Grand Union Orchestra

Music

Grand Union has been recording music for the last 25 years. Our recordings are available on CD from our online shop.

Twenty Favourite Tracks

A selection of tracks demonstrating the amazing musical range and distinctive sound of the Grand Union Orchestra. To get the best results, we suggest you listen on headphones or through good quality hi-fi!

Edited from live performances, recordings and broadcasts – complete versions can be found on the original CDs, direct from us and/or under the album titles below.

All music composed or arranged by Tony Haynes

...joyous, rhythmic world jazz

1: Freedom Calls (5’ 25” – Freedom Calls)
Brass ensemble based on West African rhythms with 2 contrasting trumpet soloists

2: Bhangra Brass (3’ 35” – Bhangra, Babylon and the Blues)
Big band take on the popular dhol rhythm powered by drums and bass guitar

3: Cano (3’ 15” – The Rhythm of Tides)
Kora, djembe and voice lead in a typical Mandinga tune, with punchy brass riffs

4: Eleggua Kó, Eleggua Ra (4’ 10” – Bhangra, Babylon and the Blues)
Call and response brass, saxes and drums based on a Yoruba chant.

…full of drama

5: Ça Ira (5’ 35” – Freedom Calls)
Implacable drums and preachy trombone driving the iconic song of the French Revolution

6: Song of Reconciliation (2’ 50” – The Rhythm of Tides)
A gentler take on West African guitar, kora and drum patterns for brass and saxes

7: The Radiance of a Thousand Suns (4’ 40” – If Paradise…)
Based on the Indian classic Rag Marva and 12-beat time-cycle Ektal

…a glorious range of voices (more on track 25)

8: Mirage (4’ 15” – Now Comes the Dragon’s Hour)
Haunting song evoking travel along the ancient Great Silk Road

9: Meu Amor é Marinheiro (2’ 30” – The Rhythm of Tides)
Soulful Portuguese love-song reminiscent of fado

10: Rimjhimamim (2’ 25” – Now Comes the Dragon’s Hour)
Up-tempo Bengali song with brilliant flute and tabla

11: Nodir Srote Ektaratir (3’ 45” – Now Comes the Dragon’s Hour)
Bluesy duet based around a classic song by the Bengali poet Nasrul

…and atmospheric textures

12: Silence is Consent (3’ 45” – Freedom Calls)
Fragmented voices floating over panpipes, vibraphone, steel pan and bells

13: The Perfumes of Paradise Blues (5’ 30” – If Paradise…)
High octane electric guitar and spine-tingling vocals over Indian rag-based harmony

14: The Flame of Love (3’ 20” – Now Comes the Dragon’s Hour)
A trio of women’s voices blended with exquisite instrumental backings

…including many non-European instruments

15: Rag Mumbai (2’ 30” – The Rhythm of Tides)
Sitar and soprano saxophone freely intertwined in 7-beat Indo-jazz workout

16: Picking Betel Palm (4’ 15” – Bengal Tiger, Shanghai Dragon)
Gu zheng (Chinese harp) in a richly harmonised Chinese folk-song

17: Yemen (3’ 40” – Around the World in 80 Minutes)
Turkish baglama (saz), Anatolian vocal and plangent flugelhorn solo

…and irresistible dance rhythms

18: Mexe Mexe (3’ 40” – Around the World in 80 Minutes)
Calypso-style invitation to dance, from Mozambique

19: Guinea Corn (4’ 35” – The Song of Many Tongues)
Our take on ska with lyrical steel pans, a song much loved by children

20: Can’t Chain Up Me Mind (3’ 55” – Freedom Calls)
High energy reggae alternating with samba with guttural baritone sax solo

Three bonus track of more extended compositions:

21: Collateral Damage (6’ 35” – If Paradise…)
Four great jazz soloists go head to head, spurred on by powerful big band riffs

22: Dolce Catalunya (6’ 50” – The Song of Many Tongues)
Nostalgic lament for three voices, giving way to defiant alto sax and big brass

23: Music at Last (5’ 50” – The Rhythm of Tides)
Four contrasted voices in drifting melody and powerful close harmony

…and a preview of the title song of Grand Union’s next big show at London’s Hackney Empire Theatre, scheduled for spring 2012:

24: Golden Highway (5’ 20”) - a biting, forceful portrayal with rich orchestration and blistering jazz solos of the dominance of global corporate culture – the Silk Road revisited!

…and two more chorus favourites

25: If Music Could… (8’ 30”) – five very different voices with beautiful individual melodies combine to produce amazing harmonies and a celestial epilogue

26: Raise the Banner (4’ 15”) – upbeat celebration of London’s multicultural life and energy reminiscent of the music of South African townships

Recordings