Current commissions and performances
catalogue of works





Current commissions and performances:


1st October 2006: Haden Freeman Concert Hall, RNCM Manchester:
"Before Time": Solo piano piece in memory of Mark Ray, performed by Peter Lawson.

13th October 2006: St Mary’s Church South Ealing, London.
"Concerto for Improvised Trumpet and Jazz orchestra": Featuring the Treffpunkt ensemble with Steve Waterman on trumpet.

10th – 13th November 2006: Sweden
"Eva" (dedicated to the memory of Eva Cassidy): Big Band orchestration and "rearrangement!" of a Joe Locke composition for a tour of West Sweden, featuring Joe Locke, Anders Bergcranz and the Bohuslän Big Band.

March 23rd 2007. CUK Big Band at "The Venue" Leeds International Jazz Conference.
"Hold down the moon" (new work) and last year’s CUK commissioned work "Eva Niam: Mega Supreme".

May 1st 2007 RNCM Haden Freeman Concert Hall.
New work (still no title!!) conducted by Clark Rundell for string orchestra, featuring saxophonist Mike Hall.

May 3rd 2007 TCM at Blackheath Concert Hall.
"Happenstance": New work commissioned by Trinity College of Music for their Contemporary Jazz Ensemble.

June 30th 2007: Sonnenhof Concert, Unterägeri, Switzerland
Quartet performance of music by Issie Barratt, including the featuring Carl Rütti, Rowland Sutherland, Mick Foster and Issie Barratt (as part of a retrospective art exhibition) including the Meinrad Iten Suite recently commissioned by the Swiss Gemeinderat of Unterägeri, Canton Zug.

August 2007: Jazz Services’ National Youth Jazz Summer School:
funded by Youth Music: Artistic Director and composition professor leading a week long project with 30 participants and 10 fellow internationally renowned Jazz musicians as tutors.

September 2007:
Tuba Duet for Gene Pokorny (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Jonathan Rees (various UK based orchestras including Glyndebourne and Royal Opera House) in memory of Tommy Johnson, who was for 40 years the main Hollywood studio tuba player on movie soundtracks

October 2007.
Recording Album with "Arrange of Space" featuring Anders Bergcrantz. Bjorn Samuelsson, Rowland Sutherland, Pete Whyman, Mark Lockheart, Russell van den Berg, Mick Foster, Steve Waterman, Sid Gould, Jim Rattigan, Mark Bassey, Mike Kearsey, John Crawford, Simon Pearson, Dave Jones, and Sefa Steer.

Winter 2007: Dates and venues t,b,c,
A programme of repertoire performed "Voice of the North" Big Band including a newly commissioned work.
Other activities:
Having established and headed Trinity College of Music’s Jazz Faculty (1999-2004), Issie now holds the position of Senior Jazz Fellow, enabling her to contribute towards the College’s Jazz programme, whilst allowing her more time for her compositional and touring activities. During 2007 she will also be leading performance and composition projects at the Royal Northern College of Music and Leeds College of Music (see education)

In September 2006 Issie was appointed Artistic Director for the Jazz Services’ National Youth Jazz Summer School funded by Youth Music (see education). She is also an active member of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters (for whom she chairs the Jazz Committee) is a consultant to Jazz Services’ and Youth Music; an adjudicator for Music for Youth’s annual national festival, Trustee of the Women’s Jazz Archive and a member of the advisory panel for the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Awards. Issie has also contributed to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music’s jazz syllabi, led projects at the Royal Academy of Music and Leeds College’s International Jazz conference and has been an examiner for the London University’s external BMus Degree (until its closure in June 2003) and the Royal College of Music.


catalogue of works

Written for Issie’s own ensemble
"Arrange of Space":
"Lush Mush" 1995. Scored for flute doubling piccolo, soprano doubling flute, alto sax doubling clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax doubling bass clarinet, 2 trumpets doubling flugels, 2 trombones (with one doubling euphonium), guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Alto and trombone solos.

"Brayards Road" 1996 A diminished scale baritone groove with sinister trombones depict a criminal passing as a Latin pianist, or is he actually just an innocent Peckham jazzer, being dropped off after a gig, late at night? Scored for flute doubling piccolo and bass flute, 2 alto saxes (both doubling clarinet and one doubling soprano sax), tenor sax doubling bass clarinet, baritone sax, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Includes free improvisation in the rhythm section as well as a notated solo piano section.

