About

Take a step back into the glamorous era of The Great Gatsby, The Cotton Club, Flappers and Speakeasies, for a celebration of the music of The Roaring Twenties and 1930s, a period famed for its style, elegance, wit and sophistication.

Expect a sparkling collection of music and lovingly recreated orchestrations of classics from the likes of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Irving Berlin. The 'Pasadenas', led by suave singer and band leader Duncan Galloway, capture the hot rhythms and sweet melodies of this iconic era. So, pack up your troubles, come on and get happy, and enjoy the music from those most celebrated of decades.
Jess Gillam, award-winning saxophonist, broadcaster and presenter, has carefully crafted an electrifying and diverse programme, SHINE, spanning 900 years of music. It weaves together the dynamism of CPE Bach, the groove of Michael Nyman, the tenderness of Barbara Strozzi and the intimacy and familiarity of folk traditions. Applauded for her 'breath-taking high-wire virtuosity' (The Arts Desk) and her 'unstuffy, inspiring personality' (The Times), Jess introduces the music from the stage. Together with her stellar band of 7 brilliant musicians (think string quartet meets jazz trio with a saxophone at the heart), SHINE pairs well-known classics with new discoveries, capturing the energy and eclecticism of Jess' musical upbringing with some beautifully reflective moments.

We are beguiled by the glittering individual vocal threads, by blocks of sound being passed from choir to choir and overwhelmed by the cumulative power when all voices sing together. It's an extraordinary listening experience and the centrepiece of a programme by early music experts I Fagiolini, who wrap it in Renaissance highlights from England, Italy and Spain for multiple choirs. It's a sequence of opulent yet intricate sacred music that can switch between seductive intimacy and surround-sound grandeur in a heartbeat. '..engulfs the senses just as it must have done in Benevoli's day' wrote BBC Music Magazine (Recording of the Month *****) on an I Fagiolini's recording of his music.