Issie Barratt, founder of Fuzzy Moon Music and Fuzzy Moon Records, is an internationally active composer, conductor, arranger, baritone player and educator who has been awarded commissions by the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Bohuslän Big Band, The PRS Foundation for New Music, Delta Sax Quartet, 4th Dimension String Quartet, Voice of the North, North Chesire Wind Orchestra, Vortex Foundation Big Band, Swiss Gemeinderat of Unterägeri, Trinity College of Music’s Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, Centre for Jazz Studies UK and Youth Music with performances often featuring artists such as Anders Bergcrantz, Tim Garland, Mark Lockheart, Joe Locke, Dennis Rollins, Carl Rütti. Steve Waterman and Annie Whitehead. In 2001 Issie’s music was featured in Cheltenham Jazz Festival’s Rising Stars sessions and has since been recorded by the Delta Sax Quartet, Bohuslän Big Band, Vortex Foundation Big Band her own large ensemble Arrange of Space, comprising 20 of Europe’s finest jazz musicians (Their debut album Astral Pleasures, produced by Mike Gibbs, is now available on Fuzzy Moon Records). In 1999 Issie set up the Jazz Faculty at Trinity College of Music, London, which she headed until 2004, when she was offered the post of Jazz Fellow, allowing her more time for her compositional and performance activities.
Last Updated: November 8, 2008
“A great, great composer, who writes beautiful, beautiful music” (Julian
Joseph Jazz Pianist and BBC presenter)
“Her amazing breadth of skills are just what the music world needs” (Mike
Gibbs: Composer and arranger)
“Exciting and beautiful music: written with great knowledge and depth”
(Anders Bergcrantz)
“Distinctive and memorable” (Leicester Mercury)
“Issie’s conducting gives the music a whole new lease of life and meaning.”
(Göran Levin Manager of the Bohuslän Big Band)
“The eccentric element came from Issie Barratt” (John Fordham, The Guardian)
“… often providing a welcome Mingus-like mayhem” (James Griffiths, The
Guardian)
“Combines the warmth of an embrace with the full zest of a lemon!” (Issie
Barratt)
As Musical Director and Composer:
Astral Pleasures. Fuzzy Moon Records. 2008. TRACKS: Eva Naim, Mega
Supreme; Astral Pleasures; Hold Down The Moon; Brayards Road; Dublin
Soundscape; Oodley Groove (the shorter).
PERFORMERS: Flutes: Rowland Sutherland. Saxes and clarinets: Pete Whyman,
Mark Lockheart, James Allsopp, Mick Foster and Rob Townsend. Trumpets +
Flugels: Sid Gould, Steve Waterman, Anders Bergcrantz and Mark Armstrong
French Horn: Jim Rattigan. Trombone and Euphonium: Jeremy Price.
Trombone: Mark Bassey Bass Trombone: Pete North. Piano: Liam Noble.
Guitar: Mike Outram. Electric and Acoustic Bass: Dudley Phillips. Drums:
Simon Pearson. Vibes: Rob Millett. Harp: Fiona Clifton-Welker. Percussion:
Chris Wells. Producer: Mike Gibbs
As One of Several Composers:
"Strange Fruit" arrangement on Bohuslän Big Band's CD "Letter to Billie": Vara
Konserthus label: 2008.
"Somehow with the passage of time" on Delta Sax Quartet's CD "Dedicated to
you but your weren't listening" Moonjune records: 2007.
"Showtime" on Vortex Foundation Big Band's CD "Charybdis" Babel Label:
2003.
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Primary Instrument:
Composer/conductor/leader
Location:
London
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Ex Head of Jazz at Trinity College of Music, London: Currently Jazz Fellow at
Trinity College of Music, London, Composition professor for one to one students
at Trinity, Leeds College of Music, Royal Academy of Music. Chief Executive of
the National Youth Jazz Collective.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Large ensemble skills: As performer, musical director and composer.
