Video: The Beatbox Choir (2007) – full documentary
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/
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: Michael Winslow, Shlomo and Soweto Entsha in HD
Here it is in full HD – the now legendary #Winshlo night at the Edinburgh Fringe where I got to collaborate with a childhood hero Michael Winslow, and the beautiful voices of Soweto Entsha. WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE
Only 8 weeks to download the Mouthtronica charity albums
Ladies and gentlemen, here they are in their entirety. 45 nights. 45 guests. 45 tracks of pure spontaneous collaborative improvisation, all benefits going to MSF (Doctors Without Borders).
These will only be available to download until October 31st 2011. What are you waiting for?
Special Shlomo and Michael Winslow collab show this Tuesday, Udderbelly
OLD SKOOL MEETS NEW SKOOL
Two men. Two Mouths. Two Mics.
For one night only, witness what happens when Old Skool meets New Skool
in this totally unique collaboration. World Loop Station champion Shlomo
(“Master of the fine art of beatboxing” Independent) and Police
Academy’s master of voices Michael Winslow (“His lightning wit and
timing are impeccable” British Theatre Guide) embark on a mash-up of
monumental proportions.
23 AUG 2011 23:15
UDDERBELLY’S PASTURE
£15.00
BUY TICKETS: https://underbelly.co.uk/old-skool-meets-new-skool
This is SO EXCITING!!!!
Video: James Morrison and Shlomo on BBC Radio 1′s Fun and Filth Cabaret
Last night I went down to the BBC Bubble at Edinburgh Festival to appear on Scott Mills’ Fun and Filth Cabaret. I performed a duet with singer songwriter James Morrison who swapped the words of his hit “You Give Me Something” with genuine tabloid headlines. Fun times.
Shlo on BBC Radio 2 Arts Show, Live from Edinburgh, 12 Aug 2011
BBC – The Radio 2 Arts Show, Live from Edinburgh with Penny Smith and Sarah Millican
Catch me chatting and performing live from 22:00-00:00 on Friday 12 Aug 2011 on the BBC Radio 2 Arts Show with with Penny Smith and Sarah Millican. I should be on around 22:30 but if you miss it you can listen again here.
Download the charity Mouthtronica collaborations from Edinburgh Fringe Festival
From the 4 – 28th August 2011 I’m performing my super-fun one man show Mouthtronica at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Every night I perform a spontaneous improvised collaboration with a different guest artist. The next day you will be able to download the MP3 of each collaboration in aid of the international medical charity MSF.
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.
Video: Rehearsing for Shlomo’s Glasto Circus
Here’s an exclusive behind the scenes video of preparations for Shlomo’s Glasto Circus featuring Ed Sheeran (who is currently at number 3 in the charts!), Bellatrix (World Female Beatbox Champion) and Rob Broderick (ridiculously talented comedy freestyle rapper from Abandoman).
SHLOMO: MOUTHTRONICA AT EDINBURGH FRINGE Aug 4-29 2011
SHLOMO: MOUTHTRONICA
Aug 4-29 2011 @ Belly Dancer, Underbelly, Cowgate
BUY TICKETS NOW
One man. One mouth. One mic. Taking the art of beat- boxing beyond gimmickry. A dazzling mix of story telling and high energy, genre-hopping, voice-box mashing from the 2011 World Loopstation Champion. ‘Jaw-droppingly good’ (Guardian).
Highly exciting news friends: my one man theatre show “Mouthtronica” will be running for the duration of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August! Come and join me for an evening of loud beatboxing and polite conversation. Once again I’ll be collaborating with a different artist each night, so any suggestions welcome!
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
Shlomo’s Mouthtronica at Latitude Festival, 15 July 2011
Great news! I’ll be doing my one-man show Mouthtronica in the Theatre Arena at this year’s Latitude Festival.
I had a cracking time there in 2009 when I played Latitude with the Vocal Orchestra and also did this collaboration with the legend that is Jarvis Cocker:
Babelbox Podcast episode 6: Festival special
The Babelbox podcast Episode 6 is out now. It’s a Festival Special for Summer 2009, covering Glastonbury, Womad, Latitude, Big Chill, and Africa Express in Paris. Featuring the Vocal Orchestra, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jarvis Cocker, and Tony Allen.
