Byron Wallen: Hurricane Bells | When the Levees Broke
21 years after the devasting Hurricane Katrine, we explore the environmental disaster through film, discussion and music.
This year marks 21 since Hurricane Katrina caused an environmental disaster that had major social and political impacts. It is 20 years since Spike Lee released his moving four-part documentary ‘When the Levees Broke’, chronicling the devastation of New Orleans following Katrina and the catastrophic failure of the city’s levee system.
This evening begins with a screening of Chapter 1 of ‘When the Levees Broke’, followed by a discussion with Dr Eleonora Sammartino from the University of Southampton Film Department. We finish with Byron Wallen’s extraordinary composition ‘Hurricane Bells’, performed live by a five-piece band comprising some of the UK best jazz musicians.
Introduced by Byron, ‘Hurricane Bells’ is a piece of music, commissioned around a set of bells cast from the data extracted from Hurricane Katrina. Bells as a warning toll, bells as ritual and bells as memorial combine in a piece that remembers the impact on the communities around New Orleans.
About ‘Hurricane Bells’
Living at the intersection between jazz, contemporary art and politics, Hurricane Bells is an extraordinary composition by Byron Wallen in response to Peter Shenai‘s work of the same name.
Contemporary artist Peter Shenai cast five bronze bells using analyses of the structure of Hurricane Katrina. These cyclonic, irregularly shaped bells produce a tonally complex web of sounds reminiscent of Chinese bells and gongs. When struck in order, their descending tones indicate the growing power of the storm. Building on these unique sounds, Wallen’s work reflects on the tragedy, taking in the culture of New Orleans and the climate crisis that threatens ever larger storms.
Bryon’s piece is an exploration of the socio-political economic climate where their sound resonates. The reason ‘Hurricane Katrina’ incurred such a huge loss of life and destruction was not because of the winds, but because of the subsequent flooding, due to insufficient levy infrastructure and the pathetic response of the US federal government.
‘Gong instruments in general have this amazing political and communicative power: they memorialize, they mark celebrations, they sound alarms, they call communities to gather around important issues. These bells based on the structure of Hurricane Katrina carry a powerful message and set of meanings with them. My piece is an exploration of the socio-political economic climate where their sound resonates.’ Byron Wallen
About Byron Wallen
Byron Wallen is one of the UKs most creative trumpeters and composers. Widely recognised as a seminal figure in world jazz, he travels the world recording, teaching and performing. He has performed, live and on record, alongside such legendary musicians as George Benson, Andrew Hill, Chaka Khan, Hugh Masekela, Courtney Pine, Mulatu Astatke, Red Snapper, Lonnie Liston Smith, Style Council, Jack Dejohnette, Jean Toussaint, Cleveland Watkiss and King Sunny Ade.
What’s On image © Urszula Tarasiewicz
Band A: £26 (£23.40 Friends)
Band B: £22 (£19.80 Friends)
Band C: £10 (£9 Friends)
Students and Under 18s: £10 (Bands B and C)
Schools £10
Byron Wallen trumpet, compositions
Jonny Mansfield vibraphone, bells
Daniel Kempshell guitar
Menelik Claffey bass
Zoe Pascal drums
Film: 6pm – 7:05pm Chapter 1 – ‘When the Levees Broke’ (running time 64 mins) included in ticket
Talk: 7:10pm – 7:40pm Dr Eleonora Sammartino from the University of Southampton Film Department discusses Spike Lee’s film.
Concert: 8pm
