Jonathan Mayer

Son of the late composer and co-founder of Indo-Jazz Fusions John Mayer, Jonathan began his musical training at an early age and by the age of 16 Jonathan found the instrument that would be his life, the sitar.

His teachers have included Clem Alford (the first ever European sitar player), Pandit Subroto Roychowdhury of Senia Gharana and Wajahat Khan (direct descendent of Mia Tansen the great musician, one of the nine jewels in Moghul court of Emperor Akbar).

Jonathan Mayer studied composition with his father and later with Andrew Downes at the Birmingham Conservatoire where he gained a B.Mus (Hons) at the Birmingham Conservatoire studying both sitar and composition. His career so far has seen him play with artists such as Dave Stewart, The Bingham String Quartet, Kathryn Tickell, Kumar Bose, Kuljit Bhamra, Erich Gruenburg, Rohan De Sarem, Kenny Wheeler, The Orlando Consort, John Wilson, Bombay Dub Orchestra, Future Sounds of London, Sarah Brightman, I Musici Fiamminghi Orchestra,and Sir Paul McCartney.

Jonathan’s compositions have been performed by Erich Gruenburg, Joji Hattori, his father’s band Indo-Jazz Fusions and he has written for many library music companies. Jonathan is also a member of The Teak Project, an exciting new trio with a debut album out on First Hand Records. As well as his playing and compositions being heard on two Nimbus CD’s and two on FMR, Jonathan can also be heard on Sarah Brightmans’ Eden and Kevin Spaceys’ Beyond the sea and has recorded a solo album for Cooking Vinyl Records. Jonathan is also co-founder of First Hand Records Ltd.

Jonathan has performed all over the world including, France, Germany, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, America, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and two very successful tours in India as well as a number of performances for the BBC in the UK.

Jonathan can also perform a set of Western popular songs on sitar with backing tracks (Beatles, Donovan) mixed with traditional Indian music.

Press comments:

Chandigarh Live: “..In fact, be it in individual piece or in his father John Mayer or in consonance with other artists, Mayer played Sitar with deft dexterity.”

The Times UK : “…and some exhilarating solos from Jonathan on Sitar…..”

Timeout UK: “…..Jonathan weaves a gorgeous modal jazz solo on the Sitar in 7/4

Classic CD UK: “…. The Players are all astonishingly virtuosic from Mayer’s son, Jonathan, on the Sitar….”

Testimonial

“Just a quick email to thank Jonathan and the other musicians for an amazing performance at our wedding. They really added sparkle to our special day.”

Divyesh and Bina