OUT OF THE BLUE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Wirral’s brand-new jazz orchestra has found a
way round the Covid ban on performances and
recorded a fantastic new version of Cole Porter’s
classic ‘Blue Skies’, just using mobile phones.
Like all the best ideas this band just came out of the
blue. Formed in 2019 as a new eighteen-piece outfit
with trumpets, trombones and all the saxes, Out of
the Blue features some of Wirral's best musicians, led
musically by Becky Bell Thomas, who moved to the
Wirral from London's big band scene. Their material
includes blues and jazz standards, with a sprinkling
of R and B and some soul. Stuff you can dance to, if
so inclined…
The band’s founders - Becky, Ian Wray and Nick
Wootton met through playing in the Heswall Concert
band which the energetic Becky also conducts. ‘We
wanted to do more jazz and bluesy material ‘said Ian
who also plays tenor sax and flute in the band. ‘And
we wanted to get a vocalist in’.
As so often in bands things just fell into shape. Ian
had spotted Joan Fearon, a terrific singer, when she
was rehearsing with a pop group in Skelmersdale.
Becky asked her to join and she agreed even though
the material is new to her.
‘We really wanted to secure a residency gig,’ said Ian,
‘and we were fortunate to be introduced to Ray Mia
and Iain Bruce of Jacaranda Records, who were able
to organise a slot at their label headquarters - the
Jacaranda Club in Liverpool’.
So that was it. Becky was introduced to Ray and Iain
and started setting up for a big event after initial gigs
at Williamson Gallery and the Palm House, where
the band got a standing ovation.
Then the virus struck: no gigs, no rehearsing together.
But in addition to running the record label, Ray runs
Jacaranda Studios with an amazing mixing operation
for sound on the iconic club’s top floor. He suggested
we could record something using Dolby on apps on
mobile phones and Jacaranda could mix video and
audio for the band. So OOtB found a way to beat
the ban on public performances, releasing a brandnew
recording of the classic Blue Skies in support
of the Save Our Venues Campaign and beating the
lockdown blues everywhere.
The big band classic, recorded in multiple parts from
the musicians’ own homes with the assistance of citybased
label Jacaranda Records and mixed remotely by
the label’s in-house studio team, features an evocative
vocal from Joan (an NHS physio) and - in addition
to raising funds for the Save Our Venues campaign -
offers a hopeful ray of light for everyone in the wake
of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Becky Bell said: “No independent venues means no
music and no musicians. That would be a disaster
anywhere at any time, but particularly now, and
especially in Liverpool - a city where artists and
melodies are an intrinsic part of the DNA. That’s why
we were determined to do something in support of
the Music Venues Trust’s campaign to keep small
venues across the city and beyond open. Playing
a benefit concert would have been the obvious
solution, but with that currently being impossible, we
instead looked for a way to both support the initiative
and offer a little something for everyone out there
who's desperately looking for a little light at the end
of the tunnel.
"The video is incredibly impressive. It’s staggering
really that you can get an authentic big band sound
recorded down mobile phones from remote locations.
A lot of the credit must go to Ray’s colleagues a
Jacaranda Records who have done a wonderful job
on mixing the sound and assembling the video.
‘Mixing and producing a video had to be done under
pretty challenging circumstances and they pitched in
without hesitation’ said Becky.
Jacaranda Records Capomaestro Ray Mia said:
“We are 100% behind this. Who doesn’t like a Big
Band? This is an incredibly tough time for the music
community, but our mission to support artists and
the wider music industry in Liverpool remains
unchanged and actually has become more focused
and more vocal. We run an iconic venue, and we’re
thinking outside of the box in preparation for when
we all get unshackled (safely) from the lockdown. We
wanted to give OOtb a home at The Jacaranda, we
will provide a home for jazz and blues fans... just you
wait and see... plus we wanted to add our spin on the
lockdown videos being curated - and we wanted to
give a shout out to all the blues and jazz fans out there
with a classic track
“Part of our mission is to work with small
independent venues across the country and for many,
the lockdown threatens to be a challenge too far.
These people are not competitors - they’re brothers
in arms, and if there’s anything we can do to help
support them through these tough times then we
will do it without hesitation. We know we’re all facing
tough times right now, and we know the priority is to
focus on the frontline and key workers, we like any
other industry are having to adjust and adapt, but one
thing is for sure - we will be the heart and soul of the
social recovery that will happen... when we can all go
out and enjoy the company of friends and punters at
a blues and jazz gig in the cellar of The Jacaranda -
or any live music performance at any small venue,
this will be the bell-weather moment that signals a
return to some form of normalcy... or indeed the new
normal, like the song says - ‘Blue days all of them
gone, nothin' but blue skies from now on”
Nobody knows how long it will be before musicians
can start playing again. Becky comments: ‘The real
task over the last 100 days has been keeping the band
together and keeping everyone’s spirits up. We meet
every week for a chat and a quiz on Zoom and getting
the video moving has been terrific news.’ The video
and audio has now featured on BBC TV, the Guide
Liverpool website and Jazz FM.
Next steps will feature more remote recording and
rehearsing so that the whole band is ready to hit the
ground with an inaugural gig at the Jacaranda with
a special thank you for all those who have helped
with the recording and the band’s new friends in the
media.
You can see the video here:
https://youtu.be/dP-KkkoE4mM
For more information email:
[email protected] or visit
https://www.outofthebluejazzorchestra.co.uk/
BECKY BELL THOMAS
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, OUT OF THE BLUE
Becky’s love for all things musical began at
secondary school in Nottingham, where she
learned to play the clarinet and saxophone.
From the age of fourteen she joined her first big
band, The Brassery, which was to be influential
in shaping her career in music.
Whilst studying music at the University of
Hull, Becky founded her first big band in 2001,
Hull University Big Band. Having enjoyed the
management and administration involved in
running a band Becky embarked on a career
in arts management in London, completing a
master’s degree in Arts Management in 2007.
During her time in London Becky worked at
the Royal College of Music and the creative
arts company Heart n Soul. Whilst in London
Becky continued her passion for big band jazz
and musicals. She conducted and managed a
successful big band, and also performed or took
on the role of musical director for numerous
productions. Moving to the Wirral in 2014 with
her young family Becky has pursued a career
in instrumental teaching. She greatly enjoys
encouraging the next generation of musicians.
TED FORD
MEMBER, OUT OF THE BLUE
Out of the Blue Jazz Orchestra has played a
significant part in the development of one
Wirral musician. Ted Ford, a 17-year-old multiinstrumentalist
has started his own YouTube
channel to showcase his musical journey.
Ted began playing piano and alto saxophone at
the age of seven. As his love for music grew, his
thirst to explore other instruments did too and
in the last few years he has learnt to play bass
guitar, guitar, drums and baritone saxophone.
Ted has used lockdown wisely and has begun
to unravel the complexities of video recording,
releasing ‘Ted Ford in the Junk Room’ channel
on YouTube. They feature Ted and only Ted
playing every instrument on popular covers.
The videos are enhanced that little bit more by
Ted adding the trumpet and trombone to his
already admirable list of instruments. He hopes
to develop the channel by adding self-penned
arrangements to his repertoire.
As well as Out of the Blue, Ted is part of Swing
Era Swing Band playing the baritone saxophone.
This chap is definitely one to watch.
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