Dopey Monkey is a collaboration between Scottish composers and musicians Martin Lee Thomson (Euphonium) and Danielle Price (Tuba). An art ensemble with ambitions to venture beyond the traditional boundaries associated with their instruments, Dopey Monkey’s journey since their formation in 2015 has seen the duo explore a range of mixed media creations, and present bespoke performances that highlight the inquisitive dynamic of the duo’s partnership.
Dopey Monkey’s releases and commissions thus far have taken the shape of genre-defying collages inspired by curiosity, playful collaboration, storytelling and art, bringing a DIY approach to their compositional process and to the visual complements that they craft, while seeking to construct an exciting, inspiring space for artistic and sonic exploration, and an inviting atmosphere for listeners and collaborators to accompany them on their journey.
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Danielle Price- Tuba
Danielle Price (she/her) is a UK/Norway based performer, improviser and composer whose work explores a range of creative outlets, mainly using tuba and voice. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2013 with Distinction from the Master of Music course and winning the Governors' Recital Prize for Brass. In 2020 Danielle, returned to studies with duo Dopey Monkey to complete a Masters in Improvisation/Jazz at Oslo’s Norges musikkhøgskole. She is grateful to The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Help Musicians UK, The Anglo Norse Society and Scottish International Education Trust for their support during her studies.
She enjoys a versatile career involving her own projects as well as having worked with the likes of The Night With…, Blue Boar, Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, New Antonine Brass, Pure Brass, Ashley Paul, Ali Affleck, Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, Oxbow, Ntshuks Bonga, Red Note Ensemble, Laura Jurd, Martin Green and as an extra musician with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She was selected out of over 500 applicants as one of six successful musicians to participate in the Chilly Gonzales "Gonzervatory 2019."
Danielle regularly collaborates with Bill Wells, as the Sensory Illusions (Karaoke Kalk) and the Viaduct Tuba Trio (Bison Records). Most recently, she has ventured further into composition having written music for filmaker Ida Myklebost and through the release of her debut solo EP “After the Allotments” (OTOROKU 2022).
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Martin Lee Thomson- Euphonium
Martin Lee Thomson (he/him) is a Euphonium player, trombonist and composer from the northeast of Scotland. He is a BMus Jazz graduate of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and recently graduated from Norges musikkhøgskole with a Masters in Jazz/Improvisation. He has worked as a freelance musician with a variety of ensembles across the UK and Europe, appearing on Mercury Nominated Jazz musician Laura Jurd's album ‘Stepping back, Jumping in’ as well as on ‘Police, Police’ the upcoming release from UK jazz star Elliot Galvin.
As a composer, Martin draws influence from his traditional Scottish heritage and the natural world. He has written for a variety of ensembles and recently released the personal project ‘Glisk’ exploring the Doric language alongside photography. He enjoys exploring film photography, having recently had two pieces accepted for the Nairn Arts Festival open exhibition ‘Every Picture Tells a Story.’
Martin is a founding member of Dopey Monkey, award-winning trombone quartet Aeris Brass, Carnyx Brass and is the Artistic Director of the Dandelion Jazz Orchestra. He is a recipient of the Fordham University Founder's Scholars Award, Scottish International Educational Trust award, Cross Trust Award, Anglo-Norse Scholarship and the Donald Dewar award which supports the brightest and best of Scotland's young artistic talent. His collaborative composition Fresh Fish, written for Dopey Monkey was finalised for ITEC Jim Self Creative Award 2021 and features in the NMC Big Lockdown Music Survey 2022.