Roland has built a reputation as a musician equally schooled in Latin, African, Brazilian and Jazz music. As a composer he fuses these diverse influences with deft compositional skill. Expect a kaleidoscope of World Music grooves filtered through a satisfying mix of jazz freedom and compositional narrative. This is expressed through both original material and surprising re-workings of classic repertoire including:
Charlie Parker in New Orleans style, Schubert in Jamaica and The Beatles in Afro-Cuban mood.
Influences: Ellington, Abdullah Ibrahim, Jobim, Buena Vista Social Club, Eddie Palmieri, to name but a few…
The Blue Planet Orchestra comprises some of London’s finest and most adaptable musicians. They are able to play the most demanding contemporary scores as well as improvise and be at home in the variety of World Music settings called for in Roland’s work.
