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"The Path"
Photo image by Dan Syracuse/Big Bang Graphics

Originally hailing from Buffalo, NY, Classically and Jazz trained, Rock 'n' Roll schooled, award winning, multi-instrumentalist, Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry, has become a world-class master improviser, educator, and authority through his diverse musical and life experiences over the span of his 35-year professional career.

Highlights of Geoff's experience include his electric violin and piccolo bass work with the virtuosic instrumental rock group "Gamalon" featuring ex-Spyro Gyra drummer Ted Reinhardt. The group's MCA & Amherst Records history include a #8 Billboard Jazz Chart showing, recording and touring with sax great Ernie Watts, performing at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival before a crowd of 40,000+, and countless testosterone-filled club dates where attendance records were often broken (*many of these performances can now be seen on YouTube). "Gamalon's" music has been heard at many major sporting events including World Wrestling Federation TV shows, Buffalo Bills and Sabres games, and the Olympics. Geoff's composition "Tecumseh" from the group's "High Contrast" album was also featured on Japanese television.

More recently, Geoff turned his interests to representing the historical style of the gypsy jazz legend Django Reinhardt in the multiple awardwinning group "Babik." Babik has released two recordings ("Pronounced Bah-Beek" and "American Gypsy") and a concert DVD, has been featured on Public Radio International's "The World" show, and have played numerous festivals including the renowned Festivale Internationale in Lafayette, Louisiana, and participated in Stephane Wremble's Django AGo-Go Festival in New York City honoring Django's 100th Birthday (footage of this historic concert at Joe's Pub can be seen online). In 2008 Babik did their major symphony orchestra debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with arrangements created by Brent Havens (creator of symphonic rock orchestra shows featuring the music of Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, The Doors, and others).

In 2004 Geoff was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and became a D'Addario strings endorsing artist. He has also recorded and toured with Nashville New-Age guitarist Paul Carrol Binkley (Heart Dance Music, and a member of country supergroup Alabama's back-up band), and recorded &/or performed with many of Buffalo's most noted musicians like Ani DiFranco (independent folk-punk sensation), Loosely Tight (jazz fusion), The Vincent Michaels Band (pop rock), Emery Nash (folk fusion), Shakin Smith (blues harmonica virtuoso), Al Tinney (jazz piano legend), and Doug Yeomans (North American Rock Guitar Competition winner). Geoff had a 4 album/10-year run with LeeRon Zydeco & The Hot Tamales that often included drummer Sandy Konikoff (Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, The Band), and did a short stint as bassist with drummer Gary Mallaber (Van Morrison, Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, Eddy Money, others) in a group called "In From The Cold" with guitarist Jack Sherman (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan).

In early 2002, Geoff was asked to be part of jazz drummer Bobby Previte's (Steve Swallow, Charlie Hunter, others) "Voodoo Orchestra West" to re-create Miles Davis' historical "Bitches Brew" album live, with Geoff's violin being assigned the awesome task of leading the improvbased horn section of this 12 piece band!

Geoff has also been seen on ESPN as Buffalo Sabres "Fiddleman!", and has also released two solo recordings as Fitzhugh and the Fanatics entitled "Blue Standards" (stripped down-revved up "jazz" standards, his recorded vocal debut), and the rockin'-zydeco tinged "Flavor" (on the HotWings Entertainment label).

Also in 2002 Geoff made the decision to try to help others learn how to do what he had been doing for decades and join the then new "alternative-string" movement creating the FIddle Jam Method and authoring "Fiddle Jam, a way-cool easy way to learn how to improvise!" that is now distributed world-wide by the Hal Leonard Corporation. Since the book & CD's release Geoff has done countless improvisational FIddle Jam Clinics in schools nation-wide where he takes over the school orchestra for the day and gets all the kids to jam, and has been a guest speaker at many music teaching conferences (ASTA, NYSSMA, others) getting the chance to teach the teachers how to jam! A follow-up book entitled "Rock n' Blues Fiddle Atoodz" is now going into it's 3rd edition, and an online school, The Fiddle Jam Institute will be launched soon (fall of 2012).

