'Out of the Darkness'
Tickets £10 or £8 concessions
A new twelve-piece Ensemble that places a jazz quartet within an eight-piece classical sinfonietta
Contemporary jazz and classical pianist/composer John Law presents this new project: a jazz quartet within a classical group of string quartet, trumpet, oboe, bassoon and trombone. Featuring three of the UK's finest jazz musicians, Andy Sheppard (saxophones), Chris Laurence (double bass) and Paul Clarvis (percussion), the ensemble will present two new, large-scale creations: Out of the Darkness and, in the second half the contrasting piece Light Music, the former concentrating on atmosphere and structure and the later, made up of shorter pieces, exploring grooves and rhythms. Music for the head, the toes and everyhing in-between.
Further information:
The Cornucopia Ensemble are a pool of hand-picked musicians drawn from different disciplines of jazz & classical musics, bringing together elements of art music with the spontaneous rhythmic elements and drive of groove-based music. John's first aim with this project is to utilise instruments that are seldom used in jazz and world music. As a nucleus, the string section, as in classical orchestras; then oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone. Placed in the middle of this ‘classical’ sinfonietta will be a jazz quartet, featuring the world-acclaimed saxophonist Andy Sheppard. Featuring three of the UK's finest jazz musicians, Andy Sheppard (saxophones), Chris Laurence (double bass) and Paul Clarvis (percussion) and a classical ensemble directed by leading violinist Rita Manning, the concert, part of an Arts Council UK tour, will present two new, large-scale creations: Out of the Darkness and, in the second half, the contrasting piece Light Music, the former concentrating on atmosphere and structure and the latter, made up of shorter pieces, exploring grooves and dance rhythms.MUSIC FOR THE HEAD THE TOES AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN!
More information on the artists:Andy Sheppard One of the best known UK jazz musicians, Andy’s work crosses over a huge variety of different genres, from his big band projects to small group ones. A highly successful recording artist, bandleader and composer (for film,TV and theatre), Andy Sheppard has recorded numerous albums and has been signed to UK independent record label Provocateur since 1998. Andy has worked with an astonishing range of musical partners including the three great post-war bandleaders, Carla Bley, George Russell and Gil Evans. His current projects include duos with guitarist John Parricelli and pianist Joanna MacGregor. An awesome saxophone virtuoso and a unique stylist, Andy is one of a handful of British jazz instrumentalists with a truly international reputation."John Law is a highly communicative artist whose technique and focused view of his work crosses many boundaries." The Guardian "When he records for ECM he’ll become a star!" Jazzthetik, Germany
"One of the UK’s most imaginative pianists" (The Times), he has worked in a wide variety of different genres. Originally a classical prodigy, John Law has played freely improvised piano recitals based on plainchant, recorded Monk tunes and performs in a popular two piano duo with Jason Rebello, mixing jazz and classical pieces. He has performed at over fifty festivals worldwide and produced over twenty CDs.
Paul Clarvis is renowned throughout the world for his dazzling breadth of musical activity. He has toured and recorded with a vast number of musicians from jazz, classical and pop, both as a kit drummer and as a percussionist: from jazz musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Mose Allison, Gordon Beck, Herbie Hancock through pop stars such as Elton John, Elvis Costello to contemporary classical names like Leonard Bernstein, John Harle, Harrison Birtwhistle and Mark Anthony Turnage.
Chris Laurence, a regular bassist with John Surman, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Andy Sheppard, as well as with most of the visiting American jazz musicians, he is also equally at home with classical music, being for many years the principal bass player with the Academy of St. Martin-In-The-Fields. He has also recently toured and recorded, along with Paul Clarvis, in projects with John Williams.
Rita Manning was for many years the co-leader of the Academy of St. Martin-In-The-Fields, also appearing with them (and with the R.T.E. Symphony Orchestra and London Chamber Orchestra) as soloist. More recently she has also gained a reputation for her involvement in cross-over music, touring and recording with John Surman for ECM, with Sam Rivers and with the twelve piece ensemble formed by US saxophone legend Michael Brecker.
www.johnlaw.org.uk www.cornucopiarecordings.co.uk
