John
Altman
composer l arranger l conductor
I producer
History: John
Altman is a Emmy Award and BAFTA Award -winning Composer, Musical
Director, Arranger, Conductor and Saxophonist, who began his musical
career at the age of three with Judy Garland at the London Palladium.
Commencing his recording and live career as an in-demand saxophonist
in the late 60s he has performed with all the major figures in music
over the last few decades, including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Muddy
Waters, Nick Drake, Eric Clapton, Sting, Phil Collins, Jimmy Page,
Little Richard, and Van Morrison and Hot Chocolate (for both of
whom he functioned as Musical Director), and many more. He has recently
contributed saxophone solos for the new albums by Rick Astley and
Goldie.
Beginning in
the mid 70s Altman found great success as an arranger/conductor.
Among his hit records have been Aled Jones's "Walking in the
Air" (which he also produced); Alison Moyet's "That Ole
Devil Called Love," Simple Minds' "Streetfighting Years,"
Rod Stewart's "Downtown Train," George Michael's "Kissing
a Fool," Prefab Sprout's "Hey Manhattan," Tina Turner's
and Barry White's "Wildest Dream," Diana Ross' "Christmas
Album," Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet," Goldie's "Saturnz
Returns," album tracks for Tom Jones, The Pretenders, Ian Dury,
Graham Parker and Murray Head, and perhaps his most famous arrangement
Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."
His association with Python also produced the cult classic "The
Rutles," and three series of the Innes Book of Records, as
well as many onstage appearances. He is also a frequent Guest Conductor
for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Altman has had
a parallel successful career as a Composer/Arranger/Producer for
films, winning most of the prestigious film composer awards - an
Emmy Award and an ASCAP Film Award for "RKO 281 - The Making
of Citizen Kane," the Anthony Asquith Award for "Hear
My Song," a second ASCAP Award and the Choreographer's
Carnival Award
for Best Dance Score for "Shall We Dance," a Tric Award
for "Peak Practice," a Golden Reel nomination for "Little
Voice," an Academy Award mention for the period music for "Titanic,"
which he also produced, and a second Emmy Award -nomination in 2003
for his score for "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" starring
Helen Mirren and Ann Bancroft. Other films include: "Funny
Bones," "Bhaji on the Beach," "Bad Behaviour,"
"Beautiful Thing," "The Matchmaker," "Hope
Springs," and "On Thin Ice" produced by, and starring
Diane Keaton, as well as the classic tank chase sequence in "Goldeneye."
Along the way
he has found time to be the most prolific writer of music for commercials,
having scored over 4,000 worldwide, winning every major creative
award, including this year's inaugural MPA Music in Advertising
Award, and being named by "Campaign Magazine" in 2002
as one of the 100 most influential figures in contemporary British
advertising, and one of the five top composers. His music for Levis
and Renault won the Campaign Award for Best Sound Tracks in 2003
and 2004.
Altman is also
a highly accomplished Jazz musician, who has performed with Chet
Baker, Plas Johnson, Ernie Watts, Red Holloway, Conte Candoli, Slim
Gaillard, Barbara Morrison, Herb Geller, Wild Bill Davison, Bud
Freeman, Les McCann, Percy Heath and many others. His all star US
big band includes such Jazz stars as Gary Foster, Warren Luening,
Pete Christlieb, Peter Erskine, Alex Acuna, Tom Ranier and Andy
Martin.
l-r: A Young Altman; With Bruce Willis
Current
Credits: He has recently scored
the top five worldwide hit movies, including: "Shall We Dance,"
starring Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon for Miramax,
and wrote the music for the CBS movie "Suburban Madness"
with
Sela Ward, and the controversial Emmy Award -nominated miniseries,
"The Reagans" starring Judy Davis and James Brolin. In
the United Kingdom he scored "Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle"
for BBC Films, and the widely acclaimed
"The Queen's Sister" for Channel 4.
He makes a special
appearance as guest conductor at the July Jazz With James Tormé,
David Paich & The New West Symphony Orchestra at Fred Kavli
Theatre in the Countrywide Performing Arts Center at Thousand Oaks
Civic Arts Plaza on July 06, 2007 8pm
Tickets are
$26, $36 and $49. For Best Seats, tickets may be purchased directly
through New West Symphony by calling 866-776-8400 or 800-NEW-WEST
(800-639-9378) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
and online at www.newwestsymphony.org
Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Thousand Oaks Civic
Arts Plaza Box Office, and at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons-May,
Wherehouse Music, Ritmo-Latino and Tu Musica), online at www.ticketmaster.com
Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 805-583-8700, 213-480-3232 or 714-740-2000.
For further information, please visit the websites www.ci.thousand-oaks.ca.us
www.jamestorme.com
Parking is available at The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza for $7
per car, and on the street.
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copyright 2007 studioexpresso
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