The multi-reedist releases his new album Gemini on 12 January 2024 on Ubuntu Music with a live launch at The Vortex on 24 January.
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Ubuntu Music to Release Saxophonist Rob Cope’s Next Album
Rob Cope / Gemini
Release Date: 12th January 2024
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0160
Rob Cope (Photographer: Gary Abbott)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the release of multi-talented composer/saxophonist and podcaster/filmmaker Rob Cope, for the release of Gemini, his second album on Ubuntu Music.
Gemini, derived from Greek mythology as meaning ‘two’ or ‘twins’, brings together two coexisting duos, and musicians who have inspired Rob greatly over the years. This project is a personal reflection of what musical collaboration means to him. For this release, Rob is joined by his great friend and saxophone teacher, Andy Scott, whose playing, compositional creativity, and freedom of expression through both contemporary and improvised music Rob has always admired. The outstanding improvising duo of Liam Noble and Paul Clarvis adds a dimension that celebrates true spontaneity, energy and colour.
Rob describes the music of Gemini: “This music is a self-reflection and collaboration with my great friend and teacher, Andy Scott. Each of my compositions represents a lesson - be it in life or in music - and all the wisdom passed along the way. For me, music should be fun to play but also challenging, and I wanted to combine my love of difficult, contemporary saxophone music with improvisation, and hopefully contribute to the repertoire in a unique way. Liam and Paul are musicians I grew up listening to, so to record with them is the fruition of years of planning and dreaming.”
Paul Clarvis, Andy Scott, Liam Noble, Rob Cope. (Photographer: Chris Cruz)
Rob continues, describing his ongoing relationship with Ubuntu Music: “Releasing ‘Gemini’ on Ubuntu is the perfect next step in my journey with the Label. Having released my debut album, ‘Gods of Apollo’ as well, Ubuntu is home to all of my music. The diversity of the Label is something I identify with and I’m proud to be associated with. Wanting to continue my collaboration with Ubuntu comes from a deep and long-standing appreciation for Martin Hummel, whose energy and enthusiasm - along with his support - made working together on this album a real joy.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Rob is a uniquely talented individual, who seems equally comfortable composing, arranging, performing, podcasting or even film directing. ‘Gemini’ is the obvious next step in his mission, which began with ‘Gods of Apollo’. This latest adventure consists of a group of musicians who are leaders in their own right and whom Rob has admired for some time. The music reflects what Rob is all about – as an artist and as a human being – as he takes us on his journey. We’re over the moon (pun intended) to have Rob continue to grow with the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Rob Cope (Artist): roblcope@gmail.com
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
BIOGRAPHY
Gemini is a new band, featuring Rob Cope (soprano saxophone and bass clarinet), Andy Scott (tenor saxophone), Liam Noble (piano) and Paul Clarvis (drums). Andy, Liam and Paul have been performing together for over 30 years and this new band brings them back together with composer Cope at the helm. Gemini’, their first recording as a band, explores Rob's passion for challenging and fun improvised music. Due to perform at jazz venues across the UK in 2024, Gemini will bring a unique combination of impressive technical agility with the freedom of improvisation and genuine musical interaction.
Ubuntu Music Signs Composer Paul Mottram for Release of Epic Project ft. Tim Garland & Jason Rebello
Paul Mottram / Seven Ages of Man
Release Date: 6th October 2023
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0140
Paul Mottram (Photographer: Julian Hubbard)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of composer Paul Mottram, for the release of a major project that blends jazz and classical music within a fascinating project concept.
Seven Ages of Man is a large-scale concert work scored for Jazz Sextet and String Orchestra which weaves jazz improvisation and grooves within a tight thematically developed classical structure. Organised by the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ concept from medieval art and literature, it forms an atmospheric personal reflection on the stages of a single human life cycle, taking cues from Shakespeare’s description of life in terms of characters from a play: Infant, Schoolboy, Lover, Soldier, Judge, Pantaloon and the Second Childhood of Old Age.
Abbey Road / Studio 1, London
The large string section projects a real sense of scale and emotional depth to the piece both supporting and integrated with the Jazz Sextet.
The work was written for acclaimed jazz musician and long-standing friend Tim Garland (soprano/tenor sax and bass clarinet) who performs as the principal soloist, and it alsofeatures Jason Rebello on piano and Jonny Mansfield on vibraphone.
