Photo from Glasgow Blythswood Festival, credit otherwise unknown.
Composer, trumpeter and trombonist J Simon van der Walt turns 65 in a few days’ time to celebrate which, his students and colleagues at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are showcasing a retrospective of some of his own favourite compositions.
Happily, not one to sit tight in any one musical genre ‘box’, van der Walt’s compositions range over jazz, experimental music, contemporary classical, gamelan and electronics.
The first of three concerts took place on the 4th of this month, and featured Triwikrama, a piece written around a scene from Javanese mythology, while a second concert will be on Monday 11th May as part of Mondays at One at the RCM, when his entirely wonderful-sounding giant flying laser scorpion with wings will be played. Surely not to be missed, this one, and as van der Walt himself said: “People who are familiar with my work will know that some of my music is quite off the wall!”. So far so excellent.
But the third and final concert – which is part of the Glasgow Blythswood Festival, on Sunday 17th May at The National piping centre, Hope Street, Glasgow – might turn out to be a particular favourite for big band jazz fans.
Featuring two of his newly composed suites, Between Two Oceans and the Byres Road Suite, van der Walt on trombone is joined by other members of The Byres Road Big Band conducted by established jazz saxophonist Paul Towndrow. The programme will also include some big band jazz favourites from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich.
The Byers Road Big Band concert is on Sunday 17th May at 7.30pm – 10pm, at The National Piping Centre, Hope Street, Glasgow. Tickets here.
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