Romeo & Juliet Jazz Suite



Romeo and Juliet

.For octet and voice in fourteen parts.

COMPOSER JAMES RUSSELL

This piece was premiered at the Peoples Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne on 29/30 of September 2000 and over 400 jazz and non- jazz enthusiasts attended. The suite was commissioned by the Peoples after James Russell, a graduate of Leeds College of Music had composed some opening and incidental music for a Peoples production of the same play. The suite featured nine young musicians including Andrew Colman ( Young Jazz Musician of the year 1999) all performing the suite on stage.
Romeo and Juiliet
Support from Northern Arts, local businesses, and the Peoples Theatre were instrumental in this project.

Romeo and Juliet

The fourteen numbers, in two acts, depict beautifully this classic love story, and the musicians draw the audience through the play to it’s tragic and emotional conclusion.
Appealing as it does to many types of audience be they lovers of jazz or theatre this is a truly unique and passionate piece which works best in a theatrical space, but can also be performed in jazz venues.


Following it’s premier the piece was subsequently performed at Live Theatre and then toured both in the North East and nationally, culminating in a performance at the Chester Jazz Festival at Chester Gateway Theatre.

Available for Jazz or Shakespeare festivals.

Romeo and Juliet

Programme;
ACT 1.
1. HAVE AT THEE COWARD - JAMES RUSSELL
2. SAD HOURS SEEM LONG - JAMES RUSSELL
3. (go girl) SEEK HAPPY NIGHTS TO HAPPY DAYS - JAMES RUSSELL
4. QUEEN MAB (true I talk of dreams) - JOHNNY LAING
5. COME MUSICIANS PLAY - JAMES RUSSELL
6. IT IS THE EAST AND JULIET IS THE SUN - JAMES RUSSELL
7. BENEDICITE - JAMES RUSSELL
8. SCURVY NAVE.(so smile the heaven upon this holy act) - JAMES RUSSELL

INTERVAL

ACT 2.
1. A CURSE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES - JAMES RUSSELL
2. GALLOP APACE - JOHNNY LAING
3. HIE YOU MAKE HASTE/ FOR IT GROWS LATE - JOHNNY LAING
4. IT WAS THE LARK/ YOU ARE TOO HOT - JAMES RUSSELL
5. ODE TO JULIET - KATE BOTTOMLEY ARR. J.RUSSELL/ J. LAING
6. THUS WITH A KISS I DIE - JAMES RUSSELL

"excellent writing...fine soloists"
Chris Yates, Jazz Northeast Ltd, Radio Newcastle.
"intensely moving....superb"
Peter Lathan, www.britishtheatre.about.com
   
"If the Romeo and Juliet Jazz Suite is representative of young musicians and composers, then U.K. jazz has a secure future."
Mike Jamieson, Jazz Correspondent, Newcastle Journal.