Byron Wallen: Hurricane Bells | When the Levees Broke

Byron Wallen brings Hurricane Bells to Turner Sims on Saturday 17 October, an evening that marks 21 years since Hurricane Katrina and 20 since Spike Lee released his four-part documentary When the Levees Broke. It's a long night, and it works in three distinct parts: it opens with a screening of the film's first chapter, followed by a discussion with Dr Eleonora Sammartino of the University of Southampton's Film Department, and closes with Hurricane Bells, a composition by trumpeter Byron Wallen performed live by a five-piece band.

The music is the centrepiece. Hurricane Bells was commissioned around five bronze bells cast by artist Peter Shenai from analyses of Hurricane Katrina's structure; when struck, their descending tones trace the storm's growing power. Wallen describes the bells as working as warning, ritual and memorial to the communities around New Orleans. He's one of the UK's most creative trumpeters and a seminal figure in world jazz, and he's played alongside George Benson, Andrew Hill, Chaka Khan, Hugh Masekela, Courtney Pine, Mulatu Astatke, Red Snapper, Lonnie Liston Smith, The Style Council, Jack Dejohnette, Jean Toussaint, Cleveland Watkiss and King Sunny Ade.

On the night, Wallen is on trumpet and compositions, joined by Jonny Mansfield on vibraphone and bells, Daniel Kemshell on guitar, Menelik Claffey on bass and Zoe Pascal on drums. Dr Eleonora Sammartino introduces the talk that follows the screening, and the live performance brings the whole thing home. It's a full evening, so keep the timings in mind: the film screening runs from 18:00 to 19:05, the talk from 19:10 to 19:40, and the live performance starts at 20:00.

Tickets are Band A £26 (£23.40 Friends), Band B £22 (£19.80 Friends), and Band C £10 (£9 Friends). Students and under-18s pay £10 for Bands B and C, and schools are £10. The whole thing is at Turner Sims, University of Southampton, Southampton.