Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

Nicolas Meier Group

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

Line-up:

Nicolas Meier - guitars

Pat Bettison - bass and harmonica

Lizzie Ball - violin

Demi Garcia - percussions

Asaf Sirkis - drums

www.meiergroup.com 

With an excellent line-up of top UK-based players and an expansive technique that absorbs all the many influences that come his way, guitarist Nicolas Meier’s upcoming tour is a hugely enticing prospect for the UK’s live jazz circuit.  Meier’s take on ‘world-jazz’ is broad and breezy, with sounds from Turkey and the Middle East and Eastern Europe blending joyfully with the influences of his six-string contemporaries – Pat Metheny fans would no doubt lap up Meier’s blistering fretboard excursions.

Meier is touring his new release, From Istanbul to Ceuta With A Smile, inspired by his travels and tours through Europe and Turkey, picking up fresh ideas along the way and binding them to his individual style with great authority.  The CD features the likes of Gilad Atzmon on saxophone and James Pearson on piano, and while the tour sees a more stripped back group it is Meier’s compositions that take centre stage, transporting the listener on a journey and opening up a world of musical delights. 

Nicolas Meier - acoustic nylon and steel guitar, glissentar and baglama

Swiss born and resident in the UK for many years, Nicolas Meier is a brilliantly diverse musician who absorbs different styles and influences like a sponge.  His education includes early stints at the Conservatoire Fribourg in Switzerland and at Berklee College of Music in the USA.  As well as his highly acclaimed group, which includes top UK players such as Asaf Sirkis, Gilad Atzmon and James Pearson in its ranks, his other projects have included a version of Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ for guitar orchestra, nu-metal band Seven7 and his own MGP Records label.  Meier is well versed in several stringed instruments other than the guitar, and his compositions reflect the great range of his musical ability.

Pat Bettison - bass and harmonica

Completely self-taught, Pat started playing the bass when he was 8 years old.  He began working professionally as a musician at 16, playing bass, piano, and guitar.  After graduating from high school, Patrick moved to Glasgow where he began playing jazz with multi-instrumentalist Bobby Wishart.  Eighteen months later, he moved to London to further his jazz education. During the eight years he spent on the London jazz scene, he played with Tim Whitehead, Jim Mullen, Stan Sulzmann, Steve Arguelles, Django Bates, Gary Husband and many other British jazz musicians.  Patrick’s music is a reflection of his diverse musical background.  His music can be fun and upbeat while maintaining a vulnerability that touches listeners.

Demi Garcia - percussions

Originally from Barcelona, Demi moved to the UK in 1999 to pursue his ambition of becoming a professional musician.  Since graduating from the London College of Music, Demi now works full time as a freelance drummer and percussionist.  Demi specialises in flamenco music, jazz and pop, and performs regularly with great musicians such as Alec Dankworth, Nicolas Meier, Kuljit Bhamra, La Tipica, Flamenco Soul, Jorge Bravo and many others. 

Asaf Sirkis – drums

In his long and playful partnership with saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, a recent and more delicate one with piano virtuoso John Law, and in many other settings from improv to fusion such as The Lighthouse trio, Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie, and many more, Israeli expatriate Asaf Sirkis keeps confirming that he's one of the British jazz scene's most creative drummers.  North African as well as Middle Eastern music played a big part in his early listening, and he was a bass guitarist as well as a drummer in his teens, so rock and fusion music from the Police to Weather Report and the Mahavishnu Orchestra went deep with him. This trio of influences generates a compelling intensity, and the leader's percussion responses to their ideas are dazzling eruptions of drum mastery. 

Lizzie Ball – violin

Born in 1981, Lizzie is a music graduate and instrumental scholar of St.John’s College, Cambridge, Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music, under David Takeno and Yossi Zivoni.  Lizzie has performed extensively across the UK, Europe, and South/Central/North America as a solo violinist, chamber musician and jazz/pop vocalist in most of the major concert halls and stadiums of UK, Europe and South America, including Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall, Ronnie Scotts, Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro Coliseo, Buenos Aires, Barbican Hall, and many more.

