Alan Barnes' "Ellingtonians" Octet
Alan Barnes (saxes) Tony Coe (reeds) Andy Panayi (sax), Bruce Adams (trumpet), Trevor Mires (trombone), John Horler (piano) Alec Dankworth (bass) and Mike Smith (drums)
Alan is one of the best sax and reed players in the country - his jokes are great too. Alan has enjoyed a prolific career, playing and recording for many bands. He has broadcast regularly over a ten year period with the BBC Big Band and radio Orchestra and has recorded and toured with big band leaders Kenny Baker, Bob Wilber, Stan Tracey, Mike Westbrook and John Dankworth. He also has long associations with pianist David Newton, and trumpeters Warren Vache and Bruce Adams. He has also appeared as a session musician on albums by Bjork, Bryan Ferry, Clare Teal, Jamie Cullum and Westlife, and on the Parkinson Show.
Alan has won 20 separate British Jazz Awards and was voted Best instrumentalist at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2001 and 2006.
He also runs his own record label, Woodville Records, and is known as an accomplished arranger/ composer. Works include: The Sherlock Holmes Suite, The Marbella Suite and two song cycles, Songs for Unsung Heroes and Seven Ages of Jazz, and a musical “Looking for Buddy” which are collaborations with playwright Alan Plater.
The Ellngtonians is his latest project - an all star band including Tony Coe (reeds), Andy Panayi (sax), Andy Wood (trombone), Alec Dankworth (bass), Bruce Adams (trumpet), John Horler (piano) and Mike Smith (drums). This new, all-star octet is on sparkling form here, performing specially commissioned charts from the pen of internationally acknowledged Ellington expert, (and Leeds based drummer) Tony Faulkner. Ech piece is an absolute gem from the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn collection - two of the world's greatest music composers in any genre.
These musicians are united in their love of and ability to interpret Ellington’s music. The brilliant written arrangements are peppered with their great improvised solos. The superb writing and playing enable this small group to wield the power and dynamics of a big band in this inspired studio session.
Book early!
Hear excerpts from Alan's latest album on www.woodvillerecords.com/Barnestorming.htm
See pictures from the gig taken by Paul Dishman here
Alan Barnes' "Ellingtonians" play at Seven Arts on Thursday November 12th, 8pm
Tickets are £15/12 concessions, and are available in advance from Jumbo Records 5/6 St John's Centre Leeds LS2 8LQ tel 0113 245 5570 or website www.jumborecords.co.uk