Simon Wallace's UK Roots Band - “London Lights”
Pianist and composer Simon Wallace has balanced a hectic schedule as an award winning composer for film, TV and theatre with his first love of playing improvised music for over 40 years. He is best known on the jazz scene for the songs he wrote with lyricist Fran Landesman (the Observer called them “one of the finest songwriting partnerships alive”) and as a musical director for singers including Clare Teal, Ian Shaw, Sarah Moule, Barb Jungr and Gill Manly. In addition, Simon is currently head of composing and arranging at LCCM in London. For this concert, Simon will debut a new work commissioned specifically by the 606 Club for The London Jazz Festival, “London Lights”, that will draw upon the vibrant cosmopolitan street music of London from the 18th century to the present day. The evocative melodies of broadside ballads, street cries, sea shanties and hymns are intertwined with deep, rolling grooves from around the globe to create a powerful, jazz inspired, springboard for all of the band’s soloists. It will be performed by Simon’s augmented trio “UK Roots’, formed in 1995 by Simon and described as “a hard driving band that explores the rich heritage of British traditional music through the language of contemporary jazz”. In addition to Simon on piano, the band’s lineup for this special commission features a hand picked array of some of the finest and most interesting players on the UK jazz scene, including award-winning saxophonists Dave Lewis (Bryan Ferry, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, “1Up) and Mark Lockheart (“Perfect Houseplants”, “Polar Bear”, Django Bates, Mike Gibbs, Mark Anthony Turnage), Adam King-bass, US born Rod Youngs (Gil Scott Heron, Abdullah Ibrahim)-drums and Richard Olatunde Baker-percussion/African percussion. This fascinating mix of styles and skills combined with Simon’s rich and varied writing is guaranteed to produce music of the highest calibre. A unique and eagerly anticipated programme that promises to be an absolute treat.
“Wallace…[one] of the UK’s leading arranger/performers” Time Out; “Lewis...spine tingling” Guardian; “Lockheart….inspired and imaginative” The Times
