shlo.co.uk

Vocal Orchestra

Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra is an incredible 8-strong beatbox troupe. They make jaw-dropping music using nothing but their vocal cords, mixing inprovisation with intricate vocal routines.

Vocal Orchestra

Win a DVD of “The Beatbox Choir” documentary

To celebrate the YouTube release of the award winning 2007 documentary “The Beatbox Choir” we are giving away 5 copies of the film on DVD, with original artwork from Eleanor Meredith.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is

a) follow me on twitter and
b) Click this link to tweet the following before 5pm on 17 January 2012:

“Here’s how to win a DVD of award winning documentary “The Beatbox Choir” about @Shlomo and @swinglesingers: http://bit.ly/Ak77VO #freestuff”

That’s it!

Don’t forget you can watch the film online in full right here.


Video: The Beatbox Choir (2007) – full documentary


WATCH ON YOUTUBE

http://thebeatboxchoir.co.uk/

This is an award-winning documentary film from 2007 about the creation of beatboxer Shlomo’s choir “The Vocal Orchestra”.

Filmmaker Colette McWilliams and her team were granted exclusive access throughout the 6 weeks between the choir’s first meeting and performing their headlining show for the International Human Beatbox Convention. The film follows the highs and the lows as Shlomo, the Swingle Singers, MC Zani, Bellatrix and Spitf’ya break new ground to create a whole new performance sound – it’s THE BEATBOX CHOIR!

This film was independently produced in London and has previously only been shown at film festivals, including the OS International Film Festival where it was awarded Best Documentary, and at the D Reel International Film Festival, Australia where it was included in the official selection.

This is the first time it has been made available on the web.

Shlomo: http://shlo.co.uk/
The swingle Singers: http://swinglesingers.com/

http://sensoproductions.com

To organise screenings of the film:
info@sensoproducions.com

Directed and Produced by: Colette McWilliams
Producers: Russell Reid & Jean Phillipe Gossart
Director of Photography: Jean Phillipe Gossart http://jpgossart.com
Editor: Stephan Talneau http://vimeo.com/stephantalneau
Sound Recordist: George Butterworth
Boom Operators: Julian, Kareem, Curzio
Sound Mix: Sebastian Reuters http://klangkosmonauten.de

The Original Blurb from 2007:
Beatboxing has been on the rise in the UK over the last five years as fans marvel over the inhuman sounds that these underground stars can make. In The Beatbox choir we follow Shlomo, British beatbox pioneer and South bank artist in residence, as he takes four of the UK’s top beatboxers along side Grammy award winning acapella group The Swingle Singers, and gives them six weeks to turn themselves into the UK’s first full scale human Beatboxing choir.

Before the group had even met they had major festival interest and had been advertised as the headline act for The International Beatbox Convention 2007. Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra have six weeks to create a choir that has to follow acts such as as Beardyman (2x UK Beatbox Champion) and Roxorloops (Belgian Beatbox Champion) to a sit down concert hall full of beatbox fans. Sold out just days after the tickets went on sale and promoted internationally, the crowd’s expectations are high. As Shlomo aptly said in his first introduction to the choir: “I have no idea what we’re gonna do, but we’ve got to do something.”

This inspirational story tells of friendships forged from diverse backgrounds, conflicting musical genres and clashing cultures, with the creation of the choir comes the creation of musical family. From the first day the group meet until their first public performance at the convention, week-by-week we see the creative journey of Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra. Lead through experimental voice-coaching techniques, we watch the group step out of their comfort zones as they perform in ways they never knew they could.

The Beatbox Choir is an inspirational story of ambition, risk-taking and brand new sounds.


Video: BOXED – human turntables vs human drumkit

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Video: BOXED – a beatboxing adventure (the full show)

Here it is in full: BOXED is the Vocal Orchestra stage show we created last year. I would love to develop this into a fully blown West End production. My dream is to create beatboxing’s answer to Stomp. Would love to hear your comments and feedback below. Enjoy!

WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE

Recorded live at Bristol Old Vic, November 2010

The Vocal Orchestra are:
Shlomo
Alyusha Chagrin
Claudia Georgette
Johannah Jolson
Grace Savage aka Gracious B
Andy Brooks aka Testament
Robin Bailey
Matthew Featherstone
Understudies: DJ Walde and Chewy

Credits
Written and directed by Shlomo
Sound – Speth Hughes
Lighting Design – Tom Richmond
Stage Manager – Surenee Chan Somchit
Assistant Creative Director – DJ Walde
Movement Director – Simeon Qsyea
AV Design – Chris McGill and Tim Baxter at Dusthouse
Costume Supervisor – Nadia Malik
Filmed and edited by Roswitha Chesher
Produced by Bristol Old Vic, Southbank Centre and Shlomo

Special thanks to
PRS Foundation, Tom Morris, Daffyd Launder, Emma Stenning, Jude Kelly, Simon Godwin, Irit Kahn


Shlomo and the Lip Factory at Belfast Festival, 20 Oct 2011

Yay! Another gig for my new band ‘Shlomo and the Lip Factory’. It’s a super tight ensemble of 7 beatboxers and jazz singers and it’s not to be missed. We love Belfast. Plus this is on my birthday. :)

Shlomo and the Lip Factory
Mandella Hall, Belfast
20 Oct 2011 7:30PM
BOOK TICKETS


My new vocal project: Shlomo and the Lip Factory, London Union Chapel, Oct 28

Mean Fiddler and The Jazz Cafe presents:
SHLOMO AND THE LIP FACTORY
Friday 28th October 2011

Doors: 7:00 pm
Price: £15.50 adv + booking fee
Entry: Under 16s accompanied by an adult
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Seriously exciting news people!

My new vocal project “Shlomo and the Lip Factory” will be unleashed at a special London show at the beautiful Union Chapel in Islington. It’s an all-vocal band of 7 brilliant beatboxers and jazz singers. We will be releasing a new EP and performing the tracks live.

Don’t miss it!

MORE INFO AND TICKETS


Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra at Greenwich Summer Sessions, 31 July 2011

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LONDON CURATED BY CHRIS DIFFORD
+ Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra
SUN 31/07/2011. Doors open at 17:30
Old Royal Naval College in West Gate, SE10 9NN
BUY TICKETS

We’ll be doing our last show as “Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra” on July 31st at the Greenwich Summer Sessions before I launch my new vocal project this Autumn. We are supporting “Songs in the Key of London” which is a special night of music put together by Chris Difford of Squeeze.

More info


CANCELLED: Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra at Night and Day Festival, Leeds, 12 June 2011

NB THIS GIG HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY THE PROMOTERS> MESSAGE FROM THE PROMOTERS

Night and Day Festival
Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
Sun 12 Jun 2011, 11:00-20:00
Buy Tickets

It’s always a treat to perform with the Vocal Orchestra, but this is gonna be a good’un! An outdoor gig at the beautiful Kirkstall Abbey in our favourite town of Leeds. Also appearing, Craig Charles’ Fantasy Funk Band, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, John Shuttleworth, Lucky Elephant and New World Steel Orchestra.


Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra at Henley Festival, 10 July 2011

Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra @ Henley Festival
Sun 10 July 2011
Buy Tickets


Video: Everybody’s Gotta Daydream by Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra


Come and see our full show @ the e4 udderbelly festival, southbank centre, london 15 & 30 may 2011

recorded live at the bristol old vic

WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE


Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra return to E4 Udderbelly

Exciting news! I’ll be returning with my ridiculously talented 8-piece beatbox crew the Vocal Orchestra at the E4 Udderbelly on London’s Southbank for 3 shows in May! Whoop! More VO dates to come over the summer. We’ll be showing off some new tracks and this makes me very happy.

SHLOMO AND THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA
E4 Udderbelly Festival at Southbank Centre
Sun 15 May, 4.15pm & 6pm
Bank Holiday Monday 30 May, 9pm
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Here’s a video of the Vocal Orchestra playing at the Udderbelly in 2009:


BOXED – The Trailer


Watch on YouTube

Trailer for Shlomo’s “BOXED – a beatboxing adventure” at Bristol Old Vic, 16-20th November 2010.

