Irwin Mitchell MJF Originals commission winner announced

Pianist and composer Andy Stamatakis-Brown has been announced as the 2017 recipient of the Irwin Mitchell MJF Originals commission.

His work, Cottonopolis, will be premiered at this year's MJF which takes place between 28th July and 6th August.

From the MJF website...

His winning concept for mjf originals – entitled ‘Cottonopolis’ – will explore other iconic aspects of Manchester’s colourful past; its role as the power-house of the industrial revolution, and as the happening heart-beat of the dance music scene. ‘Cottonopolis’ will bring the noise and clatter of a 19th century mill and the excitement and atmosphere of a contemporary club night to manchester jazz festival.  The ensemble, drawn mostly from the Manchester Jazz Collective, will showcase the variety of talented players on the Manchester scene.

Andy Stamatakis-Brown said: “I am thrilled to have been awarded the Irwin Mitchell mjf originals2017 commission.  It gives me the opportunity to bring together so many creative people from different parts of my life to present this project. manchester jazz festival gives us a high profile platform to share the sort of thing we like doing – working together to produce an unusually interesting and exciting night out.”

This exceptional, night-long experience of weird and wonderful entertainment will take place in a surprise location in Manchester, with DJs from Space Cassette, and archive and live video projections – developed by Blain Cousin and Ric Lowe from Norvun Devolution – providing an evocative backdrop to a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.

Manchester Jazz Festival’s Artistic Director, Steve Mead, said: “Cottonopolis looks set to become yet another milestone in a long line of ground-breaking new pieces that audiences can savour in this year’s festival programme. I’m especially excited about Andy’s idea to integrate a historical subject close to Manchester’s heart with creative artists from the city’s vibrant DJ and VJ cultures and – of course – a formidable line-up of musicians from the north’s inspirational jazz scene.”

For more information, visit the MJF website.