Loose Tubes
Encyclopedia
Loose Tubes was a British
jazz
big band
/orchestra
active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to be
the focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz (alongside The Jazz Warriors). It was the main launchpad for the careers of many future leading British jazz players including Django Bates
, Iain Ballamy
, Eddie Parker
, Julian
and Steve Argüelles
, Steve Berry, Tim Whitehead
and Ashley Slater
.
in 1983. During the first few weeks of the workshop, keyboard player Django Bates
and bass player Steve Berry began to introduce original music to the ensemble. Under the supervision of workshop administrator-turned-manager Colin Lazzerini, the ensemble chose the name Loose Tubes and played its first London gig in 1984.
The band was notable for its size (averaging 21 players) and was run as a co-operative without a single clear leader. While Bates, Berry and trumpeter Chris Batchelor
were responsible for a great deal of the music, there were also composing contributions from flute player Eddie Parker
, trumpeters Dave DeFries
and John Eacott, as well as trombonist John Harborne. During live concerts, trombonist Ashley Slater
(later to become frontman of the pop group Freak Power) acted as the band's compère
and became renowned for his sarcastic wit.
and hi-life. During its existence, the band was garlanded with critical praise. Time Out referred to them as "the most important band to appear on the British jazz scene" and hailed them as "the best instrumentalists of their generation." The Guardian called them "the most impressive young orchestra to have emerged in London", while The Times claimed "it's hard to imagine anyone else anywhere producing anything as exciting as this in 1985." Loose Tubes were voted the Best UK Band in 1989 by the readers of The Wire magazine.
The band were openly irreverent, with a strong sense of fun, and made a sense of humour an important component of their music. This occasionally led to criticism.
, the BBC's
annual classical music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall
. They also collaborated with the Docklands Sinfonietta. Other high points included a UK tour for the Contemporary Music Network and a legendary residency at Ronnie Scotts, at the end of which they marched out into the streets of Soho at 3 a.m. still playing, with the audience following.
Loose Tubes released three albums between 1985 and 1989 - Loose Tubes
, Delightful Precipice and Open Letter
. The last of these was produced by legendary engineer and Miles Davis
collaborator Teo Macero
who commented "These guys are interested in real composition, real melodies, not just being super hip. I haven't seen a young band in the US that wants to do things like that." A live album, Loose Tubes: JazzbucheBerlin 87 was also released.
In addition, the band set up their own Loose Tubes record label. The label released albums by the Human Chain
duo (Bates and Steve Argüelles), The Iains (a quartet led by Iain Ballamy), a quintet led by Tim Whitehead, a trio led by Steve Berry
and a duo with Stan Sulzmann
and John Taylor
playing the music of Kenny Wheeler
.
In 2010, twenty years after the band had disbanded, Django Bates announced that he would be releasing a Loose Tubes live album called Dancing on Frith Street on his own label Lost Marble Recordings. The recordings were made at Ronnie Scotts during the band's last week of live activity in 1990. Dancing on Frith Street is scheduled for release on September 27, 2010.
founder Barak Schmool, a one time roadie for Loose Tubes, cites Loose Tubes as a formative influence.
In 1991, Django Bates
formed his large ensemble Delightful Precipice
which includes many musicians from Loose Tubes and is in certain respects a continuation of their work (albeit one with a single leader).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
/orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to be
the focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz (alongside The Jazz Warriors). It was the main launchpad for the careers of many future leading British jazz players including Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
, Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
, Eddie Parker
Eddie Parker (musician)
Eddie Parker is an English jazz flautist and composer.As well as being one of Britain's leading jazz flautists, Eddie is a multi-instrumentalist and often plays keyboards during live performances and workshops....
, Julian
Julian Argüelles
Julian Argüelles is a saxophonist. He is currently a member of the HR Big Band in Frankfurt am Main, Germany....
and Steve Argüelles
Steve Argüelles
Steve Argüelles is an English jazz drummer, producer and is the boss of the record label . He has also worked in film and theatre. He is the elder brother of saxophonist Julian Argüelles...
