Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

Jazz Services has received the following information about an opportunity for young musicians to perform at the Langau Jazz Nights festival in Emmental, Switzerland, in July this year.  Application forms and more information are available on the official website linked below, with a closing date of 2^nd June.

Press Release:

11^th International Junior Jazz Meeting as a part of the 23^rd Langnau Jazz Nights 2013 from July 23^rd until July 27^th

Young talents: the stage is yours!

For the eleventh time, the annual "International Junior Jazz Meeting" will be taking place. This event is part of the 23^rd "Langnau Jazz Nights" in the Emmental (Switzerland) which take place from July 23^rd until July 27^th. It features young talented musicians from different countries which have the opportunity to perform on an open air stage.

The "Langnau Jazz Nights" LJN are more than just "another" jazz festival. Besides the nightly concerts with some of the best international musicians, the LJN offer a "Jazz Workshop" for adults, the "Junior Jazz Workshop" – and the "International Junior Jazz Meeting".

This "festival within the festival" gives young aspiring artists the opportunity to meet fellow musicians as well as internationally acclaimed stars – a unique event in Europe.

Younger than 26 and addicted to jazz?

Applicants should be no more than 25 years old and the music performed should have to do with jazz in some sort of way.

 The festival offers accommodation and food as well as free tickets to all connected concerts.

Feedback by professional jazz musicians

After performing, the concert will be discussed in a feedback workshop with a teacher of the Jazz Workshop. There are possibilities to rehearse and have jam sessions. Applicants from abroad get a contribution to travel expenses.

More detailed information and application forms can be found online:

Niculin Christen: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.jazz-nights.ch/en/jazz-workshops/junior-jazz-meeting-2013.html

Click the link below to download the April 2013 edition of Gigs, with full live jazz listings for the coming month and details of what's on near you, along with highlights and recommendations from our Listings Editor Sabina Czajkowska.

AND REMEMBER, Gigs has a new feature in the Gigs Directory.  You don't have to scroll down many pages to find your local venues - just click on the area name and you'll be automatically taken to a relevant page.  PLUS all the weblinks in this issue are clickable and you can also read more about the bands touring with our support by following a direct link to their profile on our website.

Jazz Services has received the following announcement from our friends at PPL regarding the 2013 APPJAG Awards.  Nominations for the awards are announced below along with the dates for the awards ceremony itself.

2013 PARLIAMENTARY JAZZ AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

19.03.2013

The nominations have today been announced for the 2013 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, now Britain’s premier awards for the jazz loving public and jazz fans in both Houses.  Moira Stuart joins us to host the ceremony, now in its ninth year, for the first time and which is organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG).  Back by popular demand, we have a special guest performance by James Pearson and The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

The awards are sponsored by music licensing company PPL and Jazz Services and feature nine categories: Jazz Musician of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, Jazz Ensemble of the Year, Live Jazz Award, Jazz Journalist of the Year, Jazz Broadcaster of the Year, Jazz Publication of the Year, Jazz Education Award, and the Services to Jazz Award.

Following the online public vote for the Awards via the Jazz Services website, the shortlist was then voted upon by the Selection Panel who represent a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their love and knowledge of jazz.  The winners are chosen by judging members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group in Parliament and will be announced at the awards which will take place at the House of Commons, Terrace Pavilion on 8^th May.

The full list of nominees is:

Jazz Musician of the Year:

Christine Tobin

Guy Barker

John Etheridge

Jazz Album of the Year

Christine Tobin ‘Sailing to Byzantium’

John Surman ‘Saltash Bells’

 Phronesis ‘Walking Dark’

 Jazz Ensemble of the Year

 Beats & Pieces Big Band

 Impossible Gentlemen

 Troyka

 Live Jazz Award of the Year

 Café Oto, Dalston, London

Herts Jazz

Manchester Jazz Festival

The Vortex, London

Jazz Journalist of the Year

John Fordham

Mike Hobart

Rob Adams

Jazz Broadcaster of the Year

Gilles Peterson

Helen Mayhew

Mike Chadwick

Jazz Publication of the Year

Catherine Tackley - Benny Goodman’s Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Jazzwise

LondonJazzNews

Jazz Education Award

Brian Moore

Jonathan Eno

Nick Smart

Tommy Smith

Services to Jazz Award

Evan Parker

Keith Loxam

Norma Winstone

Stan Tracey

“We at PPL are delighted to continue our long standing relationship with APPJAG and to be the main sponsor of these Awards.   I would like to extend my personal thanks and appreciation to Michael Connarty MP and to Lord Colwyn for doing such a fantastic job in co-chairing and running APPJAG as well as my thanks to Bob Blizzard.    I would also like to thank all the judges for their time and welcome Moira Stuart as the Awards’ new presenter. At the same time, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic job our previous presenter, the wonderful Paul Gambaccini, did for so many years and for being such a unique and virtuoso host of the event,” said Fran Nevrkla, Chairman, PPL. “These Jazz Awards remain a special night for Parliament, the jazz community and award recipients as well as for PPL and the music industry generally.”

