Jazz Britannia at the Barbican, London

[A Lark Ascending]

The two days of concerts put together to support the BBC series on UK jazz history is shaping up into something quite extraordinary. How about this:

Saturday afternoon

Stan Tracey and Louis Moholo;

John Surman with Chris Laurence and John Marshall;

Evan Parker;

Andy Sheppard and Kuljit Bhamra;

Django Bates;

Orphy Robinson;

Lol Coxhill;

Mike Westbrook.

Saturday Evening

Gilles Peterson hosts Impressed/remixed, an evening of specially assembled big band and small group performances. The line up features:

Matthew Herbert

Michael Garrick

Soweto Kinch

Stan Tracey

Bobby Wellins

Mike Westbrook

Norma Winstone.

And straight afterwards...

Working Week - Simon Booth, Larry Stabbings and Juliet Roberts reform their hit-making group of the 1980s (remember 'Venceremos'?)

Sunday Evening

Courtney Pine hosts a journey through the myriad communities and influences that have shaped British jazz as we know it today delving into the cultures of the Caribbean, Africa and India as well as the folk traditions of Britain to name but a few. Artists include

Jazz Jamaica

Louis Moholo

Soweto Kinch and Byron Wallen re-visiting the music of Joe Harriott;

Andy Sheppard

And the organisers were nice enough to arrange it the weekend of my half-term holiday!

Edited January 22, 2005 by Bev Stapleton

[sidewinder]

Thanks for posting the lineup. The Saturday session looks particularly good - nice to see Garrick, Winstone and co. in the lineup. No sign of Harry Beckett though?

The Barbican booklet mentions something about UK jazz films being shown during the weekend. Any idea what these might be?

Certainly remember Working Week and 'Venceremos'. In fact the first time I heard it was Gilles Peterson playing it on one of his radio shows of the time.

[A Lark Ascending]

I'm not too sure what is showing. The Saturday afternoon concert has only been announced recently; as well as that there is a free stage in the foyer with other music. I suspect things are still being put together. I'm curious about Sunday afternoon - I'm hoping for something similar to Saturday afternoon but showcasing the younger generation.

We might see Harry Beckett yet...possibly with Working Week as he played on 'Venceremos'.

Harry is touring in the spring. I notice he is playing in Nottingham with Chris Biscoe. I'll try and make that - the last time I saw him (with the 'Soupsongs' band doing Robert Wyatt tunes) he seemed less agile than in the past.

I suspect Wyatt will be there - every time I go to a jazz event in London I seem to see him in the audience.

[sidewinder]

Sounds good ! I briefly caught just the one (Mingus) number by Harry with Chris Biscoe at Cheltenham last year. Packed hall full of kids there to see Gilles Peterson, could hardly hear a note ( ).

[sidewinder]

I'm booked for the 2 concerts on the Saturday. It will be nice to see Surman/Lawrence/Marshall and the Westbrook group at the 'Conservatory' concert. Looks good !

I'm not a massive Courtney fan though so may give Sunday a miss.

[A Lark Ascending]

There are a fair few from AAJ going on that Saturday too (I'm curious about Sunday, even though I've never paid Courtney's music much attention so am doing both days).

The Saturday afternoon concert looks especially tasty.

[David Ayers]

Bev - do you have the dates, or a link please? Thank you!

[A Lark Ascending]

This should do the trick, David:

http://www.barbican.org.uk/jazzbritannia/