, Steve Berry, Tim Whitehead
Tim Whitehead
Tim Whitehead is an American ice hockey coach. Whitehead is currently the head coach of the University of Maine. He has led the Black Bears to two championship game appearances. Previously, he was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell....
and Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
.
Origins
The band originated from a jazz workshop put together by the celebrated British jazz composer and educator Graham CollierGraham Collier
James Graham Collier OBE was an English jazz bassist, bandleader and composer.-Life and career:Born in Tynemouth, Northumberland, on leaving school Collier joined the British Army as a musician, spending three years in Hong Kong...
in 1983. During the first few weeks of the workshop, keyboard player Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
and bass player Steve Berry began to introduce original music to the ensemble. Under the supervision of workshop administrator-turned-manager Colin Lazzerini, the ensemble chose the name Loose Tubes and played its first London gig in 1984.
The band was notable for its size (averaging 21 players) and was run as a co-operative without a single clear leader. While Bates, Berry and trumpeter Chris Batchelor
Chris Batchelor
Chris Batchelor is a jazz trumpeter and composer. He gained his first professional experience with Dudu Pukwana's Zila aged 17, at the suggestion of Harry Beckett. He subsequently became a founder member,composer and soloist with Loose Tubes, contributing many pieces to the repertoire of the band...
were responsible for a great deal of the music, there were also composing contributions from flute player Eddie Parker
Eddie Parker
Eddie Parker was a stuntman and actor who appeared in many classic films, mostly westerns and horror films...
, trumpeters Dave DeFries
Dave DeFries
David DeFries is a British jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and percussionist born in London, UK, probably best known for having been a member of Brotherhood of Breath founded by Chris McGregor....
and John Eacott, as well as trombonist John Harborne. During live concerts, trombonist Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
(later to become frontman of the pop group Freak Power) acted as the band's compère
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
and became renowned for his sarcastic wit.
Style, impact and rise
Loose Tubes' music was drawn from elements of the whole history of jazz as well as many other musical styles such as sambaSamba (ballroom)
Among ballroom dances, samba is a lively, rhythmical one. It is related to the traditional samba styles of Brazil, but differs from them considerably. Its music is in 2/4 or 4/4 time.-Origins:...
and hi-life. During its existence, the band was garlanded with critical praise. Time Out referred to them as "the most important band to appear on the British jazz scene" and hailed them as "the best instrumentalists of their generation." The Guardian called them "the most impressive young orchestra to have emerged in London", while The Times claimed "it's hard to imagine anyone else anywhere producing anything as exciting as this in 1985." Loose Tubes were voted the Best UK Band in 1989 by the readers of The Wire magazine.
The band were openly irreverent, with a strong sense of fun, and made a sense of humour an important component of their music. This occasionally led to criticism.
Success
In 1987 Loose Tubes became the first jazz orchestra to play at the PromsThe Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
, the BBC's
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
annual classical music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. They also collaborated with the Docklands Sinfonietta. Other high points included a UK tour for the Contemporary Music Network and a legendary residency at Ronnie Scotts, at the end of which they marched out into the streets of Soho at 3 a.m. still playing, with the audience following.
Loose Tubes released three albums between 1985 and 1989 - Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes (album)
Loose Tubes is the debut album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the Loose Tubes Limited record label as an LP in 1985...
, Delightful Precipice and Open Letter
Open Letter (Loose Tubes album)
Open Letter is the third album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the EG label in 1988.Allmusic gives the album 3 out of 5 stars.-Track listing:# "Sweet Williams" – 8:54...
. The last of these was produced by legendary engineer and Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
collaborator Teo Macero
Teo Macero
Teo Macero , born Attilio Joseph Macero, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer...
who commented "These guys are interested in real composition, real melodies, not just being super hip. I haven't seen a young band in the US that wants to do things like that." A live album, Loose Tubes: JazzbucheBerlin 87 was also released.
