- Myna Cycles (2022)
- Building Blocks, Pt. 6 (2024)
=As leader/co-leader=
With Green Nuns of the Revolution
- Rock Bitch Mafia (1997){{cite web|url=https://www.psynews.org/forums/topic/35593-green-nuns-of-the-revolution-rock-bitch-mafia/|title=Green Nuns Of The Revolution – Rock Bitch Mafia|website=Psynews.org|accessdate=5 June 2018}}
Fragile State
- Nocturnal Beats (2001){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/master/1842349-Fragile-State-Nocturnal-Beat |title=Fragile State – Nocturnal Beat |publisher=Discogs |accessdate= 3 October 2021}}
- The Facts and the Dreams (2003)
- Voices From The Dust Bowl (2004){{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/x8jw/|title=BBC – Music – Review of Fragile State – Voices From The Dust Bowl|first=Jack|last=Smith|publisher=BBC|accessdate=8 August 2020}}
Cowley Trio
- Displaced (2006){{cite news |first=Stuart |last=Nicholson |title=The Neil Cowley Trio, Displaced |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,1797243,00.html |work=Observer Music Monthly |date=18 June 2006 }}
- Loud... Louder... Stop! (2008){{cite news |first=John |last=Fordham |title=Neil Cowley, Loud ... Louder ... Stop! |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/jazz/reviews/story/0,,2268585,00.html |work=The Guardian |date=28 March 2008 }}
- Radio Silence (2010)
- The Face of Mount Molehill (2012){{cite news|last=Fordham|first=John|title=Neil Cowley Trio: The Face of Mount Molehill – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/12/neil-cowley-trio-mount-molehill-review|accessdate=25 January 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 January 2012}}
- Touch and Flee (2014){{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/72-2014/13008-jazz-breaking-news-neil-cowley-trio-touch-and-flee-with-new-album-and-barbican-concert|title=neil cowley trio touch and flee with new album and barbican concert|location=London|website=Jazzwise Magazine|accessdate=5 June 2018|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043055/http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/72-2014/13008-jazz-breaking-news-neil-cowley-trio-touch-and-flee-with-new-album-and-barbican-concert}}
- Live at Montreux 2012 (2013)
- Spacebound Apes (2016){{cite web|url=http://www.beardedmagazine.com/index.php/albums/article/neil-cowley-trio-spacebound-apes|title=Neil Cowley Trio: Spacebound Apes (Hide Inside Records) – Bearded Magazine: The Home of Independent Music|website=beardedmagazine.com|accessdate=5 June 2018}}
- Spacebound Tapes (2018){{cite web|url=http://www.self-titledmag.com/2018/05/17/stream-neil-cowley-trios-spacebound-tapes-ep-featuring-remixes-from-throwing-snow-rival-consoles-and-more|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003043/http://www.self-titledmag.com/2018/05/17/stream-neil-cowley-trios-spacebound-tapes-ep-featuring-remixes-from-throwing-snow-rival-consoles-and-more/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2018|title=Self-Titled – Stream Neil Cowley Trio's Spacebound Tapes EP, Featuring Remixes From Rival Consoles, Throwing Snow, and More|website=Self-titledmag.com|accessdate=24 July 2018}}
- Entity (2024)
=As sideman=
- Adele -19 (2008)
- Stereophonics – Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
- Adele – 21 (2011)
- Birdy – Birdy (2011)
- Professor Green – At Your Inconvenience (2011)
- Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events (2012)
- Sam Sallon – One for the Road (2013)
- Birdy – Fire Within (2013){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/neil-cowley-mn0000388690/credits|title=Neil Cowley Credits |publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=9 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Birdy-Fire-Within/release/4941444|title=Birdy (8) – Fire Within|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=9 June 2014}}
- Polly Paulusma - Wildfires (2025)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=14665 Neil Cowley at All About Jazz]
- [http://www.neilcowleytrio.com Neil Cowley Trio Website]
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Category:English jazz pianists
Category:21st-century English pianists
Category:British male jazz pianists
Category:English male pianists