John was born in Canada and began playing guitar at age 9. Upon graduation from High School, he began touring across Canada and the United States with various pop groups playing venues such as Harrah's in Lake Tahoe and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
At age 26, John began to study Flamenco guitar completely inspired by the teaching methods of Juan Martin and listening to the incredible sounds from Paco de Lucia, Paco Pena, Sabicas and many others. In 1995, John won "Best Acoustic Guitar Performance" in the Music West Star Frets Competition and won Vancouver's Unplugged Competition in 1996. John has performed for the Vancouver Playhouse, Michael Barabas, Radio Europe, Alyssa Nielsen, Gypsalero and has opened for artists such as Cirque du Soleil, Mae Moore and world beat artists Strunz and Farah.
In May of 1999, John released his first CD Freedom. Freedom was created to showcase his guitar talents embracing the world beat musical elements of flamenco, Latin and Jazz. In 2002, John released his second CD titled Peace. Peace continues where Freedom leaves off: passionate, fiery flamenco guitars and beautiful melodies intertwined with exotic percussion, bass and drums. The 2002 West Coast Music Awards nominated Peace as Best Instrumental Release - Non Classical.
John Gilliat continues to offer new direction and contemporary expression to Flamenco, Nouveau Flamenco and Flamenco Rumba, touring festivals and headlining concerts with his quartet (bass, two guitars, and percussion). Over 10,000 copies of John's albums have been sold.
Now following three successful Japanese tours, the first-ever concert on an open-air train and performing live on NHK Radio along with various other Japanese radio and television appearances, John has released his latest CD in Japan titled "Beyond Boundaries". The new CD continues to offer new direction and contemporary expression to Nouveau Flamenco, Flamenco Rumba and jazz. Included in Beyond Boundaries is a very special composition titled "Onishi", created from the beautiful images, sounds and excitement John experienced during his performances at Fujiyama Koen Park in Onishi Cho, Japan.
The John Gilliat Group is:
John Gilliat - guitar
John continues to offer new direction and contemporary expression to Flamenco, Nouveau Flamenco and Flamenco Rumba, touring festivals and headlining concerts with his quartet. John has old over 10,000 copies of his CD worldwide. His CD Peace was nominated for a 2002 West Coast Music Award. His latest CD Beyond Boundaries was recently released in Japan. John has toured Japan three times and is working towards a repeat visit in the near future.
Brent Gubbles - bass
Brent studied music at Capilano College and took private lessons with Rene Worst, Tam Hazlitt and David Brown. A versatile performer to say the least, Brent has performed folk, roots, jazz and Latin music with artists such as James Keelaghan, Susan Crowe, Sandy Scofield, Lowry Olafson, Miles Black, Brad Turner, Gypsalero, George McFetidge, The Hard Rubber Orchestra, Tony Wilson, Chris Getrin, Daryl Jahnke, Oscar Lopez, Fantazea and many others. Since 1992, he has toured North America and Europe extensively and played a variety of international jazz and folk festivals. Brent Gubbles’ fantastic work can be heard on Juno nominated recordings by Oscar Lopez and James Keelaghan, Susan Crowe, and Compadres.
Nicholas Apivor – percussion
Nick is known throughout Vancouver as the multi-instrumentalist. He specializes in the Vibraphone and Marimba. Nick received a Bachelor of Music Degree at the University of Victoria, studying with Sal Ferreras. Over the years he has also studied with such noted musicians as Glen Velez, Trichy Sankaran, Louise Rose, Paul Horn and Hugh Fraser. His performing experience has been wide ranging: from the Victoria Symphony, to avant garde big band the N.O.W. Orchestra, to the legendary Iranian singer Dariush. Nick was the percussionist for the Vancouver Playhouse Production of Guys and Dolls and The Music Man. Aside from performing with John Gilliat, Nick also plays with the high-action group, Ache Brazil and Rumba Calzada. His playing can be heard on many albums including Rumba Calzada’s Juno nominated CD entitled Volume 3, and Grammy nominated composer Paul Dolden’s L’ivresse de la Vitesse. |