Listen now, or subscribe using iTunes.
‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ hits the festivals
Glastonbury and Bestival!
Shlomo’s collaborative concert series ‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ will depart from Southbank over the Summer to hit some of the UK’s festivals! Starting with a massive 2 hour collaborative show headlining the Glastonbury Park Stage, followed by a reprise of Shlomo and DJ Yoda’s collaboration on the mainstage at Bestival. Details below.
Music Through Unconventional Means @ Glastonbury
6-8PM, GLASTONBURY PARK STAGE, SAT 28 JUNE 2008
We are proud to announce that a special collaborative show will take place at this year’s Glastonbury festival, led by acclaimed British beatbox artist SHLOMO with his beatbox choir THE VOCAL ORCHESTRA. The two hour show will feature a secret list of guest acts from across the musical spectrum, with several of the festival’s key artists playing exclusive acoustic performances before collaborating and jamming with Shlomo and each other.
The emphasis of this extraordinary evening is on spontaneous collaboration and improvisation, often pushing the guest artists away from their usual performance zone to create something entirely original and unique.
The title ‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ is taken from Shlomo’s monthly concert series at the London Southbank Centre, where he is currently Artist in Residence. The series has been running since November 2007, and so far Shlomo has collaborated with Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, DJ Yoda, Mad Professor and Polar Bear.
The Glastonbury show came about after discussions between Shlomo and Park Stage curator Emily Eavis. “This is one of the most anticipated shows at this year’s festival…” says Emily, “Expect special guests, unusual collaborations and amazing beatboxing for two hours…This year’s big surprise gig.”
Shlomo vs DJ Yoda @ Bestival
6.30PM, Bestival Main Stage, Sat 6 September 2008
The amazing collaboration between Shlomo and AV artist DJ Yoda will be revisited in front of 30,000 people on the Bestival mainstage in September. The show was originally created for a special show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of Shlomo’s residency at Southbank Centre. It features a crazy mashup of beatboxing, scratching and video trickery, and is one hell of a party starter!
Vocal Orchestra update
‘Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra’ are the world’s only Human Beatbox Choir. Their show is a phenomenal blend of live music, all performed using only the voiceboxes of 8 incredible musicians!
This summer they will perform at the Southbank Choral Festival and headline the Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival. They are also planning to create the Guinness World Record for leading the World’s Largest Beatboxing Choir.
In the Autumn of 2008 they will return for a UK tour taking in some of the country’s most prestigious arts venues.
Shlomo started out as a solo beatboxer, touring the world with hip hop outfit Foreign Beggars. He went on to record with Bjork, appear on ‘Later.. with Jools Holland’, and to play at Glastonbury as a solo act.
Somewhere along the way, Shlomo had the idea of working with a large group of beatboxers. Together with the Southbank Centre, he set out to create the world’s first beatbox choir. Shlomo had 6 weeks to put together the initial performance, which headlined at the International Beatbox Convention in March 2007.
The original line-up featured some of the UK’s foremost vocal talent, including legendary A Cappella outfit The Swingle Singers, alongside MC Zani (UK no.2 beatboxer), Bellatrix (UK no.1 female beatboxer), Spitf’ya and jestar*.
That first performance at Southbank was a sell-out, and the choir went on to headline at the Big Chill festival in front of 10,000 people.
In May 2008 the choir will return to Southbank to lead the World’s Largest Beatboxing Choir, and in June they’ll headline the Glastonbury Park stage.
In Autumn 2008 the Vocal Orchestra reform for a UK tour of concert halls and arts venues.
With a new streamlined 8-piece lineup, the choir now features some of the UK’s top jazz and soul vocalists, including Natalie Williams (resident at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club), Vula Malinga (front-woman of Bassment Jaxx) alongside Shlomo, MC Zani, Bellatrix, Spitf’ya, Jestar* and former Swingle Kineret Erez.