In addition, the band set up their own Loose Tubes record label. The label released albums by the Human Chain
Human Chain
Human Chain is a British jazz quartet led by composer and keyboard virtuoso Django Bates. The band has been Bates’s main musical outlet since 1990 and has performed on most of his albums....
duo (Bates and Steve Argüelles), The Iains (a quartet led by Iain Ballamy), a quintet led by Tim Whitehead, a trio led by Steve Berry
Steve Berry
Steve Berry is an American author, professor and former attorney currently living in St. Augustine, Florida. He is a graduate of Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law....
and a duo with Stan Sulzmann
Stan Sulzmann
Stanley Ernest Sulzmann is an English jazz saxophonist.Sulzmann began on saxophone at age 13 and played in Bill Ashton's London Youth Jazz Orchestra, later the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music from 1969-1972...
and John Taylor
John Taylor (jazz)
John Taylor is a British jazz pianist; he has occasionally performed on the organ and the synthesiser. He is one of Europe's most celebrated jazz pianists and composers.-Performing career:...
playing the music of Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC is a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. since the 1950s....
.
Disbandment
Loose Tubes disbanded in 1990, largely due to the difficulty in financially sustaining and organising such a large ensemble of musicians (a situation not helped by the contemporary economic crisis in the UK). The collective leadership of the band had also became unmanageable and it was time for many of the musicians to move onto more focussed individual careers. Saxophonist Iain Ballamy later reflected "It kind of reached the stage where the band had to change a lot — and nobody could change it — or it had to end so something new could come along. And that’s what happened."In 2010, twenty years after the band had disbanded, Django Bates announced that he would be releasing a Loose Tubes live album called Dancing on Frith Street on his own label Lost Marble Recordings. The recordings were made at Ronnie Scotts during the band's last week of live activity in 1990. Dancing on Frith Street is scheduled for release on September 27, 2010.
Legacy
The legacy of Loose Tubes continues strongly both through its former members, who continue to be leading lights of the UK music scene, and also its inspirational effect on younger musicians. F-IRE CollectiveF-IRE Collective
F-IRE Collective is a creative music community founded by Barak Schmool in London, United Kingdom. Additionally, the Collective also has a record label....
founder Barak Schmool, a one time roadie for Loose Tubes, cites Loose Tubes as a formative influence.
In 1991, Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
formed his large ensemble Delightful Precipice
Delightful Precipice
Delightful Precipice is a 19-piece British jazz big band/orchestra led by Django Bates.Delightful Precipice contains many individual solo artists, music educators and bandleaders as ensemble members, including Julian Arguelles, Iain Ballamy, Eddie Parker, Steve Buckley, Mark Lockheart, Barak...
which includes many musicians from Loose Tubes and is in certain respects a continuation of their work (albeit one with a single leader).
Band members
- Julian ArgüellesJulian ArgüellesJulian Argüelles is a saxophonist. He is currently a member of the HR Big Band in Frankfurt am Main, Germany....
, soprano and baritone saxes - Steve ArgüellesSteve ArgüellesSteve Argüelles is an English jazz drummer, producer and is the boss of the record label . He has also worked in film and theatre. He is the elder brother of saxophonist Julian Argüelles...
, percussion on the first and second albums, then drums and percussion - Iain BallamyIain BallamyIain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
, soprano and alto saxes - Chris BatchelorChris BatchelorChris Batchelor is a jazz trumpeter and composer. He gained his first professional experience with Dudu Pukwana's Zila aged 17, at the suggestion of Harry Beckett. He subsequently became a founder member,composer and soloist with Loose Tubes, contributing many pieces to the repertoire of the band...
, trumpet - Django BatesDjango BatesDjango Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
, keyboards - Steve Berry, bass
- Steve BuckleySteve BuckleySteve Buckley is a British jazz musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who is most often heard playing alto, soprano and tenor saxophones, penny whistle and bass clarinet....
, soprano and alto saxes - Steve Day, trombone and euphonium
- Dave DeFriesDave DeFriesDavid DeFries is a British jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and percussionist born in London, UK, probably best known for having been a member of Brotherhood of Breath founded by Chris McGregor....
