Not just a jazzer!

I don’t usually watch the BBC proms, but this evening I was at a loose end looking after my 3 month old son, and it just happened to be the most interesting thing on the television. I had no idea about the piece being performed other than its composer was also playing the piano part.

I have to say that I found this quasi-concerto with its fusion of ‘Jazz’ and ‘Classical’ almost physically nauseating and utterly depressing. It reminded me why I don’t watch the Proms, and particularly why I don’t pay much attention to the British ‘contemporary classical’ music scene in general. To me it seems more concerned with identifying the next ‘rising star’ and being ‘accessible to audiences’ than it is with genuine innovation or artistic interest.

By the way, the piece was Progressions for piano and orchestra by ‘New Generation Artist’ Gwilym Simcock, apparently hailed by Chick Corea as a ‘creative genius’. Give me a break.