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The Open Band began working on the jazz suite in March 2000 following an award by the MK Arts council. The award was conditional on the work being a collection of original pieces of music composed and performed solely by the band. The suite was performed at the Millennium dome on the 26 May and again at the new MK theatre on 26th June.
During the writing of the suite the band were coached by the established jazz trombone player and composer Mark Bassey who has had a long association with the band. The band was greatly helped by Mark's advice and enthusiasm. Every note in the piece is the original work of members of the band, many of whom have never before attempted any actual music composition.
Farm Fare:
Written by lead trumpet, John Gates, this opening salvo was originally written for four trumpets and takes the style of a formal fanfare which is in stark contrast to the jazz pieces which follow. The piece is played by the whole band giving a more rounded sound and is completed by drum solo to introduce...
Concrete Cows and Roundabouts:
Even if the listener knows very little about Milton Keynes, they will probably have heard of the collection of concrete cows, which is one of the city’s original landmarks, and the multitude of roundabouts.
Written by the band’ s former musical director Cathi Cook the cows are to be heard very distinctly in the opening bars. Each chorus adds a new section of the band to the whole piece starting with the brass, where we hear the car horns as they speed round the roundabouts. The tenors and altos add additional riffs until we hear, almost with relief, twelve bar blues solos on individual instruments.
Third Eye:
Written by tenor sax player Ben Chappel, the inspiration for this piece is taken from the omnipresent CCTV cameras in the city’s longest shopping mall watching our every movement. The piece has a great melody offering plenty of opportunity for improvisation.
Playground:
In contrast to the dark side of the Third Eye, Playground is a fun rumba where everyone seems to be in festive mood having a good time. The piece was written by tenor sax player Rod Birtles and reflects the fact that the City has a very young population and is well provided for with parks and open spaces.
Redway Riders:
Redway Riders was originally written as a link to connect the other pieces, just as the Redways connect the whole of Milton Keynes. Composer Graham Smith has set the music against a driving pedal rhythm on bass and drums. This is then complemented by rising and falling riffs from all sections of the band until a flute solo is reached.
Willen Breeze:
Again written by Cathi Cook this gentle waltz gives little warning of what is to follow.
Larks at the Fox:
When Robin Goodfellow first brought this piece to the band he told us of the folk club evenings at the Fox and Hounds which always finish with the old folk song "and the larks sang melodious". However, by the end of the evening the singers were not always in tune having consumed large amounts of ale during the evening.
MK Got Soul II:
The suite concludes with a delicious romp from tenor saxophonist Mike Holmes in the style of a 60's hard bop. By this time the significance of the title should not be lost on the listeners.
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