Exciting times at JAM: a new, beautiful website launched on John Armitage’s birthday nearly 20 years after his death; the first concert on 2017 coming up next week and the soft-launch of JAM on the Marsh 2017.
Our annual Music of Our Time concert will be a cracker, featuring nine living composers. Six of the pieces we are performing came through our annual Call for Music, we celebrate Paul Patterson’s 70th birthday and we include two JAM commissions: the London premiere of Thomas LaVoy’s O Great Beyond (2016) and Adam Gorb’s Thoughts Scribbled on a Blank Wall (2007). The latter is an extraordinary work based on the experiences endured by the journalist, John McCarthy, as a prisoner in various Lebanese jails between 1986 and 1991.
I will never forget seeing John McCarthy leaving the plane that brought him home after five years and his slightly embarrassed first words: “Well, hello”. St Bride’s was where many vigils were held for John during his time in prison. It is also where we premiered Thoughts Scribbled on a Blank Wall ten years ago, with John in the audience. It’s amazing to announce that John McCarthy will be joining us for the concert on Thursday, again at St Bride’s, ten years on, along with the composer, Adam Gorb and librettist, Ben Kaye. We have a very emotional night in store.
Please have a look at the new site for loads of info and tickets for Music of Our Time.