ADAM BIGGS BIOGRAPHY
Adam Biggs is a pianist and music educator. He is Head of Jazz Studies at Bath Spa University, and holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Piano Performance (2011)
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he began playing piano at the age of 7 and first played the organ in Church at the age of 8. He grew up playing the music of the Beatles, Billy Joel, Bruce Hornsby, Elton John, etc. Gaining an early love for entertaining. He became fascinated with Ragtime and New Orleans piano and in 1989 travelled to the U.S, and heard Cyrus Chestnut, Marcus Roberts and others in clubs in New York and Phillidelphia. He resolved to learn Jazz piano and on returning to Australia applied to the Elder Conservatorium to study Jazz Piano. During his time at the conservatorium he met and studied with stride piano greats Dick Hyman and Ralph Sutton. He also met Julian Joseph and Benny Green. In 1994 Adam graduated from the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz piano performance. He travelled extensively from January 1995 to December 1998 playing in clubs, pubs and back alleys from Vienna to Calcutta to New York. In 1995, during his time in Los Angeles, he met Dave Weckl and Mike Stern. Returning to Adelaide in 1998 he worked on the local jazz scene and was resident pianist at various Hotels and clubs, including the Adelaide Casino. During this time he co-formed and worked with a band called Motet and they recorded an album of original material. He recorded his first solo CD "WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW" in January 2003 and returned to Bath, England in July 2003. In Aprll, 2011 Adam arranged the song "Silver" co written by Ben and Jamie Cullum for the Silver Ring Choir's 60th Anniversary concert at The Forum in Bath, where the song was premiered by Jamie and the Choir.
Adam has played and worked with many musicians including – Iain Ballamy, Derek Nash, Andy Sheppard, Clare Teal, Jamie Cullum and Geoff Simkins. In 2010 Adam became a Roland Artist, and currently plays and works on a Roland FP-5 Digital stage piano.
Adam completed his Masters Degree in Jazz Piano Performance, at Bath Spa University, Bath in October 2011. His research focused on new repertoire and contemporary performative practice techniques. He is currently preparing his PhD project.
Adam leads the Jazz trio ADAM'S APPLE with the wonderful Ben Groenevelt on Double Bass and amazing Rob Brian on Drums/Percussion. They released their first CD "LOVE UNKNOWN", a collection of Hymn tunes arranged for Jazz trio in November 2007. This led to performances in the Bath Music Festival, Glastonbury Abbey, and Bath Abbey. In 2009 they released their latest CD "BE STILL", which has been played on radio in the U.K and Australia.
Also in 2007 Adam published the CIRCLE OF FIFTHS a unique learning tool for students and THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS SONGBOOK, a collection of transcriptions of the music from the film “The Fabulous Baker Boys” written by Dave Grusin.
Adam is also an accompanist and has worked with many singers, choirs, choral societies and operatic groups. He has toured extensively with concerts in Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Germany and France. And has performed with many singers, such as Aled Jones, Alfie Boe and Hayley Westenra.
