Serious & the EFG London Jazz Festival Jazz Experiments: Exploring Jazz Through the Music of Charles Mingus.
This mass participation performance piece will be composed and led by double bassist Ed Babar, and the Blues and Roots Ensemble. Amateur musicians of all ages (7 +) and abilities will are invited to apply to take part in this exciting new project.
Exploring ideas of collective improvisation, Blues and Roots Ensemble have created a new piece for musicians of all ages and abilities, based on the music of Charles Mingus, including swing, bebop and Latin American styles.
Participants will perform this new suite alongside the ensemble and will be given the opportunity to improvise in both solo and group settings. Through a series of workshops, ideas such as swing phrasing, rhythm section accompaniment and soloing will be explored, guided by specialist jazz educators from the band. These workshops will culminate in a live performance on Royal Festival Hall’s Clore Ballroom as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2018.
Where?
Rehearsals: Rich Mix (Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA)
Performance: Royal Festival Hall’s Clore Ballroom at the Southbank Centre
When?
Sunday 28 October:
3pm-6pm – Rehearsal at Rich Mix (Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA)
Sunday 4 November:
3pm-6pm – Rehearsal at Rich Mix (Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA)
Sunday 18 November:
Rehearsal and performance day at Southbank Centre
We are delighted to host this participatory music-making performance, and to do so we are looking for enthusiastic amateur musicians of all ages and abilities to apply to take part! Why not encourage the whole family to apply and join in together?
More information and details on how to apply can be found here
We look forward to welcoming you!
Blues and Roots Ensemble
Blues and Roots Ensemble is a band of 7 diverse performers hailing from countries as far afield as Sicily, South Africa, India and Cuba. Led by double bassist Ed Babar, the group aims to share the stunning music of Charles Mingus through live performances and education/outreach work. Having launched in January 2017 the band has quickly grown a reputation for its raucous and energetic performances, and creative interpretations of classic Mingus compositions, selling out venues such as The Jazz Cafe, The Vortex, The Crypt and The Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall.
Through its education work the band has spread this unique music to thousands of pupils nationwide, receiving grants for schools’ projects through Arts Council England and Cambridgeshire Music Service as well as workshops through Cambridge Jazz Festival.