“Meier must be one of the most lyrical and affecting acoustic guitar players there is, with a technical precision that leaves many more established players standing in his wake.” - All About Jazz

“Meier is elegant in tone and bubbling with ideas... his originality as a writer, a player and a team leader dispatches any doubts” - The Guardian

“Since John McLaughlin melted frets with the Mahavishnu Orchestra we have become used to frenetic guitar-led groups.  None, however, quite mixes styles and sounds like that of Meier, a Swiss player as happy in flamenco and Arab melodies as he is in Western jazz” – The Times

END

Phil Meadows Group

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

Line-up:

Phil Meadows -saxophone

Laura Jurd - trumpet

Elliot Galvin - piano

Conor Chaplin - double bass

Simon Roth – drums

www.philmeadowsmusic.co.uk 

The Phil Meadows Group features some of the UK’s finest young jazz talents.  Based in London the group performs an array of original compositions written by bandleader and saxophonist Meadows, and jointly developed in collaboration with the entire group.  This collective working shows in the final pieces, and the group’s tonal sympathy is very much in evidence on their debut recording, ‘Engines of Creation’ (released on Boom Better Records on 24^th June), a series of musical snapshots of inspiring personal moments - from tales of cartoonish characters and trivial battles, to marking pivotal situations, arrivals and departures, Meadows' clever episodic writing balances an eclectic range of contemporary influences, strong improvisational language and wit.

Combining a cocktail of influences, the band appeal to a wide range of audiences with a passion for skilful improvisation, melodic beauty and driving groove.  Complex, powerful and emotive one minute; thoughtful, delicate and beautiful the next, Phil and his band-mates present a neat hybrid of the signature styles of labels like ECM and Ninja Tune all rolled into one.  So far the group has been seen nationwide at venues including the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and Lancaster Jazz Festival, Oliver’s Jazz Bar (London) and Schmazz (Newcastle) and are launching with a new name, a new album and a UK tour to bring it all together in July 2013.

Phil Meadows –saxophone

Phil’s music has taken him onto some of Europe’s most respected jazz platforms including the Bimhuis in Amsterdam where he was the youngest competitior as well as the only Briton and saxophonist in the final of the European Keep an Eye Jazz Soloist Competition 2011.  In 2010 he received the George Murphy Prize for Saxophone and toured extensively with his Quartet’ and 3point1.  His performance credits include live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC4 television and The Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Ronnie Scott’s and Glastonbury Festival.  He can also be seen performing nationwide as lead alto in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain and currently writes for JazzUK magazine.

Laura Jurd - trumpet

Laura Jurd is an exciting trumpet player, jazz musician and composer.  In 2012 she was awarded the ‘Worshipful Company Young Musician Award’ and released her debut album ‘Landing Ground’.  2011 saw her win the Dankworth prize for jazz composition and be named “One to Watch” by Jazzwise magazine.  As a diverse musician, she plays and writes a wide variety of music, drawing upon classical, jazz and folk influences and can be found playing with a number of ensembles including the London Soundpainting Orchestra, the Matt Roberts Big Band and the Elliot Galvin Group.

Elliot Galvin - piano

Elliot Galvin has played the piano since the age of 6, instantly gravitating towards jazz for its freedom of expression.  He has already performed with a number of well-established musicians despite his young age and has performed at a number of notable venues with his trio (comprised of his own compositions), including The Vortex, where he was met with a glowing review.  He has a broad range of taste and ability, studying composition as well as jazz at Trinity College of music (where he received a scholarship to study).  He cites his musical influences as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Brad Mehldau, Paul Bley, György Ligeti and Igor Stravinsky, amongst others.  He also takes influence from the artistic works of painters such as Mark Rothko and the poetry of Dylan Thomas.

Conor Chaplin - double bass

Conor Chaplin is a bass player of great skill and versatility.  Originating in Surrey he plays a key part in the 2010 Peter Whittingham Award winning jazz/punk outfit WorldService Project, a group in which he tours Europe extensively.  As part of WSP’s Match&Fuse project he has performed at Brecon, St Germain de Calberte, Swanage, Marsden and the London Jazz Festivals as well as in Paris, Lyon, Bergen and Trondheim.  Conor can also be seen performing with NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) amongst a host of other ensembles.  In 2011 he was awarded the Trinity Laban Jazz Achievement Award.