"Thanks to Ja-Ja" 1995. An apprentice’s experiment with multi groove transitions! Scored for flute doubling piccolo and alto flute, 1st alto sax doubling and clarinet, 2nd alto sax doubling soprano, tenor sax doubling bass clarinet, baritone sax, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, guitar, piano, acoustic bass and drum kit. Opens with a kit feature, and includes a tenor solo and a funky double trumpet work out.

"Up the wrong tree" 1996. Based on a 10-note theme by Julian Arguelles. Scored for flute doubling piccolo, alto and bass flutes, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, 2 flugels, 2 trombones (one doubling euphonium), guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Solos are on the euphonium, trombone, bass and baritone with an additional notated piano solo.

"Astral Pleasures" 2003. A depiction of an exquisite Chagallian summer’s night, under the stars, with a nicely chilled bottle of Chablis and TWO glasses!!! Scored for flute doubling piccolo, clarinet, 2 soprano saxes (one doubling clarinet), baritone sax (doubling soprano sax), 2 trumpets doubling flugels, 2 trombones (one doubling euphonium), harp, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Includes some free improvised duos between soprano and guitar and then flute and harp.

Arrange of Space with string orchestra
"Movin’ On" 1996. The gradual journey towards a land of dancing! Scored for flute doubling piccolo and bass flute, 2 alto saxes (one doubling clarinet, and one doubling bass clarinet) tenor sax doubling clarinet, baritone sax, 2 trumpets with 2nd doubling flugel, 2 trombones, semi acoustic guitar, piano, acoustic bass, drum kit and string orchestra. Solos are given to guitar, trumpet and trombone.

Pieces for Big Band
"Lush Mush" 1995 Scored for 1st soprano sax doubling flute, 2nd alto doubling clarinet, 1st tenor doubling flute, 2nd tenor, baritone sax doubling bass clarinet, 4 trumpets all doubling flugel, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Soloists are lead alto and trombone.

"Dublin Soundscape" 2002 premiered by Arrange of Space featuring Mark Lockheart.
A memorable afternoon walk in Dublin: starting on the Millennium Bridge, that stands across the static and cathedral like "Liffey" (with its deep kept secrets), heading inland along the north bank (against the current of the ghostly Easter Rising), to the bird song and solace of the museum of Modern Art, before turning westwards, past All Saints Cathedral (where the choir are singing Kodaly’s Missa Brevis and the 18 bells of the world’s largest collection peel their "changes") coming to rest on the bridge from which we started. Scored for 5 soprano saxes, 4 trumpets with 3 + 4 doubling flugels, 4 trombones, harp, guitar, piano, electric bass, kit and additional snare drum. Featured soprano soloist through out.

"So begins another day" Commissioned by the Dartington Summer School 2004. Scored for the regular 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, acoustic bass and drum kit line up with optional soloists.
"Still While Waiting": Big Band piece (2005) derived from a sax quartet that was commissioned by Laban Dance School in 2004, premiered by CUK Big Band at Leeds Jazz Conference featuring Tim Garland. Scored for 5 saxes (with optional soprano doubling in 1st alto sax), 1 trumpet and 3 flugels, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Includes some free improvisation between 2 tenors and the rhythm section.

"Oodley Groove" 2005. Scored for1st alto sax doubling soprano and flute, 2nd alto sax doubling soprano and clarinet. 1st tenor doubling flute, 2nd tenor doubling clarinet, baritone sax doubling bass clarinet, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, acoustic bass, drum kit and bongos. A funky work out on the noodleness of a diminished whole half scale. Solos are given to soprano and guitar with a semi-improvised, semi-notated, piano solo midway.

"Femme Fair" 2005 Commissioned by the Vortex Foundation Big Band, featuring Annie Whitehead, to celebrate International Women’s day: Scored for the regular 5 saxes, 4 flugels, and 5 trombones line up with rhythm section and no solos!

"In Truth In memory of Ruth Edgley-Smith " Commissioned by Youth Music as part of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival’s "On the Slide Sweet" featuring Dennis Rollins. Re-scored for alto, tenor baritone sax, 2 flugels, 2 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Optional solos.

