SoP own blog 2
SONGS OF PRAISE............
‘The true improviser should
only perform once’ – so guitarist Billy Jenkins once contentiously said.
Free improvisation in Western
Art Music is a 40+ year old concept borne out of 1960’s creative expansionism
and kinetic visual art. But the longevity of the medium renders the ethic
behind it tired and over-repeated.
Nevertheless, like philosophy
is to pulp fiction, these core ethics still remain valuable – especially
when balanced against form and repetition.
Jenkins (b.1956) has always
juggled musical form and freedom in his guitar playing, composing, bandleading
and performance – always challenging preconception.
It has been this rub against
the norm that creates such joy in his work.
SONGS OF PRAISE brings
instrumentation and personnel to the stage in a forward looking retrospective
(and 50th birthday) celebration of the music of Billy Jenkins - containing
fast moving administered (i.e. scored) construction, spur of the moment
spatial construction and deep resonant blues - melancholia borne out of
existence on an overcrowded island and the marginalised and tempered role
of the creative artist.
But even melancholia is something
to celebrate. All life is something to celebrate.
Violin, tuba, trombone, saxophone,
drum, electric guitar and human voices represent a myriad of music making
from different cultures and many ages.
And when the benevolent autocratic
bandleader takes to the stage with the experience that Jenkins has – music
will, once again, be heard and seen as it is not allowed to be so much
these days, given preconceived bureaucratic preconception and/or commercial
limitations.
These musicians are indeed
offering SONGS OF PRAISE!
"Even by Billy's outro standards,
Songs Of Praise was danger,danger, high-voltage!"
Charles Hutchinson - Yorkshire
Evening Press
www.billyjenkins.com
- for all the news
www.songsofpraise.org.uk
- to enthuse
www.sadtimes.co.uk
- for all the blues
www.billyjenkinswebzine.com
- for historical persuse
Tour produced by The
Shed with funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The Shed is a registered trademark © Simon Thackray 1992 - 2006
www.theshed.co.uk
Supported by Arts Council
England and Ryedale District Council.
Frontpiece photo © Tony
Bartholomew
