Amy Winehouse: A Final Celebration

July 20, 2022

Closing Night @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham

3pm, 30th July 2022 | Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space

 

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NYJO alumna , Amy Winehouse is undoubtedly one of the greatest musical talents to come out of the UK. Her unmistakable character, vocal dexterity, and masterful songwriting made her a pop icon. Her tragic passing makes her one of the most sorely missed artists in recent memory. Now, ten years on, her music still shines, undiminished, in all its defiant brilliance.

This concert series celebrates Amy’s enduring legacy, reimagining hits and revisiting early works she sang with the 24-piece jazz orchestra as a promising 16-year-old singer, back in 2000. This is a chance to see some incredible young musicians honour Amy’s short but unforgettable career with a performance that fans of big band jazz, and Amy obsessives will enjoy together, as one.

After more than 20 dates all over the UK, partnering with Birmingham’s B:Music – the charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall – for this tour’s closing night will feel like something of a homecoming for the projects two young creative leads. Olivia lived in the city for over 6 years and Lucy-Anne currently studies at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The city is also likely to have an added layer of excitement bubbling under its surface, with this years’ Commonwealth Games taking place at a host of venues throughout the city from Thursday, 28th July.

 

INTRODUCING

 

Birmingham always will feel like a second home to me after living and studying there for six years, so I’m so excited to finally be bringing this project there! After a long and inspiring tour it feels really special to be playing our final date in a city that both LA and I love and we hope to see lots of friendly faces there.

Olivia Murphy, Arranger and MD

 

Olivia Murphy is an award-winning composer, saxophonist, and improviser. Olivia has always had a passion for large ensemble jazz and was the first and only two-time winner of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Composition and Arranging Prize in 2018 and 2019. After graduating from RBC, Olivia was thrilled to be given the composer chair for NYJO’s Jazz Orchestra in January 2020. As well her ongoing work with NYJO, Olivia has also worked with the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, the University of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra and a range of other exciting projects for both large and small ensembles.

 

To be performing the music from this tour, one last time, in the charming B:Music space – where I’ve watched many other incredible musicians entertain – is a rewarding conclusion to the Amy tour for me. Singing Olivia’s lush arrangements and performing the set has become second nature to me, and I’ve had the pleasure of reimagining the music for each new audience and feeling my own personal growth as the tour has gone on.

Lucy-Anne Daniels, Vocals

 

A natural performer and creative improviser, Leeds native Lucy-Anne Daniels draws inspiration from singers such as Betty Carter, gospel duo Mary Mary and, most pertinently, Amy Winehouse. At the age of sixteen, Lucy-Anne became the lead vocalist for the Jazz Orchestra and has since performed at various venues and festivals across the country. In September 2020, Lucy-Anne began studying jazz voice at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, receiving tuition from both Sara Colman and Noemi Nutti. Lucy-Anne has matured incredibly since joining the London-based band and has since established herself as an emerging artist on the Birmingham jazz scene in her own right.

 

 

One of the UK’s most in-demand brass instrumentalists, Winston’s credits as a writer, arranger, trombonist and producer reads like a who’s-who of pop iconoclasts: James Brown, Kylie Minogue, Ray Charles, Paloma Faith, Chaka Khan, Jamiroquai, Tom Jones, Spice Girls, Paul McCartney, Cee Lo Green, Laura Mvula, Emeli Sandé, Rag ’n’ Bone Man and, the late-great, Amy Winehouse. Having worked on Amy’s Frank album, Rollins is the perfect conduit through this ambitious marriage of jazz and pop.

For this final performance of Amy Winehouse: A Celebration of Her Life & Music, Olivia will take the reigns from Winston [Rollins] to direct the orchestra for the entirety of the show. A fitting end to what has been an important, formative experience for these burgeoning musicians at the onset of their careers. This is not one to be missed!

Lucy-Anne (EP quote)

“Since joining NYJO, I’m so much more confident as a performer. Especially in terms of being able to entertain and keep the crowd engaged with you. It’s really nice to be able to feel that difference.” 

Lucy-Anne, NYJO Emerging Professional (Vocals)

Georgia (EP quote)

“It’s hard to just learn this music in the practice room but being immersed in the music at NYJO is a great environment to really push my playing. ” 

Georgia Ayew, NYJO Emerging Professional (Drums)

Sam Eastmond (MD quote)

"Giving them space to create whatever they wanted, without setting parameters of idiom or style helped them to conceptualise how they could bring these new concepts into their work without scaring them off, or mystifying the process."

Sam Eastmond, NYJO Educator

Jazzwise quote

"NYJO has never been conformist, never hewing to one particular line, never known for fawning replications and very deliberately these days a vehicle for new possibilities."

Jazzwise Magazine

Lydia (EP quote)

"The past year has been an absolutely incredible experience, pushing me way out of my comfort zone into playing with some of the greatest young jazz players of my generation and getting to call them my colleagues and friends has been beyond inspiring, and also an obscene amount of fun!"

Lydia Cochrane, NYJO Emerging Professional (Saxophone)

Anna (Learning national quote)

"[The NYJO residential in Cumbria] helped me to make friends with other young musicians. I enjoy playing a lot more and I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I feel more confident now. I have learnt different ways of coming up with solid melodies and also a little bit on harmonies. I think it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had."

Anna, NYJO Learning Widening Access participant

Briony (Learning U18s quote)

"I’ve felt very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing musicians, and I think that the environment at NYJO – which has fostered creativity and improvisation – has allowed my confidence and musical ideas to grow."

Briony, NYJO Under 18s

Oscar (Learning U18s quote)

"I think I’ve progressed a lot in my piano-playing. NYJO has helped me to flourish and really enjoy it. I’ve really enjoyed being engrossed in a high level of playing and learning things in a hands-on-way. I also like the diversity of perspectives and abilities of all the players and teachers which enables me to try things I might not normally."

Oscar, NYJO Under 18s

Jennie (Learning U18s quote)

"NYJO has got me listening to more jazz and learning more changes. It has also helped with working as a band. I’ve really enjoyed the free jazz, learning by ear, the people, and the atmosphere."

Jennie, NYJO Under 18s

Leah-Anais (Learning U18s quote)

"I love the people at NYJO. Everyone here is so encouraging and lovely and it makes the experience worthwhile. Though I have fun I’m still learning on the way which makes me feel productive too."

Leah-Anais, NYJO Under 18s

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