Keith Tippett’s life and music to be celebrated with major Bristol memorial concerts

The life and music of late great west country-based pianist and composer Keith Tippett is to receive a fulsome memorial celebration on 1 and 2 October at Bristol Beacon (the renamed venue formerly known as Colston Hall) and St George’s in the city centre. Tippett, who died on 14 June 2020, was beloved across a huge range of musicians and musical styles from avant garde jazz to contemporary classical, through to jazz-rock fusion and even pop.

This two-day event kicks off in Bristol Beacon’s foyer in homage to The Rare Music Club, the line-up will feature sets by Chris Wood, David Le Page and Philip Sheppard, Theo May and Paul Dunmall. This is followed by a packed programme on Saturday which takes over St George’s from midday until late night, beginning with a duo double bill of Matthew Bourne & Glen Leach (the Tippett/Bourne 2019 tour was to be Keith’s last) plus the vocal duo of his wife Julie Tippetts with Maggie Nicols.

The afternoon concert features the Granite to Wind Septet with a stellar line up including Ben Waghorn, James Gardiner-Bateman and Kevin Figes – all of whom played on the 2011 recording of the same name. The closing concert begins with Keith’s long term Mujician collaborators Paul Dunmall and Paul Rogers and culminates in a special tribute performed by The Keith Tippett Celebration Orchestra.

For more info visit bristolbeacon.org/shows/a-celebration-of-keith-tippett/