Meet The Composers & Performers
Theo Travis
Theo Travis was born in Birmingham and moved to London in the early 1990s where he soon established himself as one of the finest tenor sax players on the British jazz scene. He has led his own jazz quartet for over 20 years, recorded ten albums as leader having composed, arranged and produced the material and performed all over the UK as well as at Ronnie Scott's Club in London over 75 times.
He is increasingly known as one of the top saxophone and flute players in the world in Progressive music and has appeared as featured soloist on over 130 albums. In 2003 he released his ‘Slow Life’ album – featuring looped alto flute textures and establishing what has become one of Theo’s trademark sounds – a ‘flutescape’ that has subsequently appeared on many albums, as well as film and TV programmes.
With guitarist Robert Fripp he formed Travis & Fripp in 2007 and the duo have toured internationally and recorded 5 albums – largely ethereal and ambient which Travis co-wrote and produced. In 2006 he became a member of Soft Machine (formerly Soft Machine Legacy) , taking over from the late Elton Dean, and since then he has co-written and co-produced their 5 albums as well as toured Europe, Japan and Brazil. Travis has performed and recorded extensively with Steven Wilson as featured soloist, and they have worked on 23 albums together.
Travis also was a member of Gong from 1999 to 2009 and in 2015 he joined David Gilmour's band for the 'Rattle that Lock' tour. Travis has also performed and recorded with David Sylvian, Bill Nelson, The Tangent, Roger Eno, Keith Tippett, Harold Budd, John Foxx, Steve Hillage, John Etheridge, Cipher and Mick Karn.
In 2014 he wrote his first book 'Twice around the world', a diary of blogs from the Steven Wilson world tours of 2012/13 and he has appeared as a walk on artist in film and TV such as 'Notting Hill', the Bond movie 'Die Another Day' and 'Foyle's War'. In 2015 he released his latest solo album 'Transgression' (Esoteric).
He lives in London with his wife, son and 16 saxes and flutes. Theo plays Trevor James C, alto and bass flutes and Signature Custom alto and tenor saxophones.
Melissa Keeling
Acclaimed for performing repertoire ranging from orchestral literature to electronic music, flutist and composer Dr. Melissa Keeling is based in the New York City area. Her music has been described as "the most creative flute writing of 2018 next to Bjork... a delight... stunning and moving... SUPERSONYQ is refreshing and necessary to exploring the boundaries of the flute” (The Flute View). Melissa is a Trevor James International Flute Artist and an Endorsed Artist by K&K Sound.
Dr. Keeling regularly presents solo and chamber music across the country, appearing as a guest artist and soloist at festivals and universities such as the Missouri Flute Society Festival, National Flute Association Convention, Mid-South Flute Festival, Make Music New York Festival, West Virginia University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Western Kentucky University. As an orchestral musician, Dr. Keeling has served as principal flutist, piccoloist, and soloist with orchestras such as the Ureuk Symphony Orchestra, New York Harmonic Band, and the Western Kentucky University Wind Ensemble. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Firehouse Space in New York City. Internationally, she has performed solo in Italy with Grammy-award winning artist Rhonda Larson. Her two solo albums, sonyq (2010) and SUPERSONYQ (2018), feature original works for flute with effects pedals.
Melissa plays on a TJ alto flute.
For more information https://www.melissakeeling.com/
José Valentino
Internationally-acclaimed recording and performing artist, Dr. José Valentino Ruiz is an EMMY® Award Winner, a multi-Latin GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist-producer-engineer, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, missionary, and educator known for his passionate performances, versatility, and fluid expression on the flute, saxophone, bass, and Latin percussion. José Valentino has worked for American Idol and X-Factor, has produced 59 albums, has scored 30+ nationally-televised commercials, & has performed in over 1100 concerts. His music business & entrepreneurship credentials include CEO/Director of Production & Entertainment for JV Music Enterprises LLC., Global Ambassador for TJ Flutes & Saxophones, Entrepreneurship Coach for Diaz Music Institute 501c3, and Film Composer for MVProds & Hayden 5. Additionally, José Valentino is one of the most sought-after commercial music instrumental artists and DJ’s in the country.
For more information http://www.josevalentino.com/