University News Last updated 28 February
Five Jazz students and graduates were selected to arrange the songs of Midlands grime, hip-hop and rap artists to be played by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
BMus Jazz students Jamie Paxton and Nathaniel (Nat) Evans (pictured), alongside recent Jazz graduates Ben Partridge, Connor Bastible and Ollie Canham, were selected to work on Legacy, a collaboration between the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Punch Records, that brings together some of the most popular rap, hip-hop and grime artists making music in the Midlands.
Legacy will encompass live performances from 15 of the most popular artists in the Midlands including Big Dog Yogo, Brixx, C4, CreezOn, Jaykae and Lady Leshurr, alongside the CBSO. The performances will be led by award-winning conductor Phil Meadows.
The event will take place in Symphony Hall on Saturday 12 April, at 7.30pm. Book your place.
Phil approached RBC’s Jazz Department last summer to discuss the CBSO and Punch collaboration, with a view to working with student arrangers to develop their skills.
Since September, current Jazz students and graduates have been listening to, transcribing, arranging and orchestrating the songs ready for the CBSO. They are currently on the final leg of the project having rehearsed the music with the orchestra and their featured artists, and are doing some final touch-ups before the new arrangements are performed.
Lecturer in Jazz Ed Puddick said: "This is such an amazing opportunity for our students and graduates at the start of their careers. Many jazz arrangers can only dream of writing for a professional orchestra like the CBSO, but these guys will have this project on their CVs for the rest of their careers. I am so grateful to Phil Meadows and Tom Spurgin, Creative Director of Learning and Engagement at the CBSO, for giving them this chance to demonstrate their skills."
Phil said: "Legacy is a special project that celebrates Birmingham’s rich cultural identity, documenting the history of the city’s renowned grime scene while forging new creative partnerships. When the CBSO invited me to be the lead arranger and conductor, I approached RBC’s Jazz department, which is one of the best in the country, because I know how tough it can be for young arrangers to gain professional experience.
"From the moment I reached out, Head of Jazz Jeremy Price and Ed understood the vision and were hugely passionate about giving their students this opportunity while strengthening the Conservatoire’s connection with the CBSO. It’s been amazing to mentor the five students and graduates, see them step up and contribute some brilliant arrangements."
Nat said: "It goes without saying that we're all excited and up for the task. I've personally written for C4, and it's been cool digging into his music and finding ways to translate it into something CBSO can really get into. This project is truly an exciting clash of genres.
"Working with Phil, the CBSO and all the big artists has really developed my arranging skills. As well as being a talking point for my CV, I'm hoping the project and the skills I've learned from it can feed directly into more professional arranging work."