Keith Waithe

About Keith Waithe

Award-winning flautist, composer, teacher and expert proponent of vocal gymnastics Keith Waithe produces and promotes an international musical style, exploring an original fusion of jazz, classical, African, Caribbean, Asian and Western influences.

Keith mixes many sounds, fusing enigmatic musicals forms in performance in addition to working on radio, theatre and television pieces, utilising his unique drive for a sound that moves audiences chilled out spiritually and sensually. Keith’s enormous stage presence and his sense of showmanship helps to make the audience at each live concert a unique experience as was highlighted at the Ealing Jazz Festival (7,000 people) and The Brecon International Jazz Festival (3,000 people).

Keith first learned to play the trumpet from his late father in Guyana and during his formal music training there, transferred to the flute. He developed a passion for the instrument, mastering it at the University of Surrey and the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, where he gained an LRSM Diploma and the PGCE Teaching Certificate. Keith lives and works in the United Kingdom.

Keith formed the Macusi Players, (taking the name from the powerful Macusis Amerindian tribe from Guyana). Their recent appearance at the Ealing Jazz Festival 2006 was noted by British Newspaper The Guardian “Virtuoso Flautist Waithe and his ensemble” was pick of the week as a concert not be missed. Summer 2005, The Arts Council Of England – Three Cities create and connect project Commissioned Keith to developed and lead a new World Music Supergroup “Musicque et Espectacio” which was great success in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. Keith was appointed Musician / Artists in Residence with Oxford Contemporary Music and the Harrow Arts Centre.

Recently, Keith has worked and successfully conducted several music workshop sessions/ performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as part of their “A taste of Africa” series. Played with Mercury Prize winner Nitin Sawhney in The Macusi Players.

Orfeo Negro - A teenage Keith Waithe, by John Criswick
Orfeo Negro – A teenage Keith Waithe, by John Criswick

Keith and members of the Macusi Players has been invited to festivals and performances all over the world including: India, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, Sudan, Ghana, France, Geneva, Peru, Guyana, New York, Columbia and The Cayman Islands, sponsored by the British Council.

Keith has made numerous media appearances including Midweek and Kaleidoscope on BBC Radio 4, Night Waves on Radio 3, Mad About Music on Radio 2 and performed in the Motion Picture Ragtime.

Battersea Arts Centre hosted a sell out performances in May and September of that year of Keith’s debut one man show ‘126 Flutes’. Keith in the past created and programmed some exciting & innovatory events as part of an artistic developmental process at the Eden Project, Cornwall and in Ealingschools. Workshop residencies include the following:

The Blackie in Liverpool, funded by the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool, and The EAZ (Ealing Action Zone – Aim higher Project) in Northolt, Ealing. Keith recently received a Major Music Award in New York for his significant contribution to Guyanese Music by Guyfolkfest, USA.

Keith is the Director of Essequibo Music an umbrella organisation that has on its books a range of quality contemporary British Artists & Musicians working in educational, cultural and performances arenas.

Keith Waithe and the Macusi Players are currently on tour of the British Isles and his latest CD titled “Diverse Canopy” has had rave reviews.

Keith Waithe is available for personal appearances, interviews and an opportunity to discuss his music.