As a family man in the 1990's Geoff's career focused more on education while staying closer to home with stints as an elementary and middle school string director at various schools (including Buffalo's prestigious Nichols School, and the Aurora Waldorf School). He also did countless "arts integration" school assemblies while a member of Young Audiences and the McClue Artist Guild during this era.

Most recently (fall of 2012) Geoff is recording a new electronica-based solo CD entitled "Conflation" to be released on Translucent Records, is developing materials for the upcoming Fiddle Jam institute website, and experimenting with manufacturing techniques in his shop creating carbon fiber violin tops and "art tailpieces" that will be available through his sister site OutlawFiddle.com.

 

 

 

Classically and jazz trained, rock 'n' roll schooled, award winning, multi-instrumentalist, Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry, has developed into a world class master improviser and educator through his diverse experiences in nearly all imaginable styles of music over the past 20 plus years as a professional.

Geoff is most noted thus far for his work with the virtuosic instrumental rock group Gamalon featuring ex-Spyro Gyra drummer Ted Reinhardt (http://www.guitarnine.com/gamalon.html) who's MCA/Amherst Records highlights include a #8 Billboard Jazz Chart showing, recording and touring with sax great Ernie Watts, and many testosterone-filled tunes played at major sporting events (including WWF, Buffalo Bills and Sabres, and the Olympics). He has also recorded and toured with Nashville New-Age guitarist Paul Carrol Binkley (www.heartdancemusic.com, currently with country supergroup Alabama), and worked with many of Buffalo's most noted musicians like LeeRon Zydeco drummer Sandy Konikoff (Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, The Band), and drummer Gary Mallabar (Van Morrison, Bruce Springstein, Eddy Money, Steve Miller, Raven, others) in a group called "In From The Cold" with guitarist Jack Sherman (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan), as well as recording with punk-folk sensation Ani DiFranco.  In early 2002, Geoff was asked to be part of Bobby Previte's (famed ex-Buffalo/NYC jazz drummer currently performing with Charlie Hunter) "Voodoo Orchestra West" to re-create Miles Davis' historical "Bitches Brew" album live (Geoff's violin was assigned the awesome task of leading the improv-based horn section of this 12 piece band!).  Geoff has been seen on ESPN as Buffalo Sabres "Fiddleman!", and has also released two solo recordings as Fitzhugh and the Fanatics, "Blue Standards" (stripped down-revved up "jazz" standards, his vocal debut), and the rockin'-zydeco tinged "Flavor" (on the HotWings Entertainment label).

Born, raised, and currently residing in the Buffalo, NY area with wife Elizabeth, he remains an in-demand part of the music community there, retaining a full roster of private students, String Orchestra Director posts at the prestigious Nichols School and the Aurora Waldorf School, does stringed instrument demonstrations/performances in schools as part of "The Stringmen" (with North American Rock Guitar Competition winner Doug Yeomans www.dougyeomans.com) and McClure Productions (www.artforbrains.com), many Fiddle Jam Clinics at schools and conferences (http://www.fiddlejam.com/clinic.htm), is writing and arranging rock/alternative string orchestra charts, and performing and recording with area groups including: LeeRon Zydeco and the Hot Tamales (www.LeeRon.com), and "folk-fusion" group Emery Nash (www.emerynash.com, think Crosby Stills and Nash meets The Dave Mathews Band and Little Feat!).

In 2004, Geoff hopes to see completion of another recording of his own (or two, maybe 3!), a few possible violin-based patents on inventions he's "brewing" on and currently proto-typing, many new "Art Fitzhugh" instruments including a possible string quartet to debut one of his pieces, as well as a commission for a wild art violin for auction to benefit the Buffalo Philharmonic.  ...and much happiness, joy, and JAMMING!!!

Have Geoff or an associate come to your school or organization to teach you
the fiddle jammin’ ways directly!  For booking information write

gfitzhughp@gmail.com

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