Jazz breaking news: Django Bates brings Belovèd Bird to the Proms
Friday, April 19, 2013
This year’s BBC Proms will see revered British pianist/composer Django Bates perform A Celebration of Charlie Parker on 28 August, (Prom 62 10.
15-11.30pm) at the Royal Albert Hall – in what will be Bates’ first appearance there in 26 years since he last performed with legendary 1980s big band, Loose Tubes. The concert will feature his Belovèd trio of bassist Petter Eldh and drummer Peter Bruun, and a new collaboration with the Grammy-nominated Norrbotten Big Band from northern Sweden.
The large ensemble will play expanded new arrangements of pieces from the trio’s critically acclaimed Belovèd Bird and Confirmation albums, on which Bates’ dissects and twists Parker classics such as ‘Donna Lee’, ‘Scrapple The Apple’ and ‘Confirmation’ into extraordinary new forms in his own wildly imaginative interpretation of the bebop language. The concert will also feature fellow former Loose Tuber and vocalist/trombonist Ashley Slater.
Bates’ appearance follows some equally strong jazz programming at The Proms that have featured works by the likes of star pianist/composer Gwilym Simcock in 2008 and 2009 and last year’s The Spirit of Django Prom written and performed by Guy Barker and guitarist Martin Taylor with the Britten Sinfonia.
– Mike Flynn
For more info go to www.bbc.co.uk/proms