Loose Tubes

Loose Tubes was a big band based in Britain during the mid-to-late 1980s.

Overview

Loose Tubes was a 21-piece UK co-operative band that played original music in the 1980s which became the focal point of a renaissance in British Jazz. It spun out of a rehearsal band put together by Graham Collier in 1983 and played its first London gig 1984. Their first album was released in 1985.

Called "...the best instrumentalist of their generation (...) the most important band to appear on the British jazz scene" by Time Out; "...the most impressive young orchestra to have emerged in London..." by the Guardian; "...it's hard to imagine anyone else anywhere producing anything as exciting as this in 1985." by the Times, this exuberant band introduced the world to a new generation of virtuoso musicians. Loose Tubes were voted the Best UK Band in 1989 by the readers of The Wire magazine.

The band drew elements of the whole history of jazz as well as many other styles such as samba and hi-life.

Trombonist Ashley Slater (later frontman of the pop group Freak Power) was the band's compère.

In 1987 Loose Tubes became the first jazz orchestra to play at the Proms, the BBC's annual classical music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall. They also collaborated with the Docklands Sinfonietta. Other high points included a UK tour for the Contemporary Music Network and a legendary residency at Ronnie Scotts, at the end of which they marched out into the streets of Soho at 3 a.m. still playing, with the audience following.

Loose Tubes disbanded in 1990 largely due to an economic crisis in the UK. The collective leadership of the band also became unmanageable.

The legacy of Loose Tubes continues strongly both through its former members, who continue to be leading lights of the UK music scene, and also its inspirational effect on younger musicians. F-IRE Collective founder Barak Schmool, a one time roadie for Loose Tubes, cites Loose Tubes as a formative influence.

In 1991, Django Bates formed his large ensemble Delightful Precipice which includes many musicians from Loose Tubes.

Line Up

*Julian Argüelles, soprano and baritone saxes
*Steve Argüelles, percussion on the first and second albums, then drums and percussion
*Iain Ballamy, soprano and alto saxes
*Chris Batchelor, trumpet
*Django Bates, keyboards
*Steve Berry, bass
*Steve Buckley, soprano and alto saxes
*Steve Day, trombone
*Dave DeFries, trumpet
*John Eacott, trumpet
*Nic France (played drums on the first and second albums)
*John Harborne, trombone
*Lance Kelly, trumpet
*Thebe Lipere, percussion
*Mark Lockheart, tenor and soprano saxes
*John Parricelli, guitar
*Eddie Parker, flutes
*Dave Powell, tuba
*Dai Pritchard, clarinets
*Richard Pywell, trombones
*Ashley Slater, trombone
*Tim Whitehead, tenor sax

The Label

The Loose Tubes label also had albums by duo Human Chain (Bates and Steve Argüelles), quartet the Iains led by Ballamy, a quintet led by Whitehead, a trio led by Steve Berry and a duo with Stan Sulzmann and John Taylor playing the music of Kenny Wheeler.

Discography

*Loose Tubes
*Delightful Precipice
*Open Letter (produced by Teo Macero)
*Loose Tubes: JazzbucheBerlin 87

Film and Television

* Loose Tubes at Bath International Festival May 1986, and in Green Park Station. BBC TWO 3rd January 1987

* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/267654 "Celebration: Loose Tubes"] . Documentary. The 21-piece jazz orchestra its first national tour. The musicians are shown conducting a jazz 'workshop' in Sheffield, as well as performing. Directed by Christopher Swann. Produced by Granada Television. Channel Four, January 1987.

Radio

* "Magnum Opus". Loose Tubes perform at the Logan Hall, London. Sad Africa - 6'35" BATES, Sunny - 5'34" EACOTT, Delightful Precipice - 7'50" BATES, Blue - 7'17" BERRY We Are, Are You? 5'01" HARBORNE, Eden Express - 8'52" BATES, Mo mhuirnin ban - 4'12" TRAD arr. BATCHELOR, Sosbun Brakk 5'43" PARKER Hermeto's Giant Breakfast - 12'24" DEFRIES, Psycopath-a-go-go - 4'48" BERRY, Accepting suites from strangers - 8'25" BATES, Arriving - 4'40" BATCHELOR, Mister Zee - 7'44" BERRY. BBC Radio 3 01/05/1987

* The Proms 1987: Loose Tubes (1) BERRY, Steve "Mister Zee" (2) Eddie PARKER "Sosbun Brakk" (3) CREWE/GAUDIO "Can't take my eyes off you" (4) BATES, Django: "Sweet Williams" (5) BERRY, Steve: "Blue" (6) BATES, Django: "Accepting suites from strangers" (7) Chris BATCHELOR "Sticklebacks" (8) Dave DEFRIES "Open letter to Dudu Pukwana" (9) Chris BATCHELOR "Arriving" (10) BATES, Django: "Yellow hill". BBC Radio 3 30/8/87

References

* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/encyclopaedia/l/L105.HTM MusicWeb Encyclopedia of Popular Music page on Loose Tubes]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/ballamy.html "Converging Philosophies"] , interview with Iain Ballamy by Anil Prasad July 7, 1993 on Innerviews website.

* "Arts (Promenade Concerts): Emphasis on real talents / Review of 'Loose Tubes' At the Albert Hall and on Radio 3", The Times 01/09/1987

* "Arts (Music): Kind of brassy - The 21-strong band Loose Tubes is among the brightest hopes of British jazz", The Times 11/01/1988

ee also

* British jazz