Michael Connarty MP, Co-Chair of APPJAG, said, “These shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. MPs and Peers in the All Party group are delighted to show their support for jazz by hosting another awards ceremony in the House of Commons to recognise this excellence. We are extremely grateful to PPL for sponsoring the event.”

The APPJAG currently has over 100 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties.  Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament.  The Group’s officers are Co-Chairs Michael Connarty MP and Lord Colwyn, Secretary, Baroness Coussins and Treasurer Kelvin Hopkins MP.

- ENDS - 

For further information please contact:

Jonathan Morrish @ PPL: 020 7534 1245 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Clare Goldie @ PPL: 0207 534 1121 /  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Editors’ notes:

Jazz Services

Jazz Services Ltd. provides support, advice and information for UK jazz, promoting its growth, accessibility and development in the UK and abroad. www.jazzservices.org.uk

Jazz Services publishes JazzUK, a free magazine with a print run of 30,000 that is distributed through venues, colleges, libraries and shops.

Jazz Services works closely with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), an autonomous body that receives its Arts Council England funding through Jazz Services. NYJO also receives funds from private donors, Youth Music and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund. Every year NYJO organizes over 100 open workshops for jazz musicians up to the age of 25 and more than 40 concerts.

Jazz Services gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council England and PPL, and also the Performing Right Society for Music Foundation for their support on the Jazz Promoters Award Scheme.

PPL

PPL is the UK-based music licensing company which licenses recorded music for broadcast, online and public performance use. Established in 1934, PPL carries out this role on behalf of thousands of record company and performer members.    In 2011, PPL collected revenue of £153.5m.

PPL’s Broadcast and Online licensing covers the use of recorded music on the BBC’s television, radio and iPlayer services and by hundreds of commercial broadcasters. These include ITV, Channel 4, Five and Sky, together with services such as Virgin Media and BT Vision.  PPL also licenses commercial radio networks such as Capital, Heart and Absolute Radio, online services such as Last FM and community, hospital, student and prison radio stations.

Public Performance licences are issued by PPL to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations from all sectors across the UK who play recorded music to their staff or customers and who therefore require a licence by law. These can range from bars, nightclubs, shops and hotels to offices, factories, gyms, schools, universities and local authorities. PPL also licenses music service providers to copy recorded music for services such as in-store music systems, jukeboxes, fitness compilations and in-flight entertainment systems.

PPL also operates an International service, used by many of its members. Through agreements with over 50 music licensing companies globally, PPL is able to collect licensing revenue from the use of its members’ recorded music around the world.  Under these agreements with other music licensing companies, PPL also acts on behalf of its members to license their recordings and pay for their performances in the UK. The international collections market is very competitive, with numerous commercial companies offering similar services, but despite this PPL’s International service continues to grow significantly.

After the deduction of PPL’s running costs, all revenue collected is distributed to members based on the music used by licensees and the extensive information contained in the PPL Repertoire Database. PPL does not retain a profit for its services.

With over 60,000 members, PPL has a large and diverse membership. Members include major record labels and globally successful performers, as well as many independent labels, sole traders and session musicians ranging from orchestral players to percussionists and singers – all of whom are entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances.

PPL’s role and remit increases year on year. The company receives details electronically on a weekly basis for an average of 10,200 new recordings. Once this data has been fed into PPL’s databases, it is then passed on to PRS for Music for it to administer the relevant copying rights on behalf of the songwriters, composers and publishers. PPL also provides that data to the BPI and IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry) to assist with their anti-piracy activities.

For further information please visit ppluk.com.

The Recording Support Scheme opens for 2013 on Friday 8th March, and applications will be accepted until Friday 12th April.

To apply, fill in the application form which can be downloaded at the bottom of this page and return it to us at Jazz Services.  The form is available in .docx, .doc and .pdf formats.

PLEASE read all the accompanying documentation carefully, as an incorrectly filed application may disqualify you from being accepted.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we'll help however we can.  For more information on the scheme and the previous winners, check out the relevant pages using the menu on the left.

Click the link below to download the March 2013 edition of Gigs, with full live jazz listings for the coming month and details of what's on near you, along with highlights and recommendations from our Listings Editor Sabina Czajkowska. 

