KEITH TIPPETT

Event information

Keith Tippett is one of the most important European jazz musicians/improvisers/ composers/ arrangers of the last 40 years and we’re delighted to present three very special and very different evenings showcasing his new work. Centred around two world premieres, performances with the Elysian Quartet, a commission from the Kreutzer Quartet, a new Octet, and of course Julie Tippetts, these three nights are not to be missed.

TONIGHT
A world premiere: The Nine Dances of Patrick O'Gonogon, commissioned by Richard Wiltshire.

Performing with this magnificent Octet, Keith Tippett presents brand new contemporary jazz pieces in three movements, inspired by his Irish heritage.

Trumpet & flugel horn - Fulvio Sergato
Alto sax and soprano sax - Sam Mayne
Alto sax - James Gardner-Bateman
Trombone - Kieran McCleod
Trombone - Robby Harvey
Bass - Tom McCready
Drums and percussion - Peter Fairclough
Piano, composer - Keith Tippett

KEITH TIPPETT
Keith Tippett is the revered free-jazz pianist who crossed over into art-rock in the early 70s, playing with King Crimson and, in 1970, convening the monstrously ambitious Centipede, an avant-garde big band that drew together more than 50 of the UK’s most adventurous jazz and rock musicians. Since then he’s recorded and performed prolifically with groups including Mujician with saxophonist Paul Dunmall, and Ovary Lodge, alongside percussionist Frank Perry and his wife, Julie. Mrs Tippett – nee Driscoll – was the mod-soul sensation who worked with Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry in Steampacket, and found pop stardom with Brian Auger and the Trinity, providing witchy vocals for 1968’s definitive psychedelic version of Bob Dylan’s This Wheel’s On Fire before, in the 70s, making a concerted move out of the charts and into experimental vocals.

In the early '70s Keith Tippett also moved easily between jazz and rock, becoming well-known even among rock audiences for his studio-based contributions [sometimes with KT Group members Charig and Evans] to three successive early King Crimson albums. His association with Crimson led to a lasting friendship with Robert Fripp, who has produced five of Keith's albums over the decades to follow. Other irregular combinations have included work with a quartet including Peter Brotzmann and Harry Miller (sadly, not officially documented); a duo with Howard Riley that has produced three recordings; membership of Derek Bailey's Company; and duos with Stan Tracey, Andy Sheppard, Peter Fairclough, and Giovanni Maier.
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Pianist, composer, bandleader, innovator, catalyst – the internationally acclaimed Keith Tippett is all these things and more—The Wire

Creative pianist–composer Keith Tippett is a national treasure [and] one of our most innovative but undervalued musicians—Jazzwise