BUY TICKETS HERE.


photos by Gabrielle Motola

Here are some cool pics from our shoot with Gabrielle Motola during our run of BOXED – the camera was suspended above us :)


Video: Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra reworking the Prodigy classic ‘Out of Space’!!

Shlo and the VO present Out of Space by the Prodigy, reworked with 8 mouths and 8 mics.


Video: One Hit by Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

One Hit by Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra


Shlomo’s Glasto diary 09 – Part 4 – JARVIS COCKER

Final part of Shlomo’s Glastonbury diary featuring Jarvis Cocker singing Fat Children with Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dm7RvxTp88


Shlomo’s Glasto diary 09 – Part 4 – MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE vs BELLATRIX beatbox battle

Part four of Shlomo’s Glastonbury diary featuring BBC Radio 4′s MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE challenging BELLATRIX (World Female Beatbox Champion 2009) to a battle of the beats. Ouch.

Part five is out next week!


Watch it HERE.


Video: teardrop by Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

8 mouths, 8 mics. Nothing else. Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra sing “Teardrop” by Massive Attack. Lead vocals by Yvette Riby-Williams. Recorded live at the Udderbelly by Kyran Speirs.

WATCH IT HERE


Video: I Wish – Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

beatbox troupe Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra sing the Stevie Wonder classic “I Wish” filmed at the Udderbelly by Kyran Speirs.

Lead vox by Billy Boothroyd and Neo Joshua
8 mouths, 8 mics, nothing else!


Shlomo’s Glasto Diary ’09 – part 3 – IMOGEN HEAP becomes honorary VOCAL ORCHESTRA member

Part three of Shlomo’s Glastonbury diary featuring an improvised collaboration between IMOGEN HEAP and SHLOMO AND THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA!

Part four is out next week!

Video by http://www.asdescribed.net/

WATCH IT HERE


Shlomo’s Glasto Diary ’09 – part 2 – DJ YODA vs VOCAL ORCHESTRA

Part two of Shlomo’s Glastonbury diary featuring a live battle between DJ YODA and SHLOMO AND THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA!

Part three is out next week!

Video by http://www.asdescribed.net/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWnl1VCFAmI


pics and video: vocal orchestra on greenbelt mainstage

This was our last festival show of an amazing summer

Shlo_VO_Greenbelt_09_1

Was lovely to play on the mainstage

Shlo_VO_Greenbelt_09_3

The Vocal Orchestra smashed it!

Shlo_VO_Greenbelt_09_2

Here’s a little video of us in our masterclass earlier that afternoon

Shlomo and The Vocal Orchestra from Greenbelt Festival on Vimeo.


Shlomo’s Glasto Diary ’09 – part 1 – the Vocal Orchestra

Part one of Shlomo’s Glastonbury diary featuring his beatbox choir THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA, plus JARVIS COCKER, IMOGEN HEAP, DJ YODA and MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE.

Part two is out next week!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNjL6sXwibE

Video by http://www.asdescribed.net/


WOMAD 2009 ROCKED!

Womad festival at Charlton Park was INSANE this year.

Malmesbury Beatbox Allstars
The Malmesbury Beatbox Allstars: We opened the festival mainstage on the Thursday night with a group of 20 local schoolkids who had been learning beatboxing.

Womad 09 - Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

quite a big crowd had gathered for our ‘workshop’ on Saturday afternoon but we still got some kids up to learn some beatboxing

Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra
Saturday night and the VO gather their wits before the headline slot in the Siam tent

Womad 09 - Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

the crowd was scarily big before we went out.. they were tripping because Peter Gabriel overran on the mainstage and we had to wait for him to finish… they were chanting and slow clapping.. adrenaline fest!!
Womad 09 - Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra
The VO were on ridiculous form…


Womad 09 - Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra
It was amazing, easily show of the year so far!!!!


very end of our set

bacon and scrambled eggs!!
shlomo the chef… bacon and scrambled egg sarnies all round at the campsite… rock and freakin roll.. cannot wait for next year… but next up it’s the big chill festival….. yay!