NEW THIS MONTH is Gigs Directory - you don't have to scroll down many pages to find your local venues - just click on the area name and you'll be automatically taken to a relevant page.  PLUS all the weblinks in this issue are clickable and you can also read more about the bands touring with our support by following a direct link to their profile on our website.

Jazz Services has received the following press release from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, who have anounced the winner of the 2013 Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition.

2013 Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition

Saturday February 16th at Kings Place, London

The Worshipful Company of Musicians is pleased to administer this exciting award which it co-funds with the Wavendon Foundation.

It was within the context of a gig by the Royal Academy of Music's Big Band that this year's Dankworth Prizes for Jazz Composition were announced and presented to a capacity audience at London's Kings Place arts complex. The Big Band, ably conducted and compered by their MD Nick Smart and bassist/educator Alec Dankworth played two sets of music by the great British musician, composer and band-leader Sir John Dankworth. John Dankworth's writing spanned sixty years and a taste of his compositions both for the "Seven" as well as Big Band were skilfully performed by students from the Royal Academy's jazz programmes. It is appropriate, that the Awards were presented at a gig performed by the RAM Big Band, Sir John being an alumnus of the Academy.

The Prize for small band composition was awarded by Emily Dankworth to Tom Green for his composition for seven-piece band Equilibrium. Tom is a postgraduate trombonist currently on the jazz course at the Royal Academy. Prior to the presentation, Leslie East, Chairman of the Musicians' Company's Jazz Programme thanked Art Mead for his inspiration and vision in instigating the Awards in 2007.

The large ensemble Prize was awarded in the second half of the evening by Jacqui Dankworth but not before renowned jazz educator Frank Griffith said a few words about the standard of the compositions submitted to the judges . The Award went to Australian Daniel Thorne for his rhythmically and tonally complex Neverever.

One undoubted highlight of the evening was Dame Cleo Laine singing from her husband's noted selection Shakespeare and All That Jazz. Cleo's appearance and tenacious performance belied her eighty-five years of age!

Diary Date!

Musicians' Company Prize Gig for Young Jazz Musician 2012

Laura Jurd and ensemble

Sunday 19th May 2013 at Pizza Express, Dean Street, London W1

http://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/jazzList.aspx

Notes for Editors

The Dankworth Prize judges are Frank Griffith, Tim Garland & Nikki Iles. The Prize was instigated by British businessman, bass player and jazz enthusiast, Art Mead in 2007. The Prize has been administered by the Worshipful Company of Musicians since 2011.

Previous winners are:

2008 James Hamilton (Leeds) Big Band. Nicky Jacques (Birmingham) Small Band

2009 James Beckwith (Leeds) Big Band. Matt Roberts (Leeds) Small Band

2010 Matt Roberts (Trinity) Big Band. Yuriy Galkin (RAM) Small Band

2011 Laura Jurd (Trinity Laban) Big Band. Alex Roth (RAM) Small Band

2012 James Opstad (RAM) Big Band. No competition for Small Band Composition

The Worshipful Company of Musicians is one of the ancient livery companies (guilds) of the City of London. The Company is able to trace its roots back to 1380 and was given its first charter in the year 1500. The Musicians’ Company encourages, supports and promotes musical performance to the highest professional standards. It is the only city livery company clearly identified with the pursuit and recognition of excellence in the performing arts, and is closely associated with trades and crafts related to music-making as well as the education and promotion of young musicians.

- ENDS -

February 2013

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASES

Jazz Services would like to invite artists and bands who have not already done so to register for International Showcases and put themselves forward for performance opportunities overseas. 

2013 promises a range of exciting opportunities, including a potential opening for UK artists to appear in China and Korea as early as this Easter.  Further information will follow as soon as it available, but we advise all interested parties to keep an eye out for notifications via our communication channels and the Jazz Services website.

As with all International Showcases, we must emphasise that any artists wishing to take part must be ‘match fit’ and market-ready to perform abroad, as well as being able to operate professionally with both Jazz Services and external organisations to represent the UK.

Anyone wishing to register should submit an EPK as outlined on the International Showcase page on the Jazz Services website (LINK).  Please pay close attention to the guidelines, as information incorrectly submitted could result in your application being rejected.  There is no deadline for registration, as it is an ongoing process of building up a pool of suitable bands who can then apply for showcases on an individual basis.

PLEASE NOTE: Any bands or artists who have previously sent in their EPK (for Made In The UK, for example) need not re-apply, but are welcome to restate their interest in particular showcases as they are announced.

