SNJO confirms better Weather Reported Press Release
The recent Press Release for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra promises “fabulous weather” for their upcoming Scottish shows in February.
As much as the positive forecast is appreciated, especially after some seriously negative winter weather, the line refers to the fact the SNJO will be performing with very special guest and renowned drummer Peter Erskine, best known for his stellar and innovative work with influential jazz-rockers Weather Report.
SNJO & Peter Erskine press release and concert date information:
Europe’s foremost large-scale jazz ensemble, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra joins forces with one of the world’s top drummers, Peter Erskine to celebrate the trailblazing music of Erskine’s former band Weather Report on a tour of Scotland in February, 2012.
The most vital and creative band in jazz throughout its lifetime, Weather Report combined instantly familiar melodies, swinging grooves and the finest improvising imaginations with the pulse and presentation of rock music and the intoxicating flavours of what we now know as world music in a career that produced hit tunes including the jazz classic ‘Birdland’ and major selling albums including Black Market and Heavy Weather.
Peter Erskine, whose CV also includes work with Steely Dan, Stan Kenton, Diana Krall, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush among many others, featured in Weather Report from 1978 to 1982 in a classic line-up alongside keyboards master Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and revolutionary bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius.
He went on to become one of the music business’s most in-demand session musicians and a revered drum instructor while also leading his own bands in concert, on tour and on disc for the prestigious ECM label.
As much as the positive forecast is appreciated, especially after some seriously negative winter weather, the line refers to the fact the SNJO will be performing with very special guest and renowned drummer Peter Erskine, best known for his stellar and innovative work with influential jazz-rockers Weather Report.
SNJO & Peter Erskine press release and concert date information:
Europe’s foremost large-scale jazz ensemble, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra joins forces with one of the world’s top drummers, Peter Erskine to celebrate the trailblazing music of Erskine’s former band Weather Report on a tour of Scotland in February, 2012.
The most vital and creative band in jazz throughout its lifetime, Weather Report combined instantly familiar melodies, swinging grooves and the finest improvising imaginations with the pulse and presentation of rock music and the intoxicating flavours of what we now know as world music in a career that produced hit tunes including the jazz classic ‘Birdland’ and major selling albums including Black Market and Heavy Weather.
Peter Erskine, whose CV also includes work with Steely Dan, Stan Kenton, Diana Krall, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush among many others, featured in Weather Report from 1978 to 1982 in a classic line-up alongside keyboards master Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and revolutionary bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius.
He went on to become one of the music business’s most in-demand session musicians and a revered drum instructor while also leading his own bands in concert, on tour and on disc for the prestigious ECM label.
An enthusiastic keeper of Weather Report’s flame, Erskine thrives on reinvigorating the band’s music and with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra featuring the cream of Scotland’s burgeoning jazz scene under saxophonist Tommy Smith’s masterly direction, this tour promises high-end performances of outstanding compositions given brand new interpretations by some of the world’s top jazz arrangers.
The programme will feature music chosen from Weather Report’s entire history, including Wayne Shorter’s beautiful ‘Elegant People’ arranged by multiple Grammy-winner Bob Mintzer, the dramatic ‘Night Passage’ arranged by six times Grammy-winner Vince Mendoza, the bubbling Jaco Pastorius feature ‘Teen Town’ arranged by Geoffrey Keezer and Joe Zawinul’s signature composition ‘Birdland’ arranged by Bill Dobbins, who has also contributed a new treatment of the atmospheric ‘Waterfall’ from Weather Report’s pioneering first album.
SNJO director, saxophonist Tommy Smith said: “It’s a measure of the orchestra’s standing in the jazz world that we can call on composers of such high quality as Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer and the rest of the team to work with us. We’re also very much looking forward to playing with Peter Erskine, who is one of the world’s great drummers as well as being a direct link with Weather Report, a band that has now influenced generations of musicians and continues to inspire new listeners and committed fans alike.”
Weather Report Programme - Tunes and Arrangers:
1. Birdland – Bill Dobbins
2. Waterfall – Bill Dobbins
3. Sightseeing – Tim Hagans
4. Elegant People – Bob Mintzer
5. Night Passage – Vince Mendoza
6. Mysterious Traveller – Tim Hagans
7. Pinnochio or Mr. Gone – Jacob Mann
8. A Remark You Made – Christian Jacobs
9. Teen Town – Geoffrey Keezer
10. Db Waltz – Makoto Ozone
Weather Report Shows - Tour details (February 2012):
Thursday 23rd – Dundee: Caird Hall ( 01382 434940 www.cairdhall.co.uk )
Friday 24th – Edinburgh: Queen’s Hall ( 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net )
Saturday 25th – Glasgow: Royal Conservatoire ( 0141 332 5057 www.rcs.ac.uk )
Sunday 26th – Stirling: MacRobert Centre ( 01786 466666 www.macrobert.org )
For further information on the SNJO and the forthcoming shows visit: www.snjo.co.uk
The programme will feature music chosen from Weather Report’s entire history, including Wayne Shorter’s beautiful ‘Elegant People’ arranged by multiple Grammy-winner Bob Mintzer, the dramatic ‘Night Passage’ arranged by six times Grammy-winner Vince Mendoza, the bubbling Jaco Pastorius feature ‘Teen Town’ arranged by Geoffrey Keezer and Joe Zawinul’s signature composition ‘Birdland’ arranged by Bill Dobbins, who has also contributed a new treatment of the atmospheric ‘Waterfall’ from Weather Report’s pioneering first album.
SNJO director, saxophonist Tommy Smith said: “It’s a measure of the orchestra’s standing in the jazz world that we can call on composers of such high quality as Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer and the rest of the team to work with us. We’re also very much looking forward to playing with Peter Erskine, who is one of the world’s great drummers as well as being a direct link with Weather Report, a band that has now influenced generations of musicians and continues to inspire new listeners and committed fans alike.”
Weather Report Programme - Tunes and Arrangers:
1. Birdland – Bill Dobbins
2. Waterfall – Bill Dobbins
3. Sightseeing – Tim Hagans
4. Elegant People – Bob Mintzer
5. Night Passage – Vince Mendoza
6. Mysterious Traveller – Tim Hagans
7. Pinnochio or Mr. Gone – Jacob Mann
8. A Remark You Made – Christian Jacobs
9. Teen Town – Geoffrey Keezer
10. Db Waltz – Makoto Ozone
Weather Report Shows - Tour details (February 2012):
Thursday 23rd – Dundee: Caird Hall ( 01382 434940 www.cairdhall.co.uk )
Friday 24th – Edinburgh: Queen’s Hall ( 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net )
Saturday 25th – Glasgow: Royal Conservatoire ( 0141 332 5057 www.rcs.ac.uk )
Sunday 26th – Stirling: MacRobert Centre ( 01786 466666 www.macrobert.org )
For further information on the SNJO and the forthcoming shows visit: www.snjo.co.uk
