Andy Scott

STOP PRESS: 24 November 2006 Andy won the category Wind Band or Brass Band at the British Composer Awards 2006 for his piece Dark Rain. Ceremony can be heard on BBC Radio 3 on Monday 27 November 2006 19:30-21:30 Well done Andy!

Hello everyone and thanks for coming here to my web site!

October & November has seen a UK Tour of ‘My Mountain Top’ & ‘Summer with Monica’ marking the launch of my new CD ‘My Mountain Top’. It’s been great fun working with actor Richard Ellis, photographer Gary Abbott & regular Duo partner percussionist Dave Hassell. We hope to really promote this project in 2007, trying to secure more Festival dates, the music is great (works by Graham Fitkin, Pete Meechan, Dave Heath & Lemn Sissay and myself – many written specifically for ‘My Mountain Top’) whilst the power of Roger McGough’s words in ‘Summer with Monica’ is something special!

I’m really pleased that after many years hard work commissioning composers to write for Tenor Saxophone that a CD of World Premiere recordings is now released – in ‘My Mountain Top’ I’m joined by Peter Lawson (piano), Lemn Sissay (poet) & Lauren Scott (harp). You can buy the CD (which was released on 8th November) on this site!

This Friday I make my way to London’s South Bank Centre for the British Composer Awards 2006. Fortunately my piece ‘Dark Rain’ is included in the final three works for an award (the Wind Band & Brass Band category), it is an honour to be part of this prestigious event. My personal thanks once again go to Charles Hine, James Gourlay, Rob Buckland, John Harle, David Chatterton & Chethams School of Music, the RNCM and Astute Music Publications for their hard work at every stage with this piece. John programmed ‘Dark Rain’ at his 50th Birthday Concert at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London in September, a concert that I was able to attend, hearing a committed performance from the GSMD Wind Band conducted by Peter Gane, with Christian Forshaw joining John Harle on this occasion as soloist. First, second or third, I’ll let you know how it went at the BCA in the next newsletter!

The British Clarinet Ensemble, conducted by Charles Hine, have now recorded two of my works ‘Fujiko’ and ‘Paquito’ for their latest CD. More news to follow on a release date, plus exceptional euphonium player (and colleague at the RNCM) David Thornton is recording a euphonium version of ‘My Mountain Top’ (Lemn wrote the words, I wrote the music). Again I’ll let you know a release date when I know!

So, after a few weeks on the road it’s now time to concentrate on the writing for a couple of months – firstly a Duo for Gwilym Simcock (amazing pianist) and Rob Buckland that will be the final track on the new SaxAssault CD ‘Sax of Gold’, a ten-minute big band commission for Hull Youth Jazz Orchestra & University of Huddersfield Big Band, plus more work on the Concerto for Tubax & Orchestra for Julia Cadman (world premiere in June 2007).

Thanks to all of you that came to the 6th RNCM Saxophone Day last week! Rob Buckland & I are Artistic Directors of this annual event, Rob ended up doing the lion’s share of work this year & he did an amazing job. The RNCM Saxophone Orchestra played really well in a tough programme of new works for saxophone orchestra from Adam Gorb, Gary Carpenter, Rob Buckland, Laura Bowler and Adam Caird. ‘Sanctuary’ Christian Forshaw’s project sounded beautiful in the RNCM Concert Hall, whist the day was rounded off with one of the best gigs that I’ve had the privilege of hearing – Tim Garland and his Lighthouse Trio, absolutely stunning.

If any of you reading this live in North West UK please look out for the DeBees Jazz Night Christmas Party on Wednesday 6th December! I’m still delighted that thanks to Damon (the boss) we have a regular monthly jazz funk night, it’s a great venue with a regular and loyal following. I hope to see you there!

News coming in the December Newsletter of confirmed dates for SaxAssault’s UK ‘Sax of Gold’ Tour in March 2006, including (tbc) a London date with Bob Mintzer. Both Bob Mintzer and Gwilym Simcock guest on the new ‘Sax of Gold’ CD. The CD should be available from February 2007……….

Very best wishes,
Andy

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