Following on from his groundbreaking jazz opera Bridgetower in 2007 jazz pianist and composer Julian Joseph, with librettist Mike Phillips, unveil their latest collaboration on Tuesday, a jazz opera set in the world of American baseball.

Commissioned by the Hackney Music Development Trust Shadowball tells the story of the struggles, triumphs and challenges facing black athletes in the USA during 60 years of exclusion from major league baseball, also demonstrating the influence and development of black jazz music at the time. The opera features the music of 44-year-old Joseph, who appeared on Courtney Pine’s groundbreaking album Journey To The Urge Within in 1986 and became a significant figure in UK jazz with his own band and albums beginning with his album The Language of Truth in 1991. He is now also a leading jazz broadcaster on BBC Radio 3.

Joseph appears in Shadowball with his quintet joined also by singer Cleveland Watkiss, in the role of Satchel Paige, and a large cast of children in the chorus and character roles.

An extensive educational programme this year has begun to introduce hundreds of young people from over 20 schools in Hackney to the sport of baseball and to the music.

Performances are at London’s Mermaid Conference and Events Centre on Tuesday 29 June at 7.30pm. Before it begins, from 6.15pm, there is a foyer performance by the Young Jazz Hackney Big Band. A children’s matinee follows on Wednesday 30 June with a further performance in the evening.

– Stephen Graham

An interview with Julian Joseph appears in the July issue of Jazzwise published today. Jazzwise is a media sponsor of Shadowball. For tickets phone 0844 888 9991 or go to www.hmdt.org.uk