, trumpet - John EacottJohn EacottJohn Eacott is a British composer and Principal Lecturer in Music at the University of Westminster.-Life:Eacott's career started in the 1980s with anarchic jazzers Loose Tubes, post-industrial metal bashers Test Dept, Roman Holliday, acid jazz group Vibraphonic, and a diverse array of artists...
, trumpet - Nic France (played drums on the first and second albums)
- John Harborne, trombone
- Lance Kelly, trumpet
- Thebe Lipere, percussion
- Mark LockheartMark LockheartMark Lockheart is a British jazz tenor saxophonist who came to prominence as a member of the Loose Tubes big band during the 1980s....
, tenor and soprano saxes - Julian Nicholas, tenor and soprano saxes
- John ParricelliJohn ParricelliJohn Parricelli is a jazz guitarist, appearing and recording mainly in the United Kingdom.Parricelli began his career as a guitarist in 1982 and was one of the founding members of the British big band Loose Tubes, with whom he recorded three albums...
, guitar - Eddie ParkerEddie Parker (musician)Eddie Parker is an English jazz flautist and composer.As well as being one of Britain's leading jazz flautists, Eddie is a multi-instrumentalist and often plays keyboards during live performances and workshops....
, flutes - Dave Powell, tuba
- Dai Pritchard, clarinets
- Richard Pywell, trombones
- Ashley SlaterAshley SlaterAshley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
, trombone - Tim WhiteheadTim WhiteheadTim Whitehead is an American ice hockey coach. Whitehead is currently the head coach of the University of Maine. He has led the Black Bears to two championship game appearances. Previously, he was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell....
, tenor sax
Discography
- Loose TubesLoose Tubes (album)Loose Tubes is the debut album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the Loose Tubes Limited record label as an LP in 1985...
(1985) - Delightful Precipice (1986)
- Open LetterOpen Letter (Loose Tubes album)Open Letter is the third album by the English big band Loose Tubes, that was released on the EG label in 1988.Allmusic gives the album 3 out of 5 stars.-Track listing:# "Sweet Williams" – 8:54...
(1988) - Loose Tubes: JazzbucheBerlin 87
- Dancing on Frith Street (Lost Marble, 2010) – live album recorded at Ronnie Scott'sRonnie Scott's Jazz ClubRonnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
Sept 1990]
Film and television
- Loose Tubes at Bath International Festival May 1986, and in Green Park Station. BBC TWO 3 January 1987
- "Celebration: Loose Tubes". Documentary. The 21-piece jazz orchestra its first national tour. The musicians are shown conducting a jazz 'workshop' in Sheffield, as well as performing. Directed by Christopher Swann. Produced by Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
. Channel Four, January 1987.
Radio
- "Magnum Opus". Loose Tubes perform at the Logan Hall, London. Sad Africa - 6'35" BATES, Sunny - 5'34" EACOTT, Delightful Precipice - 7'50" BATES, Blue - 7'17" BERRY We Are, Are You? 5'01" HARBORNE, Eden Express - 8'52" BATES, Mo mhuirnin ban - 4'12" TRAD arr. BATCHELOR, Sosbun Brakk 5'43" PARKER Hermeto's Giant Breakfast - 12'24" DEFRIES, Psycopath-a-go-go - 4'48" BERRY, Accepting suites from strangers - 8'25" BATES, Arriving - 4'40" BATCHELOR, Mister Zee - 7'44" BERRY. BBC Radio 3 01/05/1987
- The Proms 1987: Loose Tubes (1) BERRY, Steve "Mister Zee" (2) Eddie PARKER "Sosbun Brakk" (3) CREWE/GAUDIO "Can't take my eyes off you" (4) BATES, Django: "Sweet Williams" (5) BERRY, Steve: "Blue" (6) BATES, Django: "Accepting suites from strangers" (7) Chris BATCHELOR "Sticklebacks" (8) Dave DEFRIES "Open letter to Dudu Pukwana" (9) Chris BATCHELOR "Arriving" (10) BATES, Django: "Yellow hill". BBC Radio 3 30/8/87