The Song Of Many Tongues

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RedGold Records, 1986
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Our critically-acclaimed debut album, featuring musicians from Ghana, South Africa, Chile, Trinidad and the USA, together with musicians from the British Isles.

The music, written by Grand Union’s artistic director and composer Tony Haynes, belongs within the generous spirit and tradition of jazz, celebrating the richness and diversity of musical and other cultures which make up multicultural Britain.

MUSICIANS FEATURED

- Alison Limerick (England) voice, percussion
- Andy Grappy (England/Caribbean) tuba
- Avelia Moisey (England) trumpet, flugelhorn, voice
- Butch Potter (England) bass guitar
- Carlos Fuentes (Chile) percussion, guitar, voice
- Chris Biscoe (England) soprano/alto saxophone, flute
- Claude Deppa (South Africa) trumpet, flugelhorn
- Courtney Pine (England/Jamaica) soprano/tenor saxophone, flute
- Dave Adams (England) drums, tuned percussion, trombone
- Gail Ann Dorsey (USA) voice, guitar
- Gerry Hunt (England) soprano/baritone saxophone, guitar
- Keith Morris (Wales) soprano/tenor saxophone, voice
- Ken Johnson (Trinidad) steel drums, percussion
- Rick Taylor (England) trombone
- Ros Davies (Wales) trombone, piano
- Sarah Laryea (Ghana) congas, voice, percussion
- Tony Haynes (England) piano, tuned percussion, trombone
- Vladimir Vega (Chile) voice, charango, panpipes, quena

All music composed and arranged by Tony Haynes.
Lyrics by David Bradford and from original sources.

Recorded and mixed by Dave Hunt.
Published by RedGold Music.
Graphic design by Tom Spencer.

The Song of Many Tongues was commissioned by the GLC in 1984 to celebrate its ‘Year Against Racism’. It was first performed in Covent Garden Piazza on Sunday 2 September, and produced by Alternative Arts as part of their Music Festival. The Grand Union Orchestra was formed specially for the occasion. We recorded the work the following year, and continued to tour it across the whole of the UK.

The Orchestra was made up of musicians from Ghana, South Africa, Chile, Trinidad and the USA, together with musicians from the British Isles, and it was their ‘tongues’ – languages, musical cultures, individual voices, and above all their experience – which gave, and still gives, the music its flavour. Since then, musicians of other nationalities such as India, Bangladesh, China, Turkey, Eastern Europe, Portugal and other African and South American countries have been added, giving the music many more musical dimensions and textures.

Originally released on cassette in 1986 and reissued on CD in 2014.