Get Groovin'

Eighteen-year-old Wirral based composer Ted Ford has solved everybody’s post lock down blues with a fantastic funky tune Get Groovin’, which he’s arranged for an entire jazz orchestra. The band have joined Ted to record with track along with BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year finalist, Alex Clarke, as guest soloist.

Ted plays alto sax, baritone sax, piano, bass, guitar, drums, trumpet and trombone – and he also sings. From September he will be studying composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

‘I’m really excited to have recorded Get Groovin’, especially the solo from Alex’ said Ted. ‘I came up with the main riff initially, just noodling around on the piano, looped it using my computer, then added all the other instruments. This was around June 2020, a few months into lockdown: then I decided to have a go at scoring it for OotB’.

OotB’s Musical Director Becky Bell Thomas said: ’It’s such a great piece. It’s simple but will get you up on your feet dancing in no time, especially when you have an 18-piece jazz orchestra behind it. Ted scored all the parts for the band and we recorded them individually. Jacaranda Records mixed the whole thing for us at their immersive sound mixing studio above the Jacaranda Club in Seel Street, Liverpool. Then Alex added her solo remotely’.

Earlier in lockdown Jacaranda Records mixed a recording of the jazz classic Blue Skies, which was used by BBC TV. ‘Doing this kind of thing is all part of our mission to get music moving again in Liverpool’ said Ray Mia, Jacaranda Records owner.

Video director Georgina Little, from Liverpool based Georganaut Productions, said: ‘This project allowed us to collaborate and support some fantastic and innovative musicians, and was a lot of fun to put together. Producing exciting films in collaboration with creatives across the region is one of our passions’.

Mixing and recording Get Groovin’ has been supported by a Jazz North Open Bursary.