Billy Marrows & Grande Familia
PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
Release Date: 28 March 2025
Label: Discus Music
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5051078019024
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Description
A beautiful recording capturing a chamber like and essentially British jazz sound in all its joy and melancholy, and with all its twists and turns as the story plays out.
This album captures the debut performance of guitarist/composer Billy Marrows' 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble Grande Familia, recorded live at London's PizzaExpress Jazz Club. The concert, which sold out two months in advance and received a full standing ovation, features expanded arrangements of music from his critically acclaimed debut album 'Penelope'.
"A spectacular new ensemble" according to Jazz Views, Grande Familia brings together a unique line-up of talented musicians, including BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year finalist Tom Ridout and Mercury Prize nominated Led Bib saxophonist Chris Williams, alongside several of Billy's family members. In a review of their sold out Vortex Jazz Club show, Jazzwise described Grande Familia as being "comprised of big characters and full of improvisational flair". The live album personnel mirrors the original record, enhanced by the addition of Tom Potter's virtuosic yet highly sensitive drumming.
Billy's inventive yet emotive compositional style draws on influences such as Weather Report, Gil Evans, Leonard Bernstein and Hermeto Pascoal. Praised by Jazzwise as "an exhilaratingly original sound, at once intimate and expansive", Billy's music makes powerful use of Grande Familia's rich sonic palette and outstanding improvisors, with written material and solos that are both narrative driven and deeply melodic.
Teresa Macedo Ferreira: viola
Dijan Mbanu: flute
Gustavo Clayton Marucci: clarinet and bass clarinet
Chris Williams: alto saxophone
Tom Ridout: tenor/soprano saxophones and clarinet
Mike Soper: trumpet
Olli Martin: trombone
Anna Drysdale: French horn
Billy Marrows: guitar, baritone guitar and compositions
Angus Bayley: piano
Jonas Mbanu: electric bass
Tom Potter: drums
Greg Sanders: shaker
Recorded live at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London
by Nikola Kovacevic, 13th May 2024
Mixed and mastered by Alex Bonney
Cover art by Penny Marrows
Tracklisting
Army Of Briars
Keith Tippett & Matthew Bourne
Laura Jurd & Paul Dunmall
Theo May's Odd Unit
Charlotte Keeffe
Ron Caines / Martin Archer Axis
Keith & Julie Tippett - Couple In Spirit
Billy Marrows & Grande Familia
Isaiah J. Thompson
Billy Marrows & Grande Familia
Steve Lehman
BASta!
Anthony Ferrara
Alex Norris
Makiko Hirabayashi
Steve Johns