Simon Roth – drums

Roth is a regular and reliable presence on the London music scene, playing with folk, contemporary and jazz music groups as well as leading his own band Stories and being involved in Pop-Up Circus, a cross-genre platform for contemporary art.  Simon released his own debut album earlier this year and to date has contributed his talents to the groups of such high-profile artists as Kenny Wheeler, Mike Walker and Julian Arguelles.

“A great stage presence and an unforgettable instrumental style” – Jazzwise magazine

“We need new blood of this kind in the UK and world jazz scene to ensure jazz lives on” - UK Jazz Now

Jazz Services PRSF Jazz Promoters Award Scheme Evaluation Report, 2006 - 2010

Jazz Services has received the following press release from our friends at the Scottish Jazz Federation - see the next issue of JazzUK for a more in-depth report on their work. 

Exciting new opportunities for young jazz musicians!

The Scottish Jazz Federation is re-launching its popular and successful Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year competition to make it even more beneficial to Scotland’s burgeoning crop of young players.

Now in its seventh year, the competition, which has proved an invaluable stepping stone for musicians including the prize-winning, Berklee School of Music-trained pianist Alan Benzie and Ruaridh Pattison, who is currently leading the internationally acclaimed Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s saxophone section, is offering entrants greater incentives and opportunities including recordings and live performances that will enhance their career expectations.

From an initial audio audition, judged purely on the quality of entrants’ musicianship, ten semi-finalists will now advance to a mentoring weekend, where they will participate in workshops and receive advice on all aspects of working in the jazz sector before performing in a concert. Following this concert, the five top players chosen by a panel of judges headed by leading saxophonist Laura Macdonald will go forward to the final, which will be held in the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen on July 31 in partnership with Aberdeen International Youth Festival and Shell UK and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland.

The winner, as well as receiving £1000 in cash plus a further £1000 towards a demo recording, will feature in a high profile, six venue tour of Scotland. The prize will also include performances on BBC Radio Scotland’s Jazzhouse and at Glasgow and London Jazz Festivals 2014 and professional publicity materials. The Winner will also appear in a special concert on August 1 in Aberdeen’s award-winning jazz venue, the Blue Lamp, along with a number of previous winners.

Announcing the competition’s upgrade, the Scottish Jazz Federation’s Cathie Rae said: “This new format offers entrants an experience that will be both fun and valuable to them as musicians. Previous winners have all gone on to successful careers and we are confident that the main prize will really help to kick-start the winner’s career as a top jazz musician. We are grateful for the support of Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Shell UK and main sponsor, Creative Scotland.”

The time line for entrants is: all entries for the initial audio panel must be received by May 29th at 5pm. Semi-finalists will be announced on June 3 and the mentoring weekend will take place in South Lanarkshire over the weekend of June 7-9.

For further information and an application form contact email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , visit the SJF website at www.scottishjazzfederation.com or call the office on 01368 866895 for an application form.

Note to editors: The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year is organised and produced by the Scottish Jazz Federation (SCIO), Charity No. SC043990, developing jazz in Scotland specifically to benefit the public by increasing the availability of high quality jazz music and education in Scotland and the level of participation as players, learners and listeners.

High Quality Photographs of previous winners: available from Cathie Rae, director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Tel: 01368 866895 / 07765 005691.

9th May 2013

Sponsored and supported by PPL, the ninth annual All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group awards was held in the House of Commons’ Terrace Pavilion last night, with a large crowd of jazz’s great and good turning out to see the winners receive their awards and celebrate the cream of the UK’s jazz scene.

Hosting the evening was newsreader and broadcaster Moira Stuart, an ardent support of jazz who some may know appeared as the narrator on saxophonist Soweto Kinch’s second album, while musical accompaniment was provided by the wonderful James Pearson and the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

Nominations were made by the public via the Jazz Services website and whittled down to 3 nominations in each category by an independent panel.  The final winners were chosen from this list by APPJAG members themselves.

