Delightful Precipice is a jazz orchestra 19-piece led by Django Bates. The band was formed in 1991 following the disbanding of Loose Tubes in 1990 and includes many of the same musicians. DP was conceived initally for a collaboration with the Snapdragon Circus. This collaboration was commissioned by The Old Bull Arts Centre, London. In its first incarnation, the band included a string section. This work was performed to sold out audiences in London for a week, and included delicacies such as a bagpipe playing chicken on a piece called "Scotch Egg". The music was mainly inspired by the late Angela Carter's book Nights at the Circus, which in fact was also the title of one of the most impressive pieces. Django Bates (born October 2, 1960 in Beckenham, Kent, United Kingdom) is a composer and virtuoso multi-instrumentalist. ... Angela Carter Angela Carter (May 8, 1940[1] – February 16, 1992) was an English novelist and journalist, known for her post-feminist magical realist and science fiction works. ... Nights at the Circus is a novel by Angela Carter, first published in 1984. ...

Since then, the orchestra has played in both the UK and Europe, including important festivals such as the Outside In Festival of Contemporary Music in England, the Wiesen Festival in Austria, and the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.

It has recorded two albums on the JMT Records which are currently released via Winter and Winter.

Delightful Precipice was also the title of a composition that Bates wrote for Loose Tubes. It was the title track of their second album.

Line Up

Eddie Parker - flute, bass Flute

Sarah Homer - clarinet, bass clarinet

Iain Ballamy - soprano and alto saxophones

Steve Buckley - soprano and alto saxophones

Mark Lockheart - tenor saxophone

Barak Schmool - tenor saxophone

Julian Arguelles - baritone saxophone

Sid Gauld - high trumpet

Chris Batchelor - soloing trumpet

Dave Laurence - french horn

Roland Bates - trombone

Richard Henry - bass trombone

Sarah Waterhouse - tuba

Django Bates - piano, keyboards, peck horn Django Bates (born October 2, 1960 in Beckenham, Kent, United Kingdom) is a composer and virtuoso multi-instrumentalist. ...

Steve Watts - acoustic bass

Mike Mondesir - electric bass guitar

Stuart Hall - electric guitar, ciolin, lap steel, banjo There have been several well-known people named Stuart Hall, including: Stuart Hall - radio and TV presenter from the United Kingdom Stuart Hall - influential cultural theorist from the United Kingdom This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Martin France - drums

Thebe Lipere - percussion

Discography