CHORAL IMPROVISATION AND JAZZ
Country: United Kingdom
This presentation will explore improvisation as a choral group as well as introducing some jazz choral crossover compositions. The session will encourage audience participation and will cover modal thinking, vocal improvisation around modes using pentatonic and blues scales, rhythmic patterns, and the concept of improvisation
British musician Will Todd is well known for his works which span classic choral through to choral jazz crossover and beyond. He has successfully blended jazz and blues into his compositions including the 2003 Mass in Blue, Jazz MIssa Brevis (2016), Passion Music (2018) and many other shorter songs and suites. He is also well known for his shimmering A Capella works including the carols My Lord Has Come, Softly and I Am Changed.
Will has worked with many of the UK’s leading ensembles including The Sixteen, The BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He has had a fruitful collaboration with the award-winning chamber choir Tenebrae with whom he has made the two highly acclaimed albums The Call of Wisdom and Lux et Veritas; the latter was voted one of the top 20 albums of 2014 by Classic FM.Will frequently performs as a jazz pianist, leading the Will Todd Ensemble, and enjoys a close working relationship with the chamber choir St Martin’s Voices.