Category: 91Èȱ¬
FOUR; Factual
& Arts TV
Date: 06.01.2005
Printable version
Plus
two days of live events celebrating the history of jazz in the UK, broadcast
from the Barbican in association with the Barbican and Serious
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A new three-part series on the history of jazz in the
UK and two innovative concerts from a high-profile all-Brit weekend
of jazz at the Barbican bring British jazz to the forefront of 91Èȱ¬ FOUR's
New Year schedule.
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Accompanied by a selection of jazz-related programmes,
Jazz Britannia takes the viewer on a musical, historical and
educational journey through arguably one of the most important African-American
art forms of the 20th Century.
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Directed by Mike Connolly and Mark Cooper, and narrated
by Terence Stamp, 91Èȱ¬ FOUR's Jazz Britannia begins on Friday
28 January 2005 and explores the plethora of styles, scenes and dogmas
that define the term 'British jazz'.
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The series features music and interviews from dozens
of key artists including founding fathers Ronnie Scott, Johnny
Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton, Tubby Hayes, Chris
Barber, Joe Harriott and Acker Bilk via DJ Gilles
Peterson to modern day musicians Soweto Kinch, Jamie Cullum
and Amy Winehouse.
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The first programme in the series, Stranger on the
Shore, paints a picture of the jazz scene in the late Forties and
early Fifties and talks about the emergence of Britain's love of Black
music, the popularity of trad jazz, the dance bands and Rhythm Clubs.
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The mood was good at the end of the Fifties when jazz
was on a high, a mood which continued into the early Sixties.
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However the bubble burst with the arrival of The Beatles
and the increasing popularity of rock 'n' roll, leaving jazz musicians
with the challenge of creating a true British voice and getting jazz
back on top with audiences.
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Part two, Strange Brew, documents the mid-Sixties
struggle that British jazz faced in finding a voice, freeing itself
from the US and competing with the popularity of rock 'n' roll.
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British jazzers needed to find a platform to develop
their sound and did so through the improvisational R 'n' B music clubs
and free jazz venues.
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South African jazz alongside Indian and jazz fusion
began to break on to the scene and artists like Julie Driscoll began
bringing jazz to the rock 'n' roll audience.
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Musicians experimented with uniting rock drums with
jazz, introducing the wa-wa pedal, and fusing jazz with classical music.
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But as British jazz started to find its voice again,
abstract jazz developed in the Seventies, alienating much of the audience.
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Fusion jazz became a passing phase and straight ahead
jazzers lost their audience to rock 'n' roll.
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The third and final episode, The Rebirth of Cool,
shows how, following the slump of the Seventies, British jazz in the
last 25 years has been about starting again and re-connecting with audiences.
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Jazz popularity moves in cycles and the musical and
market influences of Seventies rock, jazz and punk helped revitalise
the scene.
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Artists such as Andy Sheppard, Larry Stabbins, Courtney
Pine and Django Bates helped jazz's re-emergence back from the depths
and the press began to take an interest.
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The birth in 1987 of acid jazz marked another peak in
the history of British jazz; the early Nineties saw another low as jazz
was again branded seriously un-cool.
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In the first years of the 21st century jazz is again
on the up.
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Katie Melua, Amy Winehouse and Jamie Cullum are bringing
jazz to pop audiences, making the music accessible, while artists such
as Matthew Herbert, Gilles Peterson and Soweto Kinch are pushing the
boundaries.
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More than just a musical story, the series shows how
jazz has held a mirror to the forging of post-war, post-colonial British
society where issues of class and race have mixed to produce a music
that remains peculiarly British, yet still dependent on its American
master.
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Predominantly set in Soho, the series lifts the lid
on a vibrant musical outsider, independent of the popular mainstream.
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Blending a mixture of archive, performance and personal
testimony, Jazz Britannia is a journey through good times, bad times
and a fascinating music.
Barbican Weekend
Jazz Britannia takes on an exciting live incarnation on 12 and 13 February
as the Barbican (in association with Serious) joins forces with the
91Èȱ¬ to stage a very special weekend of concerts, broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR.
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Echoing the themes of the documentary series, the Barbican's
Jazz Britannia live event celebrates the music and musicians that shaped
a jazz scene of extraordinary range and originality - from past triumphs
and legendary names right up to modern day innovators.
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Two main hall concerts celebrate the diverse communities
and individual voices that have helped to create the distinctive quality
of jazz in the UK.
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The first night, hosted by Gilles Peterson, will feature
a live remix of his release Impressed, re-issues of the Sixties generation,
with guest artists including Matthew Herbert, Soweto Kinch, Stan Tracey
and Norma Winstone.
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The second night is themed around the immigrant's contribution
to British jazz and is hosted by charismatic saxophonist Courtney Pine
plus special guests.
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Programme information
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91Èȱ¬ FOUR – Jazz Britannia
Jazz Britannia - three part series starts Friday 28 January, 91Èȱ¬ FOUR
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Barbican Weekend Information
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Saturday 12 February, 7.30pm
Gilles Peterson + guests (Impressed / remixed)
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Gilles Peterson hosts a live realisation of Impressed,
his hugely successful CD compilation of key tracks in celebration of
a progressive and massively influential Sixties school of British jazz
soloists and composers who rewrote the jazz rule book.
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No longer content with simply copying American role
models, this is the generation that took jazz into new territory and
created a distinctively English sound.
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Impressed / remixed includes a specially assembled
big band and small group performances that not only evoke past glories,
but also mark the continuing originality of the key players.
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The line-up features the technical sorcery of Matthew
Herbert, key figures such as Michael Garrick, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins
and Norma Winstone.
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Freestage from 3.00pm – artists tbc
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Produced by the Barbican in association with Serious
Sunday 13 February, 7.30pm
Courtney Pine + guests
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Courtney Pine occupies a unique position in today's
jazz scene.
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Bringing together many of the talented individuals who
have shared and helped mould his musical vision across the past 25 years,
he hosts a personal journey through the myriad communities and influences
that have shaped British jazz as we know it.
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The concert delves into the cultures of The Caribbean,
Africa and India as well as the folk traditions of Britain and the individuals
from all over the planet who have found their niche in a jazz scene
of unmatched diversity and range.
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Freestage from 3.00pm – artists tbc
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Produced by the Barbican in association with Serious
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For full details - including freestage and conservatory
performances, films and talks programme - visit www.barbican.org.uk/contemporary
