Composer and baritone sax player Issie Barratt brings her stellar all-female ensemble INTERCHANGE to the Howard Assembly Room for Leeds Jazz Festival, performing two eclectic sets from their acclaimed debut album Donna’s Secret.
Journey through a series of intensely coloured musical vignettes in the company of the 10-strong ensemble led by Barratt, featuring the brilliant MOBO Award-winning pianist Zoe Rahman, and Leeds Conservatoire’s Caroline Boaden on drums.
From the deep valleys of Fennoscandia in Barratt’s own Kulning, to the streets of Jerusalem in cellist Shirley Smart’s Palmyra trilogy; from the rhythms of tango in Karen Street’s Still Here to the irregular patterns of Tori Freestone’s Spontaneous Symmetry, expect a boundary-breaking, transcontinental voyage with the nation’s most innovative women composers and improvisers.
There’s also a unique opportunity for female composers to have their work performed at the gig.
“A compelling & emotional set of top-drawer contemporary jazz… One for the wish list”
– London Jazz News“A totally engaging performance”
– Jazz Journal“Full of sophisticated music & improvisational skill”
– Bebop Spoken Here
Presented in partnership with JazzLeeds as part of Leeds Jazz Festival.
Start time
4pm
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Imogen Churchill – Voice
Becca Toft – Trumpet
Helena Kay – Alto
Alyson Cawley – Tenor Sax
Rosie Turton – Trombone
Issie Barratt – Baritone Sax
Shirley Smart – Cello
Zoe Rahman – Piano/Accordion
Charlie Pyne – Bass
Caroline Boaden – Drums
As part of INTERCHANGE’s mission to champion and mentor the nation’s most innovative women composers and improvisers, Issie Barratt and her band are offering a unique, free professional development initiative for female composers who want to gain more experience in writing for large ensembles: ‘Beyond the Secret’.
Applicants are invited to submit examples of previous compositions and details of their experience so far, so that INTERCHANGE can familiarise themselves with the composer’s current style and approach to composition, before the closing date of Monday 4 April. No experience of writing for improvising musicians is necessary – all styles and genres are welcome. The more the merrier!
Between 6 April and 26th May, 10 successful applicants will have the opportunity to write 1-3 minute pieces for the ensemble, mentored and supported by Issie and other composers from INTERCHANGE via Zoom tutorials and email correspondence.
INTERCHANGE will play the 10 works in an open rehearsal workshop in the Howard Assembly Room from 1pm-2.30pm on the day of the gig. Four pieces will then be selected for performance as part of Interchange’s live set from 4pm.
There are no age restrictions on this opportunity.
