Richard Grimes

Infobox Musical Artist
Background =non_vocal_instrumentalist
Instrument =cimbalomCimbalom
Name =Richard Grimes


Img_capt =Richard Grimes at cimbalom
Born =birth date and age|1978|11|26
Instrument =Cimbalom
Notable_instruments =Electric Cimbalom
Genre =Post-rock, Ambient
Associated_acts =Cordis
Years_active =1996-"present"

Richard Grimes is solo percussionist, known primarily for his electric cimbalom playing in the Boston post-rock band Cordis. His trademark is playing the cimbalom through tube amplification and running it through a multitude of effects to create the signature searing tones that define the band. Grimes also writes the entire catalogue of music for the band, which is made up of electric 6-string cello, analogue keyboards (Wurlitzer, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes), drums, bass, and percussion - and including instruments that have to be created specially for the group. Grimes also composes for solo cimbalom, solo marimba, and chamber percussion ensembles under Bachovich Publications. He also has written a book on the cimbalom, "Gypsy Son, The Evolution of the Concert Cimbalom in Western Music".

Classical Cimbalom

As a solo cimbalom player, Grimes often performs solo recitals and with symphony orchestras throughout North America. He was a featured solo performer and clinician at the 2003 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Louisville, KentuckyFact|date=October 2008. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Concert Cimbalom Festival held in Boston each summer.

Musical History

From 1996 to 2001, Grimes was in the band, "Standish Drive", which was on EMI records, where he sang lead vocals and was the group's songwriter. The group disbanded before their contract had expired, so Grimes went on to do publishing for the company in order to fulfill the contract. While in the group, Grimes also played a MIDI vibraphone, but later gave up on the idea, feeling it was "more of a distraction to the music than anything else." ["Sound and Fury" – interview with Richard Grimes, 1998]

Over the span of his relatively young career, Grimes has worked alongside a growing roster of talent, including Viktoria Herencsar (principal cimbalom; Budapest Opera) and Zimbabwean mbirist Cosmas Magaya in venues ranging from NPR's World Café Live to Carnegie Hall.

References

External links

* [http://www.cordismusic.com Official Cordis site]
* [http://www.concertcimbalom.com Official Concert Cimbalom site]
* [http://www.cimbalomfestival.com American Concert Cimbalom Festival]