Guy Barker receives his Musician of the Year award from Elaine Delmar

 The award were presented by a selection of specially invited guests, including former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, singers Ian Shaw and Gregory Porter (in town for a gig tonight following a recent appearance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival).  The great Elaine Delmar presented the Musician of the Year award to trumpeter Guy Barker, but was pleasantly surprised by being kept onstage to receive her own accolade, the APPJAG Special Award, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the music she has made her own.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Jazz Musician of the Year: Guy Barker

London born trumpeter Guy Barker has been a well-known musician on the UK scene for 3 decades, since his early days as a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He’s worked with many fine bands led by the likes of Gil Evans, Georgie Fame, Cleo Laine and Clark Tracey. He’s the first-call bandleader and arranger for the gala opening night concert of the London Jazz Festival, ‘Jazz Voice’ ,  working with top vocalists and matching them with songs from the jazz repertoire. He’s also a regular arranger and band leader for BBC Radio 2’s flagship live programme, ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’, working with the BBC concert orchestra, for which he’s recently been appointed Associate Composer.

Jazz Album of the Year: John Surman ‘Saltash Bells’ (ECM)

This extraordinary solo recording can be seen as saxophonist and composer John Surman’s personal sound portrait of his early years in the West Country, and with its beautiful blend of reeds and electronics summons the mists, moors and mysteries in hauntingly evocative style.

Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Impossible Gentlemen

Formed in 2010 and following from their debut album and tour, this quartet has already earned the moniker ‘jazz supergroup’.  And with much justification: the personnel boasts UK’s Gwilym Simcock and Mike Walker (joint bandleaders) with - from the U.S. -  Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. The coming together of these four masters has created a band steeped with individual experience that has produced its own independent and thoroughly engaging sound.

The Impossible Gentlemen's Gwilym Simcock and Mike Walker, with Gregory Porter

Live Jazz Award of the Year: The Vortex, London

Celebrating its 25th anniversary year and volunteer-led, this not-for-profit venue promotes 400 performances a year of emerging and established talent.  Short listed by Music Week as one of the best live promoters of 2011 and voted into its Top 10 London venues by Time Out readers in 2012, notable performances in recent years have included the Portico Quartet, Three Trapped Tigers and Pete Wareham, Polar Bear and The Final Terror, Evan Parker, Dame Cleo Laine, Tim Berne and Jerry Bergonzi.

Jazz Journalist of the Year: Rob Adams

Originally a double bassist, Rob has had a distinguished career as a promoter as well as a journalist. He has been jazz columnist for The Herald since 1988 covering Scottish traditional music, Americana and world music as well as jazz. He is widely regarded as Scotland's leading jazz journalist. He is very supportive of Scottish jazz talent, and his acute ears and lively writing style – along with his perseverance - have done much to raise the profile of jazz in Scotland. In his words, “I'm currently involved in persuading the health authorities that live music should be considered as one of your five-a-day.”

Jazz Broadcaster of the Year: Mike Chadwick

The jazz DJ Mike Chadwick has broad tastes and an enthusiast’s approach on air. A popular live DJ in venues throughout the country over the years, Chadwick has acquired a cult status over 14 years at Jazz FM.  In more recent times, he has contributed some typical mixes of new releases and dance-oriented Latin and fusion music to the Jazz, and he continues to be an open-minded and innovative concert programmer as a Music Officer at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, Cumbria.

Mike Chadwick with his award, presented to him by Digby Fairweather.

Jazz Publication of the Year: Catherine Tackley - Benny Goodman’s Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Benny Goodman’s 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall is considered to be one of the most important live moments in jazz’s history.  75 years on, Catherine Tackley examines the impact and influence of both the concert itself and the subsequent recording, released in 1950 on Columbia Records.  Exhaustively researched and of equal interest to jazz fans as well as jazz scholars, the book is a prime example of the sort of in-depth research that helps to constantly re-invigorate jazz as a musical genre and a subject of academic study.

