Giacomo Smith's Routes In Ragtime
Lineup
About the Event
Accomplished saxophonist and clarinettist Giacomo Smith brings early jazz into the present with Routes in Ragtime, a programme of original music inspired by the Great Migration and the pioneering generation that created jazz.
The Great Migration and the heroism of Black Americans who bought one-way tickets in pursuit of better lives in the North play a central role in this jazz origin story. The tall tales of Jelly Roll Morton, the virtuosity of Louis Armstrong, the cut-to-the-core emotion of Bessie Smith, and Giacomo Smith’s own experience of being an American transplant in England all have their place in the collage of sonic influences behind the music.
This programme, inspired by the pinnacle of artistic achievement in the Roaring Twenties, serves as the basis for music that confidently resides in the Roaring 2020s.
‘Giacomo is an utterly inspiring presence to be around. As a collaborator, producer or musician he brings with him a deep knowledge and love of the roots of music whilst also retaining a love and enthusiasm for the modern musical landscape. It’s a rare and dynamite combination.’ Jamie Cullum
This event will last approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval.
About Giacomo Smith
Giacomo Smith is a jazz clarinettist, saxophonist, composer and educator known for his mastery of both traditional and contemporary styles. Born in Italy and raised in the US, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Cullum, Joe Lovano, Guy Barker and many others, and produced albums for Jamie Cullum, Damian Lewis and Zara McFarlane, among others. A faculty member at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Giacomo blends the virtuosic techniques of early jazz traditions with modern sensibilities, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking.