Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

REBELLO, Jason

(b 29 March '69, London, England) Piano, composer. From musical family; began with classical training but had a soul band at age 15. Met jazz musicians at Guildhall School of Music, began gigging in London. Won UK's young-musician Pat Smythe Award '88; also voted 'Most Promising Newcomer' by readers of Wire magazine. Appeared e.g. on Alan Skidmore's Tribute To 'Trane '88 on Miles Music, then his own BMG funk-laced albums A Clearer View '90 and Keeping Time '93, the latter an uneasy mix of jazz, funk and pop. The Last Dance '95 featured vocalist Joy Rose, and then he entered a monastery, fully expecting a concert at the Barbican on Sunday 25 June '95 to be the last time he played: he gave up music as well as everything else for a while. He returned to the UK scene in 1997, playing better then ever.