Orchestra goes with Bandcamp for twenty-fifth anniversary release

(© Derek Clark)

(Press release)

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra today (1st October) releases the music from its acclaimed concert series, Where Rivers Meet through Bandcamp.

In a move that reflects the change in the way the public consumes music, the orchestra is making Where Rivers Meet available through the internet music company as a download four months ahead of the physical release on CD.

(© Derek Clark)

Where Rivers Meet itself is a product of Covid times. A celebration of the free-spirited, blues and gospel-influenced jazz that reflected the turbulent times in America during the 1960s, the concert series was staged online from the 12th century St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh in May during the SNJO’s silver jubilee year.

Orchestra founder-director, saxophonist Tommy Smith says: “The setting of St Giles was really inspiring. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t have an audience with us to share the event due to the Covid restrictions at the time. Everyone in the orchestra really put their hearts and souls into the music, however, and we’re really happy with the results.”

(© Derek Clark)

Where Rivers Meet comprises four suites dedicated to pioneering saxophonists Albert Ayler, Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman and Dewey Redman and arranged by Paul Harrison, Paul Towndrow, Tommy Smith and Geoffrey Keezer. Saxophonists Martin Kershaw, Konrad Wiszniewski, Paul Towndrow and Tommy Smith are the featured soloists and the project has already enjoyed critical acclaim.  

(© Derek Clark)

London Jazz News described Wiszniewski’s contribution as “beguiling” and remarked on the arrangement of Dewey’s Tune from the Redman suite as providing “a prime example of big band bounce.” And leading jazz blog Bebop Spoken Here found Towndrow's interpretation and execution of Coleman's compositions “triumphant.”

While recognising that there is still an appetite for physical copies of recordings, Tommy Smith regards the association with Bandcamp in making Where Rivers Meet available online as an exciting step forward. Smith is also appreciative of the support that audiences have shown for the SNJO over its twenty-five-year history.

"It's been a quick quarter of a century,” he says. “One hundred seasons have cycled through their revolutions, and the SNJO have followed similar curvacious evolutions during our short stint on the earth. We hope that Scotland's connectivity and pathways become stronger so that musicians have a stable future and a strong voice in the country we call home. Many thanks for supporting the art and allowing us to play for you. You never know what the wind will bring."

Pics (top to bottom): 1- Tommy Smith; 2 -  Konrad Wiszniewski; 3 - Paul Towndrow; 4 - Martin Kershaw. All © Derek Clark.