Tommy Smith: Beyond Borders
For:
The World of the Gods
Commissioned by:
Glasgow International Jazz Festival Ltd, Serious Events Limited
Details
Tommy Smith will be commissioned to compose and orchestrate 90 minutes of music for the united forces of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) and the Glasgow-based Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers (MTD). The music, based on the combined traditions and musical languages of the jazz big band and taiko drumming, will use Japanese folk tales, gods and creatures as the conceptual starting point for a cross-cultural, cross-genre collaboration which will lead to a fully composed and choreographed high-energy performance called ‘The World of the Gods’ that will have a broad appeal.
Planned performances
Glasgow International Jazz Festival is a key partner in the commissioning and presentation process and aims to present the work in 2011. After the premiere at Glasgow International Jazz Festival (June/July 2011), Serious will promote the international touring version of the work across 2011. The production has interest from the following festivals: Brecon Jazz Festival produced by Hay-on-Wye Festival (August 2011), August Feile in NI produced by Féile an Phobail (August 2011), London Jazz Festival produced by Serious (November 2011) and Gateshead International Jazz Festival (March 2012) — for which Serious is co-curator and co-producer.