16 Jul A day with Jazz musician and composer Alex Hutton
Last week some members of the team traveled down to Wraysbury to meet Jazz musician and composer Alex Hutton who has just completed his fourth album entitled Magna Carta Suite, released on the 13th July. Alex is blessed to live in a beautiful part of the country just across the river from Runnymede, where Magna Carta was signed on 15th June 1215.
Alex is very proud of our English music and heritage, he talked through the ideas behind the album, and explained how the events of that remarkable historic event are captured and portrayed through the journey on the album. A new composition for piano trio and spoken word. A musical journey of ideas exploring the layers of history and landscape from 1215 to 2015 highlighting the influence of Magna Carta as a founding document of the Western traditions of Liberty and Democracy and its influence in the creation of the American Constitution.
The opening track is a homage to the yew tree where the convoy of barons and King John met prior to crossing the river to Runnymede. The tree is very symbolic – 1000 years old at the time of Magna Carta and still standing 800 years on. Its organic and calming presence is then portrayed in the tranquil piece introducing the suite. Alex wanted King John to have his “own piece of music, rather like Henry VIII with Greensleeves.”
The album flows to folk music, Baroque, Classical, but has an exciting, modern interaction, with new technology.
Certainly different from your generic jazz, upon hearing the album for the first time a common consensus is “I didn’t think I liked Jazz, but I like this”
A short walk from Alex’s home takes you to the famous Yew Tree, and Priory where you can really appreciate the unspoiled and serene setting “the calm before the storm” Unlike many places of historical importance it is completely natural not commercialised at all, just a small National Trust plaque indicates that something happened here.
Alex has been busy over the summer performing, and has several upcoming events, he will be appearing on BBC Radio 3 in August. For more details about where you can see Alex visit his website. > http://www.alexhuttonmusic.com/
To read the review in The London Jazz News > http://www.londonjazznews.com/2015/06/cd-review-alex-hutton-trio-magna-carta.html