Alexander Hawkins
Over the last few weeks I’ve been exploring what happens when Baroque and jazz collide. Attempted too literally, it can be an experiment fraught with potential dangers, but as Alexander Hawkins demonstrates in tonight’s Jazz On 3 - when tackled with a lateral approach the results can be stunning. His new work ‘One Tree Found’ was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and is an exploration of some of the subtle parallels between jazz and Baroque music.
The suite was written for a bespoke octet of improvising players, many of whom double up; Pete McPhail brought along no less than five reed instruments, Byron Wallen plays euphonium and flute and Percy Pursglove switches between trumpet and double bass. Listen out too for American trumpeter Peter Evans who is given plenty of space to let loose his astonishing technique, and, at the lower end of the spectrum, the rich, round tones of Oren Marshall on tuba, Hannah Marshall on cello and Chris Cundy on bass clarinets. Completed by Mark Sanders on drums, the line-up gives Alex a broad and colourful palette that he utilises in full.
Alex has written some fascinating and detailed notes to accompany the music – for you to follow along as you listen.
Also in the programme Polish experimentalist Marcin Masecki drops by the Jazz on 3 studios to tinker on our ‘old pub-Joanna’. He explains why he’s attracted to lo-fi instruments and recording techniques before launching into an improvisation that will give you a brand new perspective on one of Bach’s most famous works.
You can listen online for seven days after the broadcast.
Jez
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on twitter at @BBCJazzon3
