Month: April 2022
An immersive celebration of rail and water is set to hit Manchester this May, in the form mjf originals commissions.
Staged as part of mjf2022 and supported by Jerwood Arts, sax player, electronic musician and mjf hothouse alumni Lara Jones will perform her new work titled Ensō in a specially-constructed geodesic dome in Manchester Piccadilly station from May 19 – 22.
Audiences can enjoy free performances of the immersive, cinematic audio-visual experience based on Lara’s harrowing field recordings of train journey’s to loved ones.
Her work is supported through the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jerwood Jazz Encounters Programme, co-commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival and funded by Jerwood Arts.
photos: Jess Rose
On May 27 and 28, audio visual artist and performer Ruby Tingle will present Fountainia, her new music inspired by Manchester’s unique relationship with water, particularly its public water features.
The free, evening performances will take place in Barbirolli Square next to the Bridgewater Hall and feature jazz and electronic artists in new songs that fuse live and pre-recorded vocals and instrumentals.
Both mjf originals pieces are part of mjf2022, which takes places from May 20 – 29 in venues including Escape to Freight Island, Band on the Wall, St Ann’s Church, Forsyth’s, Matt & Phred’s and The Yard with partners NQ Jazz.
Steve Mead, our CEO and Artistic Director, said:
“These two inspirational new works continue mjf’s tradition of commissioning new music from today’s most forward-thinking artists.
“Following on from mjf’s digital commissions, produced during lockdown, we’ve brought the focus of our support for creative jazz artists into the public realm and want to provide audiences with surprising musical experiences at key Manchester landmarks.
“I’m looking forward to the audience responses and think both Fountains and Ensō will provide some memorable festival moments for everyone who encounters them.”
mjf originals is mjf’s scheme to commission boundary-pushing new work that is artist-led, northern-focussed and champions artists from all backgrounds.