Carla Bley And The Beeb

Jez Nelson presents a concert given by American pianist, bandleader and composer Carla Bley as part of the 2009 London Jazz Festival. Bringing her long-standing quartet The Lost Chords to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, she combines dexterous musicianship with humorous and original compositions. The group features renowned British saxophonist Andy Sheppard, with leading American jazz musicians Steve Swallow on bass and Billy Drummond on drums.

Bley's prolific career has spanned four decades and many eclectic projects including Escalator over the Hill, a jazz opera that cemented her reputation as a composer. Bley also pioneered the movement towards independent artist-owned record labels by releasing and distributing her own music in the 1970s. In 2003, The Lost Chords formed out of a longstanding duo project with Steve Swallow, combining four of the major names in contemporary creative improvisation. For details of Radio 3's coverage of the London Jazz Festival go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazz/londonjazzfestival/2009/
http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/2009/11/correspondence_carla_bley_and.html