While piecing together the elements for this big band two things kept coming to mind. Firstly, how our teachers, mentors and musical forebears keep some kind of watch over us, invisible guardians that continue to inspire and protect us and push us ever onward to new musical experiences. Secondly, I wanted to pay a little homage to the larger ensembles of previous generations, some of which I was lucky enough to see live; Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Mike Westbrook Band, Tony Oxley’s Celebration Orchestra, Jazz Warriors, Barry Guy’s London Jazz Composers Orchestra, John Stevens Spontaneous Music Orchestra, Stan Tracey Genesis Orchestra, the big bands of Louis Moholo-Moholo, Simon H. Fell, Howard Riley, Keith Tippett and others. Fortunately, these sixteen wonderful players agreed to join me on this journey, themselves representing the rich pool of contemporary performers the music is lucky to have. – Mark Wastell

Matthew Bourne / piano
Binker Golding / tenor & soprano saxophone
Rachel Musson / tenor & soprano saxophone
Ed Jones / tenor saxophone & bass clarinet
Sue Lynch / flute, clarinet
Ntshuks Bonga / alto saxophone
Kevin G Davy / trumpet, flugelhorn
Charlotte Keefe / trumpet, flugelhorn
Raph Clarkson / trombone
Dominic Lash / double bass
Caius Williams / double bass
Tara Cunningham / electric guitar
Jackie Walduck / vibraphone
Ansuman Biswas / percussion
Lascelle Gordon / percussion
Will Glaser / drums, cymbals
Mark Wastell / drums, cymbals