Gavin Bryars, a former philosophy student turned jazz bassist, helped pioneer British free improvisation and approaches composition as a vast creative field. His groundbreaking works The Sinking of the Titanic and Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet explore time and memory, with the latter gaining new life in a 1993 version featuring Tom Waits that was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Known for integrating “music which refers to other music,” Bryars’ compositions evoke reflective, timeless experiences that remain accessible yet deeply inventive.
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The Ivors Classical Awards
11 November 2025
