Jazz Line-Up - Andy Sheppard

Julian Joseph talks to saxophonist Andy Sheppard, who has released his debut recording, Movements in Colour, on European record label ECM. It sees him collaborating with the cream of musicians from the European jazz scene - tabla player/percussionist Kuljit Bhamra, bassist Alrild Andersen, and guitarists John Paricelli and Eivind Aarset. Together they create a fusion of African, Latin and Indian styles, combining electronic sounds and treatments with organic and natural elements. Sheppard has made a significant impact on the international jazz scene over the years, playing and writing for settings from solo to big band and chamber orchestra. Since the late 1980s, he has composed over 300 works that incorporate a strong and characteristic sense of lyricism alongside a very personal use of rhythms from Asia, Africa and South America. Sheppard can also be heard on an equally eclectic range of recordings - as well as featuring on CDs with Carla Bley and George Russell. He has also played on sessions with dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah, John Martyn, Baaba Maal, Basia, Nigel Kennedy, Bristol indie band Blue Aeroplanes - and even turned up on a tribute album to punk group The New York Dolls. Julian also pays tribute to the late American composer, drummer, theorist and conductor George Russell. Russell played drums with Benny Carter and later wrote for Dizzy Gillespie. His musical theories went on to influence the modal music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and he also developed the Lydian concept in 1953, credited as the first theoretical contribution from jazz. The programme contains archive clips from an interview conducted by Julian Joseph with George Russell for Radio 3's Jazz Legends, which was originally transmitted on January 20, 2006. Playlist: Title: Twitter & Bisted Artist: Alyn Cosker Trio Album: Lyn's Une Label: Linn Track: 8 Comp: Alyn Cosker Publ: MCPS/PRS Dur: 5m18s Title: Bing Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion) Album: Movements in Colour Label: ECM 2062 Track: 2 Comp: Andy Sheppard Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd Dur: 5m56s Title: We Shall Not Go to Market Today Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion) Album: Movements in Colour Label: ECM 2062 Track: 6 Comp: Andy Sheppard Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd Dur: 7m53s Title: May Song Artist: Andy Sheppard (saxes), John Parricelli (guitars), Eivind Aarset (electric guitar and electronics), Arild Anderson (double bass and electronics), Kuljit Bhamra (tabla and percussion) Album: Movements in Colour Label: ECM 2062 Track: 5 Comp: Andy Sheppard Publ: Big Life Music Ltd/In All Seriousness Music Ltd Dur: 6m41s Title: Hilltop Dancer Artist: John Surman (sax), John Abercrombie (guitar), Drew Gress (double bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) Album: Brewster's Rooster Label: ECM 2046 270 1112 Track: 2 Comp: John Surman Publ: ECM Records Dur: 7m20s Title: Take Five Artist: Sachal Studios Orchestra Album: Take Five Label: Sachal Music SM 005 Track: 2 Comp: Brubeck Publ: Derry Music Company/Valentine Music Ltd Dur: 3m13s Title: St Louis Blues Artist: Dave Brubeck (piano), Joe Morello (drums), Eugene Wright (bass), Paul Desmond (alto sax) Album: Time Out - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 7398522 Track: 1 (CD2) Comp: WC Handy Publ: Sony Music Dur: 5m16s Title: Boogie Stop Shuffle Artist: Charles Mingus (bass/piano), John Handy (alto sax), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Shafi Hadi (tenor sax), Willie Dennis (trombone), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Horace Parlan (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums) Album: Mingus Ah Um - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 740102 Track: 3 (CD1) Comp: Charles Mingus Publ: Sony Music Dur: 5m12s Title: Concerto de Aranjuez Artist: Miles Davis Album: Sketches of Spain - 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition Label: Legacy/Sony Music 8869 743 9492 Track: 4 (CD2) Comp: Rodrigo Publ: Sony Dur: 3m24s Title: Witch Hunt Artist: George Russell Smalltet (Paul Motian - drums, Hal McKusick - alto sax, Art Farmer - trumpet, Bill Evans - piano, Barry Galbraith - guitar, Milt Hilton - bass) Album: Jazz Workshop Label: Bluebird/RCA ND 86467 Track: n/a Comp: George Russell Publ: Russ-Hix Music/BMI Dur: 4m20s Title: Prelude to a Kiss Artist: Tommy Smith/Arild Andersen/Paolo Vinaccia Album: Live at Belleville Label: ECM 001 221 502 Track: 5 Comp: Duke Ellington Publ: LaFleur Music Ltd Dur: 3m05s.