Many thanks,

Jazz Services

Tommaso Starace Quartet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Tommaso Starace - saxophone

Frank Harrison – piano

Laurence Cottle – bass guitar

Chris Nickolls – drums

Special guest: Damon Brown – trumpet (selected gigs only)

www.tommasostarace.com 

Tommaso Starace’s English quartet features some truly exciting UK based jazz musicians, with the Italian-born saxophonist hand-picking a choice selection of players whose playing he personally admires.  Embarking once again on a Jazz Services supported tour, the group turn their collective attentions to the music of famed French pianist Michel Petrucciani, whose works form the basis of Starace’s latest CD.

Born in 1975, Starace began playing at the age of 18 and moved to the UK in 1994 and swiftly dived into the UK’s jazz scene.  Studies at the Birmingham conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music were followed by stints with a string of national and international players (among them Billy Cobham and Kenny Wheeler) and he now enjoys a successful and busy position as a well-respected member of the scene, with a an ear for interpreting the works of his idols in a respectful but original manner, as clearly evidenced on his latest project.  A number of gigs on this tour feature trumpeter Damon Brown as a special guest.

Frank Harrison - piano

Frank Harrison was born in Oxford and took up the piano aged 11, and began playing gigs when he was 15. In 1994 he won the soloist award in the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Competition, and in 1996 placed second in Young Jazz Musician Of The Year.  From these auspicious beginnings he traveled to America to study at Berklee, and on returning to the UK joined Gilad Atzmon's band, forming the Orient House Ensemble in 2000.  The group has now recorded several excellent albums, with Harrison’s playing always a highlight, but he has also grabbed the attention of discerning music lovers in the company of Peter King, Julian Arguelles, Julian Siegal, Don Weller, Alan Barnes, John Etheridge, Louis Stewart, Ian Ballamy and many more.

Laurence Cottle – bass guitar

While these things are always up for contention, it wouldn’t be unjustified to call Laurence Cottle the UK’s premiere electric bassists.  As well as backing worldwide chart-topping artists like Sting, Cher and Seal and making his mark as a composer and recording artist for film and TV, his reputation on the jazz scene is held in extremely high regard.  A faithful interpreter of the great Jaco Pastorius (he leads a stunning Jaco big-band tribute), a brilliantly supportive sideman and a dazzling soloist, Cottle’s inclusion in any line-up is a guarantee of quality.

Chris Nickolls - drums

Chris has a range of different jazz influences, with greats like Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Brian Blade and Mark Guiliana all contributing to his talent.  But Chris’ early years also included a love of rock and funk, and he cites the likes of Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers among his mentors as well.  As such, he effortlessly adds a rock-solid feel to his playing, coupled with an open-minded jazz feel.  He also is a composer, taking his cues from Balkan and African rhythms as well as electronics, crafting pieces to provide a platform for creative improvisation.

Damon Brown - trumpet

A "Ronnie Scotts" recording artist Damon Brown is one of the United Kingdom's leading jazz musicians. His trumpet playing and composing have won him unanimous critical acclaim both at home and abroad.  Damon performs and tours internationaly with his band and has also played with many great Jazz musicians including Steve Grossman, Benny Golson, Dave Liebman, Don Braden, Rubin Wilson, Steve Wilson, Bruce Barth and many others.

“Starace’s melodious originals offer good blowing potential for alto and soprano solos delivered in a cleanly articulate post-bop style reminiscent of Phil Woods” – Jazzwise

“The promising Starace seems to be revealing his most personal voice in the full-on music.” - The Guardian

“Signor Starace is a shrewd operator.  He plays alto and soprano sax with impressive post-Parkerian felicity and Italian flair.” - The Evening Standard (live review)

* with special guest Damon Brown

Tim Thornton Quartet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Tim Thornton - Double bass

Dave O’Higgins – Tenor Saxophone

Grant Windsor – Piano

Chris Draper – Drums

www.timthorntonbass.com 

Double bassist Tim Thornton was introduced to music at a young age; both his parents were performers and influenced him early on.  Since breaking onto the UK jazz scene he’s become a regular fixture in a number of notable bands and listing his many credits would be quite a task given his prolific performance schedule – he suffice to say he can count the likes of Ronnie Scott’s Allstars, Brandon Allen, Guy Barker, Gilad Atzmon, Stan Tracey, Liam Noble, Ivo Neame, Stan Sulzmann, Eric Alexander and Jim Mullen amongst those who have relied on his clear, melodic, driving sense of groove and rhythm.