Tim Garland
Paul describes how he conceived the highly ambitious project: “Writing ‘Seven Ages of Man’ was an incredible opportunity to bring together all the strands of my musical persona. I could draw on my background as a classical musician steeped in Jazz, fused with a media composer’s ear for conveying the emotions of a story through music. It’s always been an ambition of mine to write a classically structured long form jazz composition for Tim Garland, who’s been a friend and an inspiration since we met at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in the 80s. It’s been a privilege to assemble such a distinguished band of musicians with Jason Rebello (piano) and Jonny Mansfield (vibraphone) also taking soloing roles. Ralph Salmins (drums), Misha Mullov-Abbado (bass) and Paul Clarvis (percussion) complete the Jazz Sextet. I didn’t compromise either with the size of the string orchestra line up, contracted by Isobel Griffiths, and that with recording in the wonderful acoustic of Abbey Road Studio 1 gives the whole album a real sense of scale, something I was after from the outset.”
Tim Garland and Paul Mottram
Paul continues, describing the relationship with his new record label: “In Ubuntu Music, it feels great to have found such an excellent and welcoming home for the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ album. The hybrid musical style of the piece is hard to quantify in the classical/ jazz spectrum but at its’ core the principal soloists of the piece are jazz musicians of the highest order and that sits well with the fine roster of talent on the label. The stylistic breadth of the catalogue also leads me to believe that ‘Seven Ages’ will fit right in with the broad ‘no boundaries’ vision that Martin Hummel has for Ubuntu.”
Paul Mottram
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, gives his parting thoughts: “I was absolutely blown away by the scale, the quality and the inherent appeal of this project, in every single aspect - from the concept, to the compositions, to the musicians, to the quality of the recording itself. Paul is meticulous in his craftsmanship, paying considerable attention to each and every detail. And it’s clearly evident in the end result. Having world class musicians like Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, personal heroes of mine, makes this project even more special. This is a genre-defining release that’s certain to reward both classical and jazz fans alike. We cannot wait to ultimately bring this project to live audiences, whenever and wherever possible. It’s a pleasure to be a part of something so special, and to welcome Paul, the outstanding musicians in the sextet and the exceptional string orchestra into the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Paul Mottram (Artist): paul@paulmottram.com
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
WEBSITES
PAUL MOTTRAM BIOGRAPHY
Paul Mottram has forged an extremely successful career as one of the most prolific and versatile media composers in the UK, with an enviable back catalogue of compositions. His ability to cut to the emotional heart of the subject matter with a sophisticated melodic multi-layered compositional style has also enabled him to deliver concert music which resonates deeply with the audience.
Classically trained as a violinist, pianist and composer at the Royal College of Music, Cambridge University and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Paul quickly began working as an orchestrator on films such as Chaplin, Shirley Valentine and Rain Man. Later, moving into commercials, he also started writing music for BBC radio 4 shows in the 90s, such as In the Red and Babblewick Hall, and television, with the hit spoof documentary series People Like Us (1999).
As one of the founder composers at production music library Audio Network in the early 2000s, Paul began producing a prodigious line of albums which continues to this day (his latest album, Intimate Canvas, came out on streaming platforms in February 2023). You would be hard pressed to watch an evening’s television without hearing his compositions, featured in 100s of shows such as The Great British Bake Off, The Apprentice, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, The Crown, QI, Big Mouth, Travel Man and Upstart Crow. His music has also been featured in films such as Bad Santa and The Bee Movie and cinematic trailers such as for the Oscar winning film, Blue Jasmine.
A fascination with Jazz has always had a major impact on Paul’s concert music output. Over the years he has written for musicians such as The Swingle Singers, The Underground Orchestra, Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Superbrass and the Dunedin Consort. Moccasin Trail was written for saxophonist John Harle’s band and features on ‘The John Harle Collection: Vol 15’ and a saxophone/ piano version was premiered by John at a Wigmore Hall recital broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2015, the song cycle Falls, (initially commissioned and performed by the Dunedin Consort) was performed at the Snape Maltings by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and his Gospel Jazz composition for choir with rhythm section Come Spirit was premiered by the Chapter House Choir in York Minster.
Seven Ages of Man, a new 70-minute suite and album written for world class jazz musicians Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, is Paul’s biggest and most ambitious work yet and a remarkable synthesis of his classical, jazz and media music roots. Writing to his own brief, the work has enabled him to explore the intersection between his musical worlds and write something on a grander and more profound scale.