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 Hackney college, London, and the Blackheath Conservatoire in London. Jazz orchestration and performance with Eddie Parker at Morley College, London. Jazz piano and theory 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 established himself as a musician and producer within the primary progression of British dance music. He wrote and recorded extensively within a variety of electronic music genres that were released on vinyl and became known for his influence on, So In Love With You, writing all of the music and producing the original composition, whilst writing the music for the remix by American house DJ, Dave Camacho. The recording features American vocalists, Gerideau and Shawn Benson. It is considered 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 the American house 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. 

Within the progression of techno music he collaborated with Ian Tregoning; who is known for his continuous 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 contains a recording which  is credited as one of the first African rhythm influenced techno compositions of its time.

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 as part of, Subject 13, releasing music on record labels, Sony and Underground Level Recording, or U.L.R, as it was more commonly known. Releasing compositions such as, Techno City, The Unique Beatz E.P Vol.1 and Stay Blessed, these original vinyl recordings became part of the British breakbeat music 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 combines 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.