Expect the Unexpected

In 2017 the EFG London Jazz Festival reached its 25th anniversary and Festival Director John Cumming and I decided to celebrate this by commissioning 25 pieces to be performed in two marathon days at Club Inégales.

We would also invite the composers to play with the resident band Notes Inégales, as is the Club Inégales tradition. In the end there were 22 pieces, and 20 of the composers played with us, overall, with John’s choices, a wonderful cross-section of UK jazz musicians. We asked for ‘one-page’ scores, just some distilled material, and a fascinating variety of ideas emerged.

It was going to be a challenge, 22 pieces in 2 days and I decided it would be better not to rehearse, instead keep everything live and spontaneous. We allotted ½ hour to each piece, agreed with each a few signals that I as director would give, then dived in and played. The signals included general ones I use, such as ‘loop’, ‘solo’, ‘copy’, ‘go back to last section’, ‘stop’ (often with an indication for certain people to play through the stop), and finally, ‘go free, do what you like’.

With 22 pieces in 2 days, I decided not to rehearse anything, but to keep it spontaneous, everybody on the edge. A risk, and occasionally we fell off the edge, but much fun was had. I allotted ½ hour to each piece, agreed a few signals that I as director would give, then we dived in and played. The signals included general ones I use, such as ‘loop’, ‘solo’, ‘copy’, ‘sustain’, ‘go back to last section’, ‘stop’ (often with an indication for certain people to play through the stop), and finally, ‘go free, do what you like’.

There were four evolving big bands, over the four sessions, and some amazing performances, indeed, many unexpected moments as club players and guests met and took the music in new directions. I want to especially pay tribute to the club band, Notes Inégales, for their ever imaginative and fluid responses across so many pieces.

There were some amazing performances, and huge fun was had, with four evolving big bands over the four sessions, club players plus guests, nobody knowing what was going to happen. And I pay tribute to resident band, Notes Inégales for their ever imaginative and flexible responses across so many pieces.

Notes Inégales with 15 guests - Peter Wiegold 

BANDS 

Sunday 12th November 2017 - Session 2 

BAND I 

guests 

Raymond MacDonald sax 

Kim Macari  trumpet 

Rob Luft   guitar  

Kuljit Bhamra tabla 

with resident band Notes Inégales: 

Hyelim Kim taegŭm flute 

Jon Banks accordion 

Joel Bell guitar 

Ben Markland bass 

Simon Limbrick drums and percussion 

Martin Butler piano 

   

Sunday 19th November 2017 - Session 3 

BAND II 

guests 

Alice Zawadski   voice/violin   

Mark Sanders percussion    

Orphy Robinson percussion  

Alexander Hawkins piano  

Sunday 19th November 2017 - Session 4 

BAND III 

guests 

Byron Wallen  trumpet 

James Mainwaring sax 

Jaak Sooäär guitar 

Chris Sharkey guitar 

Matthew Bourne  piano 

Pat Thomas  electronics  

Notes Inégales for Bands II & III 

Hyelim Kim taegŭm flute 

Jackie Shave violin 

Torbjörn Hultmark trumpet 

Joel Bell guitar 

Ben Markland bass 

Simon Limbrick drums and percussion 

Martin Butler piano 

scores only: 

Helen Papaioannou  (session 3) Alex Roth (session 2)