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Andy Sheppard

Julian Joseph talks to saxophonist Andy Sheppard, who profiles his recording Movements in Colour. Plus a tribute to composer, drummer and theorist George Russell.

Julian Joseph talks to saxophonist Andy Sheppard, who has released his debut recording, Movements in Colour, on European record label ECM. It sees him collaborating with the cream of musicians from the European jazz scene - tabla player/percussionist Kuljit Bhamra, bassist Alrild Andersen, and guitarists John Paricelli and Eivind Aarset. Together they create a fusion of African, Latin and Indian styles, combining electronic sounds and treatments with organic and natural elements.

Sheppard has made a significant impact on the international jazz scene over the years, playing and writing for settings from solo to big band and chamber orchestra. Since the late 1980s, he has composed over 300 works that incorporate a strong and characteristic sense of lyricism alongside a very personal use of rhythms from Asia, Africa and South America. Sheppard can also be heard on an equally eclectic range of recordings - as well as featuring on CDs with Carla Bley and George Russell. He has also played on sessions with dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah, John Martyn, Baaba Maal, Basia, Nigel Kennedy, Bristol indie band Blue Aeroplanes - and even turned up on a tribute album to punk group The New York Dolls.

Julian also pays tribute to the late American composer, drummer, theorist and conductor George Russell. Russell played drums with Benny Carter and later wrote for Dizzy Gillespie. His musical theories went on to influence the modal music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and he also developed the Lydian concept in 1953, credited as the first theoretical contribution from jazz.

The programme contains archive clips from an interview conducted by Julian Joseph with George Russell for Radio 3's Jazz Legends, which was originally transmitted on January 20, 2006.

Playlist:

Title: Twitter & Bisted
Artist: Alyn Cosker Trio
Album: Lyn's Une
Label: Linn
Track: 8
Comp: Alyn Cosker
Publ: MCPS/PRS
Dur: 5m18s

Title: Bing
Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion)
Album: Movements in Colour
Label: ECM 2062
Track: 2
Comp: Andy Sheppard
Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd
Dur: 5m56s

Title: We Shall Not Go to Market Today
Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion)
Album: Movements in Colour
Label: ECM 2062
Track: 6
Comp: Andy Sheppard
Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd
Dur: 7m53s

Title: May Song
Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion)
Album: Movements in Colour
Label: ECM 2062
Track: 5
Comp: Andy Sheppard
Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd
Dur: 6m41s

Title: Hilltop Dancer
Artist: John Surman (sax), John Abercrombie (guitar), Drew Gress (double bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Album: Brewster's Rooster
Label: ECM 2046 270 1112
Track: 2
Comp: John Surman
Publ: ECM Records
Dur: 7m20s

Title: Take Five
Artist: Sachal Studios Orchestra
Album: Take Five
Label: Sachal Music SM 005
Track: 2
Comp: Brubeck
Publ: Derry Music Company/Valentine Music Ltd
Dur: 3m13s

Title: St Louis Blues
Artist: Dave Brubeck (piano), Joe Morello (drums), Eugene Wright (bass), Paul Desmond (alto sax)
Album: Time Out - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 7398522
Track: 1 (CD2)
Comp: WC Handy
Publ: Sony Music
Dur: 5m16s

Title: Boogie Stop Shuffle
Artist: Charles Mingus (bass/piano), John Handy (alto sax), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Shafi Hadi (tenor sax), Willie Dennis (trombone), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Horace Parlan (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums)
Album: Mingus Ah Um - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 740102
Track: 3 (CD1)
Comp: Charles Mingus
Publ: Sony Music
Dur: 5m12s

Title: Concerto de Aranjuez
Artist: Miles Davis
Album: Sketches of Spain - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 743 9492
Track: 4 (CD2)
Comp: Rodrigo
Publ: Sony
Dur: 3m24s

Title: Witch Hunt
Artist: George Russell Smalltet (Paul Motian - drums, Hal McKusick - alto sax, Art Farmer - trumpet, Bill Evans - piano, Barry Galbraith - guitar, Milt Hilton - bass)
Album: Jazz Workshop
Label: Bluebird/RCA ND 86467
Track: n/a
Comp: George Russell
Publ: Russ-Hix Music/BMI
Dur: 4m20s

Title: Prelude to a Kiss
Artist: Tommy Smith/Arild Andersen/Paolo Vinaccia
Album: Live at Belleville
Label: ECM 001 221 502
Track: 5
Comp: Duke Ellington
Publ: LaFleur Music Ltd
Dur: 3m05s.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Aug 2009 23:30

Broadcast

  • Sun 16 Aug 2009 23:30