Trinity Laban Ellington Repertory Big Band ft MD Malcolm Earle-Smith
The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is a historic, highly-regarded institution founded in 1872. Musicians coming through its Jazz Programme have recently claimed numerous awards and nominations, including two BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Awards, multiple Jazz FM Awards, Parliamentary Jazz Awards and MOBO Awards, and the Mercury Prize in 2023, the first ever to go to a jazz group. This afternoon, under the auspices of Music Director & Jazz Professor Malcolm Earle-Smith - himself a renowned trombone player & vocalist who has been sought out by major jazz and pop artists, including collaborations with Bryan Ferry, Tony Kofi, Liam Noble, Martha Reeves, Enrico Tomasso & others - the Ellington Repertory Big Band has prepared some of the great concert pieces associated with jazz legend Duke Ellington. You’ll hear versions of favourites like "Take the A Train", "C Jam Blues" and "In a Mellotone", as well as masterpieces such as "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" and "Concerto for Cootie". Now in its second year, the Big Band has made a name for itself with the astonishing spectacle of such young musicians demonstrating a thorough grasp of the techniques necessary to get to the essence of Ellington’s writing. Bravo!