James Morrison and Co-op Funeralcare to join forces

Australian jazz multi-instrumentalist James Morrison is to perform in concert with Co-op Funeralcare Band.

AUSTRALIAN jazz musician James Morrison is preparing to visit Scotland – and he’ll perform with the country’s champion brass band.

The multi-instrumentalist will take to the stage in Perth Concert Hall on Sunday, November 20, where he will be joined by Scottish champion Co-op Funeralcare Band and conductors, Allan Ramsay and Nigel Boddice MBE.

Morrison will be the star of the show, which begins at 7pm, with lengthy stints in both halves of the evening. He will be accompanied by the band but may also bring along some of his friends from the jazz world to join him for his first visit to Scotland in 20 years.

A spokesman for Co-op Funeralcare Band said: “James Morrison’s appearance alongside the band is a rarity that is not to be missed.

“The visit is no coincidence; in fact, it was down to the tenacity of the band’s conductor and former principal cornet player Allan Ramsay, who managed to persuade him to visit Scotland while in the UK for his guest appearance with the Black Dyke Band at Brass in Concert.

“Allan reminded James that last time he was in Scotland he borrowed his flugelhorn, so he owed him a favour!”

Lovers of traditional brass band repertoire will be able to enjoy Peter Graham’s The Triumph of Time, the test piece at the 2016 British Open Championships at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. The piece returns to the hall where it was premiered after being commissioned by the Black Dyke Band for use at the European Championships in Perth in 2014.

Co-op Funeralcare will reprise items from its winning performance at the Land O’ Burns entertainment contest in Troon including Sandy Smith’s arrangement of Mark Taylor’s Los Hermanos de Bop, a big band tour de force from a man who spent 24 years as the chief arranger for the United States Army Band (also known as Pershing’s Own), and Blue, made famous by Austrian brass septet Mnozil Brass.

Group ticket deals are available. Anyone interested should call the Horsecross box office on 01738 621031 to get one ticket free for every 10 bought. The team will also cap the booking fee at £7.50 when buying five tickets or more.