“……the best new stuff I’ve heard in an age came from the Birmingham-based Irish composer Sid Peacock, whose young, 16-piece big band played inspiring, wildly creative music of avant-garde bite yet emotional weight. Premiering works written while Peacock was on a recent residency at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris, the orchestra (two violins, marimba and congas added to reeds and minimal brass), handled the difficult idioms with great skill.

His witty titles – “Bronze Bling” (about the Olympics), “Pixel Rampage”, “Hallucinogenic Garden” – are pegs on which to hang intricately tesselated, complex cycles of competing motifs, as well as melodies that are both intellectually satisfying and funkily corporeal. You could mention Steve Reich, but this is actually enjoyable. Give Peacock an award, quick. The album is out this summer.”

Full article here.

I am launching a new quintet at Birmingham Jazz’s Rush Hour Blues Session at Symphony Hall. It features Aaron Diaz – trumpets/electronics, Max Gittings – flutes/whistles, Rob Anstey – trombone/bass, Steve Tchoumba – percussion & myself on vocals. It’s gonna be fun, funky and as usual a bit weird.

Also being performed for the first time is a new Saxophone Quartet for Lluis Mather – soprano, Huw Morgan – alto, Chris Morgan – tenor & Colin Mills – baritone. We had a rehearsal on Sunday evening and I was moved by these guys interpretation of the piece. They are right on it and I am really looking forward to the first performance.