Brassworks
Finale
@ Woolwich
Works
Recipes Used:
You like Jazz?
I like Jazz.
So when I saw that Woolwich Works were hosting Brassworks Finale – the culmination of a wider celebration of Jazz – I jumped straight into the E-Mails to see if I could get a pass.
And I did! But even then I didn’t quite know what I was getting into. I was perfectly fine to pull up for the main event and call that a post but as it turned out, Woolwich Works had a little forecourt where people can pull up for free, enjoy the weather and listen to some live music.
Combine that with it being the last day of Summer and you got yourself a wonderful last hurrah.
Let’s jump in!
We begin with a few shots of the trip there which included a stint on the DLR which is my favourite mode of public transport next to the Overground. The Sun was hitting nice at this point in the day, although rain did make itself known later on.
More of those to come but we have our first bit of music: Bollywood Brass Band.
Even though they had significant issues with their monitors, they were faultless and got people dancing.
We had a little wait between, so I sat in the big tent in the back end of the space and slowed down my picture taking.
But then we have the next group in She’s Got Brass, an all-female band that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
Things moved swiftly on to Byron Wallen. I say swiftly, it was far from that for me because at this point I needed to eat but totally forgot there was an assortment of food stalls outside.
They closed up before I remembered…
Shout out to the little Black girl in the last mini-set. She was messing with the music; it’s nice to know that there’s youth out there that appreciate Jazz!
It was then time for the main event. The Brassworks Finale.
Yes, everything up to now has been the appetiser.
We begin with an artist that I have loved for years and was very excited to see & capture her: Saxophonist Camilla George.
Next up was Trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi – member of UK Jazz leaders Ezra Collective – and backed with an a Black on Black ensemble of brothers.
The penultimate set comes from Theon Cross who specialises in the Tuba.
You read that right, Tuba-led Jazz. If you haven’t listened to his music before I highly encourage it. Nothing like it. One of the photographers also there was amazed.
Lastly was the ever-consistent group in Steam Down, along with the NYJO Brass Band! Shout out to Taylor – a young Trombone player in the NYJO – who I got to talking to during the prior sets.
And that was my day in Woolwich!
I’m very grateful for being encouraged to be there for the day sets, I really enjoyed the atmosphere throughout. The kids playing about, birthdays being celebrated, all under the background of Jazz music being played.
A very poetic last day of the Summer.
Charlie Taylor
chillicharlie.taylor@gmail.com
Born in Camden, North London.
Bred in Leigh-On-Sea, Essex.
Screenwriter/Podcaster/Photographer/
Hip-Hop Student.