Jazz Education Award: Nick Smart

 In his role as Head of Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music, Nick Smart has become one of the leading figures in jazz education, both in the UK and internationally. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in 1998 he has been committed to education alongside a busy playing career, and already nurtured several generations of future jazz musicians. As a trumpet player Nick continues to record his own projects and play in many leading groups, touring the world as a soloist. He has recently overseen the acquisition of the archive of jazz composer Kenny Wheeler by the RAM.

 Services to Jazz Award: Stan Tracey CBE

Pianist and composer Stan Tracey is not just one of the enduring giants of British jazz - and still in scorching form at 86 - he’s an international jazz star whose artistry has been acclaimed by some of the music’s most famous creators. His 1965 masterpiece Under Milk Wood is probably his most acclaimed work, but he has also composed some of the most creative homages to the Ellington  style written since the Duke's death, led every kind of band from duos to orchestras, played free-improvisation and swing alike, and had entire festivals devoted to his work. A true original, Stan Tracey is one of a gifted handful of homegrown artists who have introduced British jazz to the world.

Stan Tracey accepts his Services to Jazz Award.

APPJAG Special Award: Elaine Delmar

A prestigious figure in the history books of UK jazz, Elaine Delmar has established herself as a singer of great acclaim and ability.  Her great versatility sees her equally at home with a small group club setting, as evidenced by her regular appearances at Ronnie Scott's, or entertaining large audiences by appearing in West End shows or guesting with ensembles such as Wynthon Marsalis' Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra.  Her fantastic contribution to the UK's jazz scene means she is a deserved recipient of the APPJAG Special Award.

"The Parliamentary Jazz Awards is the way MPs and Peers of all political parties aim to support British jazz by recognising and honouring the amazing musical talent we have in this country.  The star studded names of this year’s winners speak for themselves and we are very grateful to PPL for sponsoring the Awards," said Michael Connarty MP, APPJAG Co-Chairman.

The APPJAG has 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, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside of Parliament.  The Group’s officers are Co-Chairs Michael Connarty MP and Lord Colwyn, Secretary: Baroness Coussins and Treasurer, Kelvin Hopkins MP.

The APPJAG has 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, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside of Parliament.  The Group’s officers are Co-Chairs Michael Connarty MP and Lord Colwyn, Secretary: Baroness Coussins and Treasurer, Kelvin Hopkins MP.

Jazz Services would like to extend its congratulations to all winners and nominees, and thanks to all individuals and parties who made this year’s awards a possibility, particularly the hardworking team at PPL.

All photos copyright of Hayley Madden: www.hayleymadden.com

WorldService Project

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

Line-up:

Dave Morecroft – keys

Tim Ower – saxophones

Raphael Clarkson – trombone

Conor Chaplin – bass

Liam Waugh - drums

http://worldserviceproject.tumblr.com/ 

Describing themselves as ‘punk-jazz-funk specialists’, WorldService Project are embarking on their first full UK tour since 2011, taking their recently-recorded second album Fire In A Pet Shop on the road and showcasing their intense, lively and often downright funky live show.  As well as a touring and recording band, WSP forms the backbone of the acclaimed Match&Fuse initiative, which has seen the band working with similar groups and scenes throughout Europe, hosting shows and residencies and culminating in last summer’s inaugural Match&Fuse festival in London.

Led by pianist/composer Dave Morecroft, WSP’s music speaks through dark, playful building passages, winding through dissonance, complex rhythmic manipulation and downright silliness.  Other times it draws on the language of 20th Century Classical composers layered over boisterous grooves more commonly found in albums by heavy rock artists.  With influences as wide ranging as Frank Zappa, Loose Tubes, Stravinsky and Meshuggah, the result is high-octane experimental but accessible music with a smile on its face.

Dave Morecroft - keys

During his education, Dave has studied improvisation and composition under the likes of John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Julian Arguelles, Nikki Illes, Mike Walker, Jonathan Eato, John Potter, Tim Howell and Ambrose Field.  Dave also formed WorldService Project (WSP) during this time as the main focus of his compositional work, and in 2010 this ensemble won the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, and received Jazz Services Touring support on two separate occasions for tours of the UK.  He has also curated the popular Match&Fuse festival, and aims to take this further into Europe in future years.  Since 2009 Dave has also been active on London’s improvised music scene, performing with a host of top players.  He also featured prominently at the 2011 London Jazz Festival: a solo piano set at The Forge in support of Robert Mitchell, a cross-arts trio with Leafcutter John and Gina Southgate, and a WSP performance on the Barbican Freestage.

