Dee C'rell

Education

Dee began creating music as a self-taught musician and prolific improviser, studying and mastering the mathematical structure of Western music within composition, before becoming an academic of music. He has studied at the prestigious City University in London with: Professor Steve Stanton in ethnomusicology. Professor Denis Smalley in Western music, classical and electroacoustic music. Professor Alexander Lingus in both, primary and contemporary Western music. Dr. Melania Bucciarelli in the music styles of the Baroque. Dr. Miguel Mera in film and composition. Dr. Newton Armstrong in contemporary Western music making practices. Andy Channing in Balinese, and Indonesian gamelan. Dr. Katharine Norman in electrocacoustic music. Dr. Aki Pasoulas in electroacoustic music. Dr. Ambrose Seddon in electroacoustic music.

He has studied jazz, improvisation and contemporary piano with pianist, Christopher Wilson at Blackheath Conservatoire, and jazz piano with David Frankel at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. As a teacher, his primary focus is on the emerging development of Western and non-Western music, electroacoustic music and the interaction of technology and improvisational music making practices. He is acknowledged academically for the coined terminology, contemporary electro-acoustic jazz.

Music History

Dee C'rell is a recognized musician and producer within the progression of British dance music. He appeared in an article in DJ Mag as one of three influential keyboardists and session musicians working in house music alongside American musicians, Jimi Polo and Tommy Barbarella. He wrote and recorded extensively within a variety of electronic music genres on vinyl and became known by dance music connoisseurs for his influence on, So In Love With You, writing all of the music and producing the original composition, whilst writing also the music for the DJ Camacho remix, that featured American vocalists, Gerideau and Shawn Benson. It is the first recording to feature two male singers in a duet in house music worldwide. It was premiered live at the Ministry of Sound in London alongside pioneer of American dance music, DJ Tony Humphries. It was re-released by Norman Jay, (awarded an MBE), for the 30th Anniversary of the internationally recognised, Notting Hill Carnival in London, U.K. on both CD and vinyl on Strut Records

In the early progression of techno music he collaborated with Ian Tregoning; who is known for his work with electronic music artists Yello, amongst others. As Stranger and C-rell, they signed to the iconic dance music record label, Freetown and Subwoofer, and released, I like It, featuring American soul singer, Jocelyn Brown. The double A-Side  is credited as one of the first African rhythm influenced techno compositions of its time, and it is a collector's item on vinyl within electronic music.

Constantly evolving within all genres of electronic music within this period, Dee was also at the forefront of a genre established as breakbeat, where he composed and recorded on vinyl with Subject 13, on record labels, Sony and Underground Level Recording. Releasing, Techno City, The Unique Beatz E.P Vol.1 and Stay Blessed, these original vinyl releases were part of the British breakbeat scene which inadvertently influenced what would become known worldwide as Drum ’N’ Bass.

Current Music

Dee C’rell’s music recording output is acknowledged as vast and spans multiple music genres. He is synonymous within contemporary music making, where he expertly blends piano and electronics, solo piano, and electronic music into his creative process and music recordings.

He has had worldwide success with multiple compositions such as, the acclaimed electronic downtempo poetry composition, The Ballad of Love. The athmospheric electronic related composition, Berlin. The Bechstein endorsed piano album, Klavier Editionen. The unique double A-side Chromatisch, which includes, Adjustment and Days Like These. The electroacoustic jazz compositions, Form 1 and Form 2. The mininimal electronic and piano compositions, Headphone Walking, Falling Backwards and Looping At The Spree. The contemporary electronic composition, Weit, and the nu-jazz downtempo compositions, Reflection, Of Other, Together, Moulin Bleu, The Remarkable Day of Average, Whodoo, Readjustment, and Embracement, to name just a few. As a solo pianist, his works are extensive with recordings such as, Passage Of Winter, Beyond The Tenure Of Tears, The Munich Recording, The Absent Filmmaker, Whisper Gentle Breeze, Oslo, Farewell Northern Bird and Nachtmusik.

He established the record label, Holm Records, in 2011, which releases many of Dee C'rell's compositions and collaborations, and his works are published as a recording artist and composer in Germany with Concord Music Publishing and ROBA. The music released via Holm Records appears on numerous national radio playlists globally within a variety of music genres and he has released a multitude of works which have appeared on CD’s and digital albums released by, Sony, Warner Music, EMI, Ministry of Sound, Embassy of Music, Stereo Deluxe, KARE, ROBA, Ozella Records, ZYX, Ganser & Hanke, Klassik Radio, and many more, earning Dee C'rell notable global recognition. As an artist, he is endorsed by prestigious companies such as, Bechstein Piano's, Ableton, Focusrite and Ollo Audio, amongst others.