One of Chester's premier choirs is concluding its current season with a special jazz-themed concert. The Chester Bach Singers will present 'Spring Jazz' at 4pm on Saturday, May 16 at the Wesley Church Centre in Chester city centre.
The concert program includes Will Todd's 'Jazz Missa Brevis', Bob Chilcott's arrangements of 'The House of the Rising Sun', 'Scarborough Fair', and five Japanese Poems — 'Furusato', plus a performance of 'I Carry Your Heart With Me', featuring music composed by the choir's Musical Director Joseph Judge from a poem by E E Cummings.
The Chester Bach Singers will be accompanied throughout the concert by a Jazz Trio of piano, bass, and drums, with musical direction by Joseph Judge.
One of the highlights of this special concert will be a performance of Will Todd's 'Jazz Missa Brevis', following a successful workshop earlier this year led by the composer himself. Originally written in 2015 for the choir of Portsmouth Cathedral, this unique take on the traditional sung Latin Mass is underpinned by Todd's characteristic jazz harmonies and melodic craftsmanship, embracing a variety of jazz styles.
Speaking about the concert, Helen Crich, Chair of Chester Bach Singers, said: 'Come and join us on May 16th at the Wesley Church Centre for the final concert of our current season. We have an exciting and varied programme of music in a range of styles, as is the tradition for our annual Spring/Summer event.'
'Alongside Will Todd's 'Jazz Missa Brevis', we are delighted to be performing Bob Chilcott's arrangements of 'The House of the Rising Sun' and 'Scarborough Fair' and his arrangements of five Japanese poems, 'Furusato'. We will also be performing 'I Carry Your Heart With Me', with music composed by our Musical Director Joseph Judge.'
'We will complete our programme with three songs in Hindi — 'Sŭnāō' which reflect on the power of listening and connection. We hope you will enjoy hearing them as much as we enjoy singing them; this concert is the perfect way to swing into Summer.'
Plans are also at an advanced stage for celebrations to mark the choir's 50th anniversary, with details set to be unveiled at the start of the choir's new season.
Full details of 'Spring Jazz' can be found at www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk where tickets can be purchased online.
