We are delighted to announce an exciting and diverse line-up of four early career composers from across the Jazz South region who have been selected for Jazz South Breakthrough Commissions.

Each composer will create a new piece for digital broadcast from a venue in the Jazz South region in early 2021 and will be offered a package of mentoring to support the delivery of the commission.

A panel from the jazz industry, including representation from artists, educators, producers and promoters selected the composers based on innovation, ambition, and the artistic aspiration of each commission. Open to early career composers in jazz and improvisation, there was a strong response to the scheme with proposals for new music. The final selection represents a range of rising talent from across the South.

Kevin Appleby, Strategic Lead for Jazz South said:

“Jazz South Breakthrough Commissions is an opportunity to support early career jazz composers at an exciting stage of their creative and professional development, with what may be their first commission. We are thrilled to work with these talented artists from the South, to support them in realising and profiling their commission concepts to audiences, as well as offering them the opportunity to gain input and widen their networks with mentors from the profession.”

The 4 composers are:

Tim Davies (Oxfordshire)
Drummer, synthesist and recording engineer Tim Davies will create a composition for modular synthesier and jazz ensemble, consisting drums, keys, guitar, bass, and tenor saxophone.

Lucinda Fosker (Berkshire)
“Beautiful voice, her original material is distinctive and stylish” (Sara Colman) – Reading-based jazz vocalist and composer Lucinda Fosker will write new music inspired by the River Thames, telling a musical story of a stretch between Cookham and Henley-on-Thames.

Roella Oloro (Gloucestershire)
Gloucester-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and student of Berklee College of Music, Roella Oloro, will explore the concept of a perfumer mixing a new scent in music.

Asha Parkinson (Kent)
An accomplished saxophonist and arranger, Asha Parkinson will devise an extended piece for large ensemble integrating contemporary jazz and Arabic musical cultures.

The four artists are delighted to begin work on their original compositions. These will be digitally broadcast in early 2021, with more details to be announced later this autumn.

Breakthrough Commissions is part of a wider Jazz South programme offering over £30,000 towards commission projects for artists working in jazz and improvisation in the Jazz South region, outside of London.