THE TOMMY EVANS
ORCHESTRA
The Green Seagull
Album release:
5th November 2012
Live dates 2012:
1st November – The Spin, Oxford
9th November – Hull Truck Theatre, Hull
10th November – Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds
17th November – The Barbican, London Jazz Festival
Already making its mark following a British Academy of Songwriters and Composers Award (BASCA)
for Contemporary Jazz Composition for the written score alone, The Green Seagull by The Tommy
Evans Orchestra is a mesmerising jazz suite inspired by the life of the composer’s uncle.
Recorded by this 13-strong big band, with a line-up that reads like a who’s who of the top players in
the North of England, The Green Seagull was originally commissioned by The Marsden Jazz Festival
in 2010 and is the focus of three years of composing, conducting and collaboration work. At the helm
is composer and conductor Tommy Evans.
As one of the most prolific and original young musicians in the UK, Evans is the founder of Submotion
Orchestra, critically recognised as the world’s first and finest live group to celebrate the cross-roads
between jazz and dubstep. He is also the musical backbone of one of the UK’s best festival bands,
Gentleman’s Dub Club. But, it is this suite that is his most cherished project to date.
The reason lies in his inspiration; Evans’ uncle David Partridge, a parish priest who invested decades
building spiritual, cultural and political bridges. From Partridge’s experience of WWII to his inter-faith
work including Christians praying in mosques and vice-versa, the piece conjures up Partridge’s
passion, humour, eccentricity and hope. The diverse themes are musically reflected through jazz,
folk, Indian and classical music displaying Partridge’s deep belief in tolerance, diversity and equality
as well as his life experiences.
The tremendous breadth of influences in the music acts as a fitting vehicle to showcase some of the
finest young jazz talent in the UK. The result is lush soundscapes and hypnotic grooves which create
an epiphany of music that is accessible, unconventional and deeply moving.
This hugely anticipated album will be released as a double CD, the first CD featuring the main suite
and the second CD containing remixes of the suite that Evans has had commissioned by some of the
top names in the electronic and underground music scenes including Phaeleh, Toby ioi, Planas,
SYNKRO, Eddie Ranking and LAXX.
Gaining recognition and accolades before its official release date, the suite has also won the 2012
Jazz Yorkshire Best Big Band Award for the recorded version, enjoyed remix airplay on BBC Radio
One and has evoked high emotion wherever it is performed live.
For more information contact Suzanne Wynne for Jellymould Jazz
07749 502632 or suzannewynne@gmail.com
www.jellymouldjazz.net
The Tommy Evans Orchestra:
Tommy Evans
Ruby Wood, Anna Stott Kari Nergaard-Bleivik
Matt Roberts, Simon Beddoe
Russ Henderson, Simon Kaylor, Rob Mitchell
Nick Tyson
Jami Sheriff
Dave Kane
Kris Wright
conductor
vocals
trumpet/flugelhorn
saxophones
guitar
piano
bass
drums
Live dates 2012:
Thursday 1st November – The Spin, Oxford,
www.spinjazz.com
Friday 9th November – Hull Truck Theatre, Hull,
www.hulltruck.co.uk
Saturday 10th November – Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds,
www.operanorth.co.uk/howard-assembly-room
Saturday 17th November – The Barbican, London Jazz
Festival, www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk
- Ends -
For more information contact Suzanne Wynne for Jellymould Jazz
07749 502632 or suzannewynne@gmail.com
www.jellymouldjazz.net