London , 21st September 2022 Tomorrow’s Warriors announced today Nu Civilisation Orchestra: Hejira and Mingus – an exciting and distinctive six date tour of the UK this November, to celebrate the jazz legend Charles Mingus’ centenary. The tour will be across six cities, including London’s Southbank Centre during EFG London Jazz Festival, plus Liverpool, Brighton, Poole, Bristol and Sunderland, with tickets on sale now.
The Nu Civilisation Orchestra: Hejira and Mingus UK tour will feature the acclaimed vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and Tomorrow’s Warriors alumna ESKA. The tour will explore the music of two legends: Joni Mitchell, through her classic, jazz-influenced album ‘Hejira’, and Mitchell’s work with the great Charles Mingus, that was recorded shortly before his death.
Gifted pianist, composer and musical director Peter Edwards will once again lead new creative collaborations, following Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s recent triumphant concert with Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ at Jazz à La Villette festival in Paris. Edwards will lead a 19-piece Nu Civilisation Orchestra (NCO) featuring players such as Sarah Tandy (piano), Rosie Turton (trombone), Jay Darwish (bass), Eddie Hick (drums), Tello Morgado (percussion) and more.
ESKA said “I’m really honoured to be a part of the Hejira and Mingus tour. Both Mitchell and Mingus are huge influences and inspirations to me, and it will be an honour to pay tribute and homage to the true Jazz great Charles Mingus in his centenary year. Having come through the Tomorrow’s Warriors incredible Learning Programme in my early career, I know the breadth, value and impact of their work, so when I was invited to be a part of this tour I jumped at the chance. It’s been five years since we last celebrated Hejira for a one-off event, so it’s wonderful to expand the concept properly and make it a six date tour. I can’t wait to hit the road with the Tomorrow’s Warriors and Nu Civilisation Orchestra.”
When Joni Mitchell released ‘Hejira’ in 1976, she was already established as one of the great voices of her generation. ‘Hejira’ saw Mitchell embark on a new journey, away from her folk roots, towards the freer, jazz-inspired music of her later work. By 1978, Mitchell’s jazz-influenced work was pushed further through an unlikely collaboration with one of the most imposing jazz musicians to ever take the stage, Charles Mingus. Mitchell’s Mingus took the great man’s compositions as the inspiration for her own lyrics. The result stands as one of the most emotionally intense and unexpected of musical collaborations.
Nu Civilisation Orchestra previously performed a reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s Hejira, featuring guest vocalists ESKA, Lisa Hannigan, Emel Mathlouthi, Nadine Shah and the poet Sabrina Mahfouz for International Women’s Day at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2017.
Full Tour Dates:
13 November Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – ticket link
17 November Southbank Centre, EFG London Jazz Festival – ticket link
19 November Brighton Dome – ticket link
20 November Lighthouse, Poole – ticket link
24th November St Georges, Bristol – ticket link
27th November Firestation, Sunderland – ticket link
The brainchild of Tomorrow’s Warriors co-founder and Artistic Director, Gary Crosby OBE, Nu Civilisation Orchestra (NCO) is ever shifting in size and scale, from a quintet to a 24-piece orchestra, and everything in between. With a vision of bringing soulful, socially aware artistic expression to classic repertoire across jazz and popular music, NCO is committed to increasing diverse representation in the orchestra setting, while showcasing exciting, cutting edge and eclectic new arrangements and compositions from some of the most exciting young musicians in the UK today. Peter Edwards is the Musical Director and leader of NCO, which comprises several members, including Edwards himself, who have come through the award-winning Tomorrow’s Warriors Talent Development Programme, which has a focus on supporting musicians from the black community and girls into successful, professional careers in music.
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Flyer artwork here
About Tomorrow’s Warriors: Tomorrow’s Warriors is a pioneering talent development agency, creative producer, learning and training provider, charity and consultancy specialising in jazz. Founded in 1991 by Queen’s Medal for Music recipient Gary Crosby OBE and Janine Irons MBE, TW helps aspiring young artists from diverse backgrounds discover their magic and achieve creative ambitions. TW nurtures nascent talent and builds engaged, culturally diverse audiences. Tomorrow’s Warriors has provided a crucial development platform for many of the artists now tearing up the international jazz scene – Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Cassie Kinoshi and Nérija, Femi Koleoso and Ezra Collective, Binker Golding, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons Of Kemet, CHERISE, ESKA, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Zara McFarlane and many more. With a dedicated resident space at The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall to host its Young Artist Development Programme aimed at talent aged 11-25 years old, comprising of learning and participation, artist development and professional performances, Tomorrow’s Warriors is proud to be a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner. Tomorrow’s Warriors is pivotal in elevating UK jazz, valued by its alumni and respected by funding partners for the impact delivered through its pipeline for outstanding, diverse talent. In 2021, Tomorrow’s Warriors received the Jazz FM Impact Award and Music Producers Guild Inspiration Award, and Gary Crosby was honoured by the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) with an honorary doctorate entitled ‘Doctor of Music honoris causa’. Tomorrow’s Warriors is a not for profit company and a Registered Charity No 1153613. Give today to Tomorrow’s Warriors here https://www.paypal.com/uk/fundraiser/charity/170675/