Tim Ower - saxophones

Tim is a graduate of Leeds College of Music.  Over the last few years, Tim has had the opportunity to perform in some of the most renowned venues and festivals in the UK and Europe including the London Jazz Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Vortex Jazz Club, Camden Jazz Cafe, Brecon Jazz Festival, Tomorrowland (Belgium), Awakenings Festival (Amsterdam) and Oslo Jazz Festival. He has played alongside Dennis Rollins, Gerard Presencer, Andy Milne (Ravi Coltrane), Dave Marquee (Eric Clapton), Daniel Pearce (Dizzee Rascal), Luke Slater, Zalon Thompson (Amy Winehouse) and has recorded for BBC radio, WDR radio and HMV studios (Calcutta).

Raphael Clarkson - trombone

Raph’s performing work is varied; he’s a member of the musically eclectic Blowpipes Trombone Trio, the Real Vibe pop and soul band and plays salsa with Orqesta La Rebelion (having previously played for Roberto Pla), as well as early music ensemble Charivari Agreable.  He's also played for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Callum Au Big Band, Chaos Collective’s Chaos Orchestra and the Overground Collective Big Band. Having studied music at the universities of York and Oxford the majority of his time is spent working with WorldService Project, who recently represented the UK at the international 12 Points Festival in Portugal.  Raph can also be found freelancing and teaching in London; as well as performing work, he runs educational projects for Match&Fuse as well as the BeCreative Workshop organisation, which he co-founded.

Conor Chaplin - bass

Conor is currently studying at Trinity College of Music and has always been involved in a variety of musical genres and styles.  Aside from WSP he is a member of a number of other groups including fusion quartet Outboard Motor, afro-beat/funk outfit Benin City, and the Laura Jurd Quartet.  Alongside his work with Laura, he has also worked closely with Corrie Dick and Elliot Galvin to develop the Chaos Collective.  Not limited to the arena of jazz, Conor has played in numerous settings including musical theatre productions in London and the south, pantomimes, and classical concerts, including playing tenor saxophone with the New London Sinfonia.

Liam Waugh - drums

Liam Waugh studied in New York at the world renowned Drummers Collective under the direction of Kim Plainfield, Frank Katz, Matt Garrison and Pat Petrillo. On returning to the UK he moved to London where he studied at Drumtech with Paul Elliot and Darryn Farrugia. His drumming is a subtle mixture of heavy pocket playing and fierce chops, inspired by the groove masters of the James Brown era to the more recent groove influences of The Roots, J-Dilla and Robert Glasper. Aside from working with WorldService Project, Liam also tours regularly with UK, west end and international theatre productions as well as working in the studio.

“WorldService Project sound capable of injecting some good old-fashioned fun into the younger UK jazz scene” – Jazzwise

“…tight, deftly structured and grittily grooving music” – John Fordham, The Guardian

“…sensational young band…play contemporary jazz that vaults over stylistic boundaries and SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.” - The Crack Magazine.com 

END

Theo Jackson

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

Pic: Mark Bassett

Line-up:

Theo Jackson - piano, vocals

Shane Allessio - double bass

Jason Reeve - drums

Nathaniel Facey - saxophone (duo and quartet only)

www.theojackson.com 

A charismatic singer and pianist, Theo Jackson frames his original contemporary material with a strong respect for and knowledge of the jazz tradition.  The Theo Jackson Band in its current form came together in early 2011 with Theo’s first booking at the famous 606 Jazz Club.  Saxophonist Nathaniel Facey joined the group for the first time that night and Jason Reeve had occupied the drum chair for a couple of months. Two weeks later Shane joined the fray as a last minute stand-in and soon became the regular double-bassist.