He announced himself as a talented composer, arranger and leader with the release of New Kid in the summer of 2012 to extremely positive feedback, the album brimming with confidence and originality.  Four of the recording’s contributing players make up Thornton’s quartet for this Jazz Services tour, and bring it fully to life for UK audiences, who can be assured that the young bassist is without doubt an extremely promising prospect for the future of the jazz scene.

Dave O’Higgins – Tenor Saxophone

Dave was born Birmingham 1964.  He learnt trumpet, drums & piano at school but was self-taught on the sax, which might go some way to explaining the implicitly natural feel of his playing.  His formal education was followed by an extensive period on the road and to date has appeared with a huge number of top artists at home and abroad, including Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth, Sax Appeal, Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet, Jason Rebello, Jim Mullen Quartet and many others.  In New York he worked with Joe Locke, Joey Calderazzo, James Genus & Adam Nussbaum, and he has released many recordings including three as a leader

Grant Windsor – Piano

Grant Windsor is a pianist, composer and conductor from Perth, Western Australia.  After studying and playing with a who's who of Australian jazz, Grant moved to London to check out the scene here, where he has stayed. Grant is extremely varied in his projects and has performed with Frank Foster, Sandy Evans, Sarah and Leila Petronio, Don Burrows, James Morrison, Janet Seidel and Randy Brecker amongst others.

Chris Draper – Drums

Chris Draper moved to London permanently after graduating from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2011.  But it was prior to this at The Royal Academy of Music Junior Department where his more serious interest in jazz arose.  Since graduating Chris has worked with artists including Trevor Myers, Tom White, Gareth Lockrane, Brandon Allen, Steve Fishwick, Ross Stanley, Quentin Collins, Alex Garnett, Graeme Blevins, Jean Toussaint, Femi Temowo and Soweto Kinch.

“The most natural young double bassist in years,” – Evening Standard

“Thornton is a player with a strong technique who uses the range of the bass well, and is capable of great depth, emotion and lyricism.” – Rob Edgar, londonjazz.blogspot.co.uk

Birchall/Cheetham Duo

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

David Birchall - guitar

Andrew Cheetham - percussion

http://davidmbirchall.com/ 

Andrew and David met when they performed as part of Rhys Chatham’s G3 ensemble in Manchester early in 2011.  Since then they have developed a sound exploring the deconstruction of rock music within the wider context of free improvisation.  Both musicians are committed to the exploration of dynamics, texture, tone and rhythm.  The resulting sonic mix is bold and occasionally uncompromising, but densely layered and packed with potential, and categorising it into a genre or giving it an easily identifiable label serves only to limit its scope.

 A debut CD-R was released on MIE Music in December 2011, and the pair undertook a short UK tour to coincide with its release, followed by a concert at Manchester's Whitworth Gallery.  This spring 2013 tour will be the first of several forays onto the live circuit for the year, with others including opening for Alan Silva/Roger Turner Duo and Ken Vandemark Trio during September in Manchester and a visit to Ireland for the Hunters Moon Festival in October.

David Birchall - guitar

David Birchall is a guitarist and DIY organiser based in Manchester.  Since 2003 he has gigged and toured throughout the UK and Europe with a host of groups including free-rock unit Stuckometer, bicycle Dadaists Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra, minimalist post-folk/rockers Our Beautiful Ridiculous Plan and Anglo-Scandivanian primitivist folk group Kalbakken.  He also works collaboratively with artists most notably with dancer Bekke Platt performing at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, the Greenroom in Manchester and the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol and on a music drawing project with artist Naomi Kendrick which has performed at Salford Media City and the Liverpool Biennial.

Andrew Cheetham - percussion

Andrew’s versatility makes him an excellent partner for David Birchall.  He performs with Warp records artist Lonelady and has toured extensively in Europe and the UK, including appearances at several high-profile music festivals including Green Man, Latitude, Manchester International Festival, Pukkelpop & Leffinge Leuren, Belgium, to name a few.  This duo provides an opportunity to explore his interest in the free-form drumming and rhythmic interplay of free jazz alongside the repetition of drone and noise.  Andrew has recently played drums for Damo Suzuki and Rhys Chatham, and has shared a stage with artists as diverse as Wire, Rangda, Eli Keszler and Johann Johannsson.

“Andrew Cheetham and David Birchall create a psychedelic maelstrom of sound that threatens to atomise your walls” – Mojo

“While the pair may appear to be locked into a sort of bendy, elastic conflict to begin with, gradually they reveal themselves to be working in immaculate musical parallel.  Dynamic change is always impending, the two embark brilliantly on gradual arcs both up and down: descending into crazed mumbles of dissonance and quivering drum roll, and rising again into squawks of broken guitar strums and the more assertive flourishes of snare and ride.” - ATTN Magazine