Trombone virtuoso Chris Jeans will perform the world premiere of Peter Graham's ‘Radio City for Trombone & Piano with Narrator’ at Leicester Grammar School in September.

Originally scored for brass band and soloist, the new showcase arrangement is set to spotlight Chris' virtuosity as well as add a slightly different performance texture with the support of pianist David Whittle and narrator John Barker.

Wonderful work

Chris told 4BR: "I am so grateful to Peter for undertaking this request, which I’m sure, will become a welcome inventive addition to the trombone and piano repertoire.

It’s a wonderful work and a delight to play, and the piano and narrator bring a whole new performance canvas to explore and enjoy."

American reflections

The work reflects the composer’s love of listening to radio broadcasts as he grew up on the west coast of Scotland — especially the short wave programmes that were beamed into the home from across the Atlantic Ocean, filled with the exotic sounds of Americana — from baseball games to official announcements.

It’s a wonderful work and a delight to play, and the piano and narrator bring a whole new performance canvas to explore and enjoyChris Jeans

Nod

The work encapsulates a pastiche nod towards the film noir world of one of the great American detective writers, Philip Marlow, the evocative sounds of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey at the famous Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, and the ‘most exciting two minutes in sport’ — the Kentucky Derby.

Image copyright — Oliver Siddons