Since then the group has gone on to form a tight unit with great interaction both on and off stage.In September 2011 the group recorded their first album featuring nine of Theo’s original tunes, joined in the studio by guitarist Jamie McCredie and saxophonist Brandon Allen. The album was released to a sold-out Pizza Express Jazz Club in January 2012.Nathaniel and Theo have since also set up a duo project which has been well received at jazz clubs and festivals alike.  They performed for a sold-out audience at Oxford Jazz Festival in 2012, and and all tickets have already gone for their appearance at this year's Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

Their Jazz Services tour will see them build on the momentum they have already established in the capital by touring nationally and plan to record a second album towards the end of the year, continuing to explore, and enjoy, the music they love

Theo Jackson – vocals, piano

Over the last year Theo has continued to establish a growing reputation as a fascinating song-writer and performer. His debut album Jericho features original material exclusively and was released to a sold-out Pizza Express Jazz Club in January 2012. Since then Theo’s new duo project with Nathaniel Facey was introduced at Oxford Jazz Festival. He then toured to New Zealand where he made his debut TV appearance and opened for saxophone legend Bob Mintzer.  He will be appearing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year, where he has been invited to give a workshop on songwriting.

Nathaniel Facey - alto saxophone

As a soloist Nathaniel has been celebrated with the 2013 Jazz FM Awards ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ and the 2010 Worshipful Company of Musicians ‘jazz medal for young musicians’ award. As one of the co-founding members of Empirical he has also won a MOBO and a Parliamentary Jazz Award.Nathaniel is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music.  Studying with former Jazz Messenger Jean Toussaint and Julian Siegel, he also gained early recording experience and toured extensively with Denys Baptiste among many others.

Shane Allessio - double bass

Shane Allessio is an improvising acoustic/electric bassist, composer/arranger, bandleader and educator.He studied in New England at both Berklee College of Music and the Stinnett Academy of Music, where his teachers included Jim Stinnett and Rufus Reid.His playing has taken him on many international tours of North America, South America, Europe and Asia.  He was formerly the principal bassist with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, and section bassist with the Cape Ann Symphony.

Jason Reeve - drums

Jason Reeve is a highly sought after drummer and percussionist with a wide range of performing and recording experience.  He has shared a stage with such luminaries as Joshua Redman and Randy Brecker whilst studying at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he achieved a Masters Degree in Music.  A student of legendary teacher Bob Armstrong, he has toured the UK and Europe extensively performing at major festivals in different genres and has recorded radio sessions at Maida Vale Studios for BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music.

“One of the most interesting jazz vocalists and composers to emerge on the British scene in recent years.  Jackson can flit between ballads and rapid-fire scatting in the blink of an eye.” - The Telegraph

"Soulful, earthy vocal-led jazz from this impressive young singer with a powerful yet subtle voice, Jackson also has a knack of penning Stevie Wonder-esque originals that avoid the usual crooner clichés…Jackson's one to watch out for." - Time Out

"Theo Jackson leads his band from the piano, with a confidence and assurance that comes from being a true musician, and the trust and knowledge that the other guys on the stand are too." - LondonJazzNews

* duo, w/ Nathaniel Facey

**quartet, w/ Nathaniel Facey

The Dixie Ticklers

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

Line-up:

Dom James – clarinet/vocals

William Rixon – trumpet

Nicholas Costley-White – guitar

Tommy Antonio – double bass/vocals

Daoud Merchant – drums/washboard

Zands Duggan – percussion

website

Led by clarinettist and composer Dom James, this unique six piece ensemble combine a deep love and understanding of the feel, templates and language of early jazz styles whilst expressing each instrumentalist’s own musical voice.  Their debut album Standing Pat is an in-depth study of the classic New Orleans sounds, and the band has put today's date on early jazz, teaming it up alongside groove-based shuffles and thoroughly modern treatments whilst staying true to the polyphonic sound that shaped the music of the initial pioneers such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton.

