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Playing: Kreisleriana - 8 fantasies Op.16 for piano by Robert Schumann

Through the Night Pianist Nelson Goerner in a recital of works by Schumann, Mozart and Chopin.

ON NEXT : 06:30 Breakfast
Image for Alexander Hawkins and his sextet

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Alexander Hawkins and his sextet

Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
First broadcast:
Monday 24 September 2012

As part of Piano Season on the BBC, Jez Nelson presents an exclusive session by British pianist Alexander Hawkins and his sextet. Hawkins is one of the most distinctive pianists to have emerged in the last few years, embracing the avant-garde improvisation tradition as well as drawing on a wide range of jazz and classical influences. He co-leads the transatlantic Convergence Quartet with cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum and plays Hammond organ in trio Decoy, who recently collaborated with veteran saxophonist Joe McPhee. The debut of his UK-based six-piece ensemble was widely received as one of the best albums of 2009, and this session features new material from an as yet unrecorded third album. The group combines composed themes with delicately constructed collective improvisation, and its new line-up features violinist Dylan Bates, reeds player Shabaka Hutchings, guitarist Otto Fischer, bass player Neil Charles and Tom Skinner on drums.

Presenter: Jez Nelson
Producers: Peggy Sutton & Chris Elcombe.

Music and featured items

14 items
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
  • Roller Trio nominated for the Mercury Prize

  • The best under-appreciated pianist (selected by Alexander Hawkins)

    • 00:10

      Marilyn Crispell, Mark Dresser & Gerry Hemingway Composition 116

      Play Braxton, Tzadik

  • Feature title: Jez talks to Alexander Hawkins about the session

  • The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble, recorded at Phoenix Studios, London on 8 August 2012

    • Line up: Alexander Hawkins (piano), Shabaka Hutchings (clarinets), Dylan Bates (violin), Otto Fischer (guitar), Neil Charles (double bass), Tom Skinner (drums)

    • 00:26

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble Step Wide, Step Deep

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 00:32

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble Space of Time Danced Thru

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 00:40

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble MO [-Ittoqqortoormit]

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 00:50

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble equals/understand

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 00:54

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble totem/bud

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 00:58

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble assemble/melancholy

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 01:02

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble remembered/discovered

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 01:07

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble listen/glow

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 01:15

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble Advice

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

    • 01:18

      The Alexander Hawkins Ensemble So Very, Know

      Composer: Alexander Hawkins

  • Alexander Hawkins

    Alexander Hawkins

  • Otto Fischer

    Otto Fischer

  • Shabaka Hutchings

    Shabaka Hutchings

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