This series of concerts celebrated the 75th birthday of the extraordinary composer, trumpeter and flugelhorn player Kenny Wheeler whose legacy to younger musicians everywhere has been phenomenal. Originally from Canada, but long time resident of the UK, Kenny’s career has seen collaborations with many world renowned musicians. The concerts will feature players who have long been associated with Kenny and for whom his music has very special meaning - Dave Holland, the British bassist who became a huge star across the Atlantic, the venerable and hugely influential U.S. altoist Lee Konitz, the extraordinary free improvising tenor saxophonist Evan Parker, and Britain’s most audacious and imaginative vocalist Norma Winstone whose work with Kenny Wheeler is legendary.

Harking back to his renowned ECM album “Music for Small and Large Ensembles” the concertsl featured more intimate pieces and culminated in an extraordinary new work for 18 piece big band specially commissioned by BBC Radio 3. Amongst the stellar British players in the big band are John Barclay, Ian Hamer, Henry Lowther, Derek Watkins, on trumpets, Julian Arguelles, Duncan Lamont, Stan Sulzmann, Ray Warleigh, on saxes, Mark Nightingale, Barnaby Dickinson, Richard Henry, on trombones, John Parricelli on guitar, young piano talent Gwilym Simcock and Martin France on drums.

Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Lee Konitz, Evan Parker, Norma Winstone
+ The Kenny Wheeler Big Band

“Canadian-born, trumpeter-composer Wheeler has been an ornament of the British scene since the ‘50s, famed for the free, lyrical eloquence of his playing and writing”. Geoffrey Smith BBC

A few years ago fellow septugenarian, Lee Konitz, told a Bath audience that
"Kenny Wheeler is your George Gershwin".

JANUARY 2005

FRI JAN 14TH QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL
0870 401 8181 www.rfh.org.uk

SAT JAN 15TH RNCM MANCHESTER
0161 907 5555 www. rncm.ac.uk

SUN JAN 16TH ADRIAN BOULT HALL BIRMINGHAM
0121-236-5622 www.birminghamjazz.co.uk

TUES JAN 18TH TURNER SIMS SOUTHAMPTON 023 8059 5151 www.soton.ac.uk/~turnsims

WED JAN 19TH THE ANVIL BASINGSTOKE
01256 844244 www. theanvil.org.uk

THURS JAN 20TH ST. GEORGE’S BRISTOL
0117 923 0359 www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk