BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Jazz Line-Up

Music: Jazz & Blues

Programme exploring jazz music, focussing both on established, mainstream players and on the new generation of younger artists

Jazz Line-Up: Colin Towns

Colin Towns

31/01/2010

BBC Radio 3 - Jazz Line-Up, Colin Towns

Julian Joseph talks to composer and arranger Colin Towns about his latest project.

Julian Joseph talks to prolific composer and arranger Colin Towns about his latest project, which features arrangements of the music of Miles Davis.

London born Colin Towns began his music career playing piano in various UK based jazz ensembles. Since then he has gone on to front some of the most innovative and exciting big bands in Europe - the Hamburg based NDR Big Band, Frankfurt's HR Big band and the Colin Towns Mask Orchestra.
In this edition of Jazz Line-Up Julian Joseph talks to Colin Towns about his latest project, where he arranged the music of Miles Davis, particularly during his Electric period with the HR Big Band as well as his continuing work with his own Mask Orchestra.
Formed in 1990, the Colin Towns Mask Orchestra is a rhythmically infectious 19-piece big band presenting some of the greatest and most important new and established players in jazz today. Band members over the years have included: Dave Hartley, Julian Arguelles, Alan Skidmore, Nigel Hitchcock, Henry Lowther, John Parricelli, Ian Thomas and Guy Barker.

Title:Rag
Artist:Mark Lockheart And the NDR Big Band
Album:Days Like These
Label:Fuzzy Moon FUZ 003
Track:1
Comp:Mark Lockheart
Publ.MCPS/PRS
Dur:07.42

Title:The Serpent
Artist:Martin Drew And The Jazz Couriers
(Martin Drew, Drums/Mornington Lockett, Sax/Nigel Hitchcock, Sax/Steve Melling, Piano/Andrew Gleyndert, Double Bass)
Album:Celebrating The Jazz Couriers Vol. 2
Label:Trio Records TR 561
Track:2
Comp:Tubby Hayes
Publ.MCPS
Dur:11.03

Title:The Game Is Afoot
Artist:Alan Barnes (with Mark Nightingale, Trombone/Bruce Adams, Trumpet/Robert Fowler and Stan Sulzman, Tenor Saxes/Dave Newton, Piano/Simon Thorpe, Bass/Clark Tracey, Drums)
Album:The Sherlock Holmes Suite
Label:Woodville Records WVCD 103
Track:3
Comp:Alan Barnes
Publ.Woodville Records
Dur:06.00

Title:Cielito Lindo
Artist:Ed Thigpen
Album:Out of the Storm
Label:Polygram CD 557100
Track:1
Comp:Carlos Fernandez
Publ.n/a
Dur:04.39

Title:Thag's Dance
Artist:Oscar Peterson (with Ed Thigpen, Drums/Ray Brown, Bass)
Album:The Sound of the Trio
Label:Verve VLP 9023
Track:4
Comp:Oscar Peterson
Publ.Regal
Dur:05.44

Title:Bitches Brew/Spanish Key
Artist:Colin Towns/HR Big Band
Album:Visions of Miles
Label:In And Out Records IOR CD 77101 - 2
Track:1
Comp:Miles Davis/Arr. Colin Towns
Publ.Gema
Dur:01.54

Title:Back Seat Betty
Artist:Colin Towns/HR Big Band
Album:Visions of Miles
Label:In And Out Records IOR CD 77101 - 2
Track:15
Comp:Miles Davis/Arr. Colin Towns
Publ.Gema
Dur:04.33

Title:Fast Track
Artist:Colin Towns/HR Big Band
Album:Visions of Miles
Label:In And Out Records IOR CD 77101 - 2
Track:14
Comp:Miles Davis/Arr. Colin Towns
Publ.Gema
Dur:04.23

Title:Tutu
Artist:Colin Towns/HR Big Band
Album:Visions of Miles
Label:In And Out Records IOR CD 77101 - 2
Track:15
Comp:Miles Davis/Arr. Colin Towns
Publ.Gema
Dur:07.06

Title:Vertigo/Laura
Artist:Enrico Rava and Ran Blake
Album:Duo En Noir
Label:Between the Lines BTLCHR 7122428
Track:2
Comp:Bernard Herrmann/David Raksin
Publ.BMG/20TH Century Music
Dur:04.44.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Jazz Line-Up

Colin Towns

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3