Freedom of the City

Synopsis

Radio 3 at the Summer Festivals

Jez Nelson presents highlights of the 2009 Freedom of the City festival. Curated by Evan Parker and Eddie Prevost, the event celebrates London's status as one of world's leading centres of free improvisation.

The line-up includes Evan Parker with his regulars - bass player John Edwards and guitarist John Russell - joined by a special guest, New York trumpeter Peter Evans. Plus a rare UK appearance by Korean cellist Okkyung Lee and long-term collaborators Mark Sanders and Pat Thomas, who perform with guitarist John Coxon.

Jazz on 3 signature tune:

Artist: Russell Gunn (Russell Gunn - trumpet, Gregory Tardy and Bruce Williams - reeds, Andre Heyward - trombone, Chieli Minucci - guitar, James Hurt - keyboards, Rodney Jordan - bass, Woody Williams - drums, Khalil Kwame Bell - percussion, DJ Apollo - turntables)
Track Title: Seventy Four Miles Away
Composer: Joe Zawinul
Album Title: Ethnomusicology Volume 1

Glenn Max, producer of contemporary culture at the Southbank Centre, in conversation with Jez about Ornette Coleman's appointment as director of the 2009 Meltdown festival

CD track:

Artist: Ornette Coleman (Ornette Coleman - alto sax, Dewey Redman - tenor sax, Cedar Walton - piano, Jim Hall - guitar, Charlie Haden - bass, Ed Blackwell - drums, Webster Armstrong - vocals)
Track title: Is It Forever
Composer: Ornette Coleman
Album title: Broken Shadows
Label: Sony / BMG Japan

http://meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Steve Beresford joins Jez in the studio to talk about London's 2009 Freedom of the City festival

All the music recorded at Freedom of the City is entirely improvised

Set 1:
John Butcher (saxophone)
John Edwards (double bass)
Set 2:
Hannah Marshall (cello)
Alison Blunt (violin)
Ray Warleigh (saxophone)
Tony Marsh (drums)

Okkyung Lee and Peter Evans join Jez and Steve in the studio to talk about the Freedom of the City festival

Set 3:
Okkyung Lee (cello)
Peter Evans (trumpet)
Steve Beresford (piano)

Set 4:
Sebastian Lexer (piano and electronics)
Seymour Wright (saxophone and radio)

Set 5:
Evan Parker (saxophone)
John Russell (guitar)
John Edwards (bass)
Peter Evans (trumpet)

Recommended further listening:

Artist: John Butcher, John Edwards
Album title: Optic
Label: Emanem
Released: 2003

Artist: Ray Warleigh
Album title: Rue Victor Masse
Label: PSI
Released: 2008

Artist: Okkung Lee, Peter Evans, Steve Beresford
Album title: Check for Monsters
Label: Emanem
Released: 2008

Artist: Peter Evans
Album title: nature/culture
Label: PSI
Released: 2009

Artist: Evan Parker, John Russell, John Edwards, Mark Sanders
Album title: London Air List
Label: FMP
Released: 1996

Upcoming festival dates in 2009:

Le Weekend Festival, Stirling, Scotland 29 - 31 May
http://www.leweekendfestival.com
John Edwards solo set - 30 May @ Tolbooth Bar
Duck Baker Trio - 30 May @ Church of the Holy Rude

Bath Music Festival 22 May - 06 June
http://www.bathmusicfest.org.uk/
Bojan Z Trio + Portico Quartet - 23 May @ Komedia
Dave Holland Quintet + Dan Stern Quintet - 24 May @ Pavillion
Bobo Senston - 25 May @ Assembly Rooms
Brandford Marsalis Quartet + Empirical - 25 May @ The Forum

LINKS:
http://www.emanemdisc.com
http://www.emanemdisc.com/psi
http://www.johnbutcher.org.uk
http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/medwards (John Edwards)
http://www.myspace.com/hannahmarshallmusician
http://www.alisonblunt.com
http://www.visionlogic.demon.co.uk/biog1_TM.htm (Tony Marsh)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Warleigh
http://www.okkyunglee.com
http://www.myspace.com/peterevanstrumpet
http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/mberes (Steve Beresford)
http://sebastianlexer.eu
http://www.seymourwright.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Parker
http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mrussell (John Russell)
http://www.freedomofthecity.org.

Broadcast

1. Mon 18 May 2009
   23:15
   BBC Radio 3