Jazz Breaking News: Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Orchestra Changes Name
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Orchestra has been renamed the Nu Civilisation Orchestra and will present a new programme of work this autumn, entitled Firebird.
The orchestra’s new name, says artistic director Gary Crosby OBE in a press statement, “is our response to feedback from promoters and the public who were not fully aware of our Orchestra’s depth of quality and professional status. It is also to avoid any confusion with other Tomorrow’s Warriors lineups, such as the Yamaha Music Experience Award-winning Tomorrow’s Warriors Biggish Band and the Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Orchestra.”
To mark the beginning of this new phase in the orchestra’s work, the newly named NCO tackles a Charlie Parker-meets-Stravinsky “soundclash” in Firebird, the premiere of which was commissioned by Arts Council England. Exploring the musical paths that come together at the crossroads of jazz and classical music, Firebird features new original works inspired by Stravinsky while also presenting the revolutionary composer’s Ebony Concerto. These will be performed alongside versions of Wayne Shorter’s Sibelius-influenced ‘Dance Cadaverous’ and Steve Williamson’s ‘Soon Come’.
The first public performance will be at Firth Hall in Sheffield on Tuesday 11 October. More dates will be announced soon.
– Louise Jones