Throughout its quarter-century existence, the LONDON JAZZ COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA has responded anew to the challenges of existence. It has stalked a categorical nether-zone between big-band, jazz orchestra, and large-scale improvisers’ ensemble. In Portraits we find Barry Guy and the LONDON JAZZ COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA bringing all these years of investigation to bear on the current score, along with newfound interests in the subsets and intrasections of the band, the integration of outside material, and in discovering new and exciting ways to single out, characterize, and highlight the members of the band. In the end, it is a piece full of joy and grief, tension and resolution, productive conflict and resolute individualism. It contains stylistically polyglot music that will surprise some and delight many. It will / should draw new listeners to the band.

Cover art: Alberto Vieceli
Liner notes: John Corbett

Compositions by Barry Guy. Recorded March 1993 Radio Studio Zürich, Switzerland. Engineer: Peter Pfister.
Executive production: Patrik Landolt. Produced and published by Intakt Records