"Eva Niam: Mega Supreme" 2006 Commissioned by PRS Foundation for the Leeds International Jazz Conference. Scored for 5 saxes (soprano, alto, 2 tenors and baritone), 4 trumpets each doubling flugel, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass, kit and congas. Solos are given to trumpet, piano and guitar.

"Hold down the Moon" 2007. A belated wedding present dedicated to Simeon and Tracy Moore, which tries to capture the memory of a special wedding day, celebrated in their spinny. Scored for flute, 5 saxes, 4 trumpets (with 2 doubling text on microphone!), 4 trombones, guitar, piano, electric bass, and kit. Solos are given to trumpet and tenor sax.

"Happenstance" 2007 Commissioned by Trinity College of Music. Scored for 5 saxes, 4 trumpets each doubling flugel, 4 trombones, vibes, guitar, piano, electric bass and drum kit. Includes some free improvisation. Optional solos.Big Band with featured soloists

"Eva: In memory of Eva Cassidy" A "deconstruction" and arrangement of a Joe Locke ballad 2006, premiered by the Bohuslän Big Band with Joe Locke and Anders Bergcranz. Scored for regular 5 saxes (with flute and clarinet doublings on all saxes), muted brass, piano, vibes, acoustic bass, drum kit and featured flugel soloist.

Chamber orchestra with featured soloists
"Concerto for Improvised trumpet and chamber orchestra" Commissioned by Treffpunkt 2006 and dedicated to Ursula Jones in the memory of Philip Jones. Scored for solo jazz trumpet player with 5 strings, flute, oboe doubling cor anglais, clarinet doubling bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trombone, tuba, piano, jazz drum kit and small amount of additional hand percussion

Vocal
"Pandora’s Box" Commissioned by the Drill Hall 1999. Scored for mezzo-soprano with string quartet, guitar and 2 saxes.

"The Dance" Commissioned by the PRS Foundation with lyrics by Carol Grimes. Scored for female jazz singer, 3 saxes (soprano sax, tenor sax, baritone sax), 2 trumpets doubling flugels, 2 trombones, guitar, piano, acoustic bass and kit.
"Light relief from White Noise (The blight of mobile phones!)": Commissioned by Trinity College of Music 2006. For 5 female voices and regular big band line up (with electric rather than acoustic bass). Includes some free improvisation.

Orchestra
"Transient Times" 2002. Commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra 2002. For double orchestra, piano, Harp and eight percussionists. Features various soloists across the orchestra and one "jazz trumpet player" in the double trumpet section.

Chamber
"Before Time: In memory of my dear friend Mark Ray". 2006. Solo piano piece: through composed with no improvisation.

"Lullaby of Life" 2003 Commissioned by Fourth Dimension String Quartet. Dedicated to the birth of my niece Amelia with solos for all 4 players!

"Somehow with the passage of time: The queen's story, 33 years on" 2003. Commissioned by Delta Sax Quartet in response to Soft Machines recording of Hugh Hopper’s Kings and Queens of 1970. Scored for soprano sax, alto sax doubling soprano, tenor sax, and baritone sax doubling soprano, with an improvised alto solo.

"Meinrad Iten Suite" May 2007. Commissioned by Gemeinde Unterägeri ,Canton Zug, Switzerland. A suite for quartet comprising piano, flutes, clarinets, baritone saxophone and hand percussion, in response to a selection of pictures by my great grand father, Meinrad Iten.


Youth ensemble
"A little piece of everyone" 2000. For an "any combination" ensemble and optional solos!!

"On the Slide? Sweet!" 2005 An eight-movement suite for any number of beginner trombone players, 5 professional level trombonists, electric bass, guitar and drum kit. Commissioned by Youth Music and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.2005, featuring Dennis Rollins.

• Down in the basement: Dedicated to Dominic Hamilton
•Slippin’ the Slide. Dedicated to Tony Dudley Evans.
• In truth: Dedicated to memory of Ruth Edgley-Smith,
• When Dennis hit the Subtone Dedicated to all the trombonists that took part in the project.
• Ride of the organ grinder’s camel.
•Blue tune work out. A little something to give the quartet a bit of a work-out
• Sheppard’s delight: Dedicated to Tony Sheppard.
• Can Jasper come out to play?: Dedicated to the Rollins household

"Show time" 2003. Commissioned by the Vortex Foundation Big Band, featuring Annie Whitehead, and recorded on Charybdis for Babel Records. Re-scored for regular big band line up (with electric bass) and optional solos.