Jazz breaking news: Nu Civilisation Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra bring Ellington’s Harlem alive at the Southbank
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
This weekend sees bassist/educator Gary Crosby’s Nu Civilisation Orchestra (pictured left) join forces with the BBC Concert Orchestra for a barnstorming take on Duke Ellington’s 'Harlem (A Tone Parallel To Harlem)', in a joint concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London’s Southbank Centre, on Sunday 24 March at 7.
30pm. The concert is to be broadcast as part of BBC Radio 3’s Hidden Voices series, which shines a light on those figures who fought for black emancipation in early 20th century America.
In a packed programme the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart, will perform William Grant Still’s ‘Symphony No 1 (Afro-American)’, which was written in 1930, (Still was the first black American composer to be played by a major orchestra), plus Henry Gilbert’s ‘The Dance Place in Congo’. The Nu Civilisation Orchestra conducted by its musical director, Peter Edwards, will then perform a medley of Duke Ellington’s work, featuring music from the Cotton Club era (1927-31) including ‘Black and Tan Fantasy’, ‘The Mooche’, and ‘Mood Indigo’. Their set will also feature ‘Harlem Airshaft’, where, according to Ellington: "You get the full essence of Harlem in an airshaft. You hear fights, you smell dinner, and you hear people making love.”
The evening will conclude with members of both orchestras combining on a joint performance of Ellington’s 'Harlem (A Tone Parallel To Harlem)', conducted again by Lockhart, with the whole concert recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Afternoon On 3 at 2.00pm on Wednesday 17 April.
Things get off to a rousing start with a free performance in the Front Room performance space at the QEH at 6.15pm with a set from Tomorrow’s Warriors – here featuring award-winning saxophonist Nathaniel Facey, pianist Charlie Stacey and vocalist Cherise Adams-Burnett – who will provide musical illustrations for a pre-concert talk from Open University music lecturer Catherine Tackley about how the blues has also influenced modern ensemble and orchestral works.
– Mike Flynn
For more info go to www.southbankcentre.co.uk