Manchester Jazz Festival - Ben Cottrell: New Seeing (World Première)
(Wednesday) July 27, 2016 - 20:00
RNCM - Royal Northern College of Music - 124 Oxford Road (Map)
2 people attended
5.0/5 (1)
DESCRIPTION
Ben Cottrell conductor
Graham South trumpet
Richard Jones piano, celeste
Mick Bardon, Stewart Wilson basses
Finlay Panter, Johnny Hunter drums
Tullis Rennie electronics
Gemma Bass, Jon Martindale, Lucy McKay, Steven Proctor, Laura Senior, Simmy Singh violins
Lucy Nolan, Emma Richards, Kay Stephen violas
Paul Grennan, Peggy Nolan, Alice Purton cellos
Ben Seal sound engineer
The sound of a string ensemble is something that we all recognise, but New Seeing takes a completely different approach to writing for strings within a jazz(ish) setting. Jazz(ish) because Ben Cottrell’s writing for the Beats & Pieces Big Band in particular has always combined traditional jazz elements with inspirations taken from a multitude of musical styles.
The instrumentation for Ben’s mjf-commissioned work premiered tonight is inspired by the forces used by arranger Eddie Sauter on the classic Stan Getz album Focus (itself inspired by Bartók). But do not expect a similar soundworld – here the ensemble has been approached from a very different perspective. Propelled by the energy of doubled-up bass and drums and with subtle live electronics lending the sound a 21st century nuance, New Seeing will be familiar yet at the same time completely unexpected.
Ben’s orchestral arrangements have adorned the work of Laura Mvula, Everything Everything and Goldie; Beats & Pieces, since their début at mjf 2008, have received awards at home and abroad alongside consistent critical and audience acclaim.
Part of Manchester Jazz Festival - http://www.rncm.ac.uk/festivals/manchester-jazz-festival-2016/