Meeting originally through the University of London Big Band and Guildhall School of Music, this hard working group has built a fierce live reputation over the past six years within jazz, blues and the acoustic scene.  2012 took them to many of the great musical events in UK and Europe including Green Man festival and the Swanage, Bury St Edmunds and London Jazz Festivals, along with three weeks in Australia playing some of the key jazz venues and festivals along the East Coast.  A must for anyone with an ear for the past and an eye on the future, The Dixie Ticklers are a very exciting live prospect.

Dom James – clarinet/vocals (leader)

A prolific player and composer, Dom James has performed all over the world with various groups and most recently with The Jazz Vipers (New Orleans).  Having studied with Mark Van de Wiel, Pete Ripper and Evan Christopher, he has a broad musical knowledge and output.  He is the founder and leader of The Dixie Ticklers, and his compositions and arrangements have made their way into the repertoires of a few UK big bands and jazz groups.  Dom also writes music for media, and has numerous film and television credits.

Daoud Merchant – drums/washboard

Daoud began playing in secondary school and spent his childhood studying at the Junior Royal Academy of Music.  He later graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was in the winning band for the 2008 Guildhall School Jazz Award, and was awarded a Scholarship for Outstanding Jazz Musicians by Yamaha and JazzWise Magazine upon graduating, while in 2010 he was nominated for the Musicians' Company Young Jazz Musician Award. Daoud has performed in various venues in the UK and abroad with artists such as John Law, Juliet Kelly, Michael Garrick, Roby Lakatos and Emprical, and has recorded in a variety of genres and ensembles for television broadcast and CD release.

Nicholas Costley-White - guitar

Nick is a guitarist based in London who studied jazz guitar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Phil Robson and John Parricelli where he graduated with a first class Honours Degree. Nick has had a wealth of performing experience leading his own quartet playing original compositions as well as freelancing in a variety of ensembles including the Dixie Ticklers and the Tommy Andrews Quintet. Nick has performed in some of the city’s best venues including the Barbican, LSO St. Luke’s, the Vortex, King’s Place, the 606 Club has had the opportunity to perform internationally. In 2011 Nick was awarded the Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarship, and in 2010 won the UK Jazz Radio "Band of the Year" award with the Sam Braysher Quartet.

William Rixon - trumpet

William graduated from the Guildhall School of Music having studied both jazz and classical trumpet with Steve Fishwick, Martin Hathaway, Nick Smart, Noel Langley and Anne McAneney. He represented the school at the 2009 IASJ jazz meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, with David Liebman and they subsequently performed some of Will's original compositions and arrangements together back in the UK. William writes for and leads various projects as well as playing with some of London's most vital ensembles, including the London Jazz Orchestra, Gillespiana and the Gareth Lockrane Big Band. He has also performed and recorded with Katy B, Ghostpoet, Lianne La Havas, the Ronnie Scotts Big Band and the BBC Big Band with whom he was a featured soloist on Radio 3, and he has recently played in the horn section for Joss Stone’s world tour.

Tommy Antonio – double bass/vocals

Tommy is a double bassist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. He is the assistant director of the jazz and gospel choir The London Vocal Project and has performed with artists ranging from Cleo Laine, Bobby McFerrin to Kenny Wheeler.  As a composer Tommy writes and arranges for his a capella vocal group The Renegade Vocal Pilots, and commercially for internet based advertising.  He is currently writing and producing a solo EP entitled 'Tender Oh' due for release in 2012.

Zands Duggan – percussion

A graduate from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Zands Duggan is one of the most in demand hand percussionists in the UK.  He has played all over the world, most recently with Karl Jenkins and the 2011 world tour of The Old Vic’s production of Richard III staring Kevin Spacey.

“The Dixie Ticklers are one big, refreshing and fun dose of music making. They make it look and sound easy. I love them!” - Stewart Collins, Henley Festival UK

“The band manages to bring in a deep scholarly understanding of New Orleans and Dixieland jazz without letting it undermine their enthusiasm for performing, and they manage to bring a contemporary London edge to the music while being true to its origins. It really is a fresh re-invention driven by joy.” - The Jazz Breakfast

Sam Leak’s Aquarium

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

Line-up:

Sam Leak – piano

James Allsop – saxophone

Calum Gourlay – double bass

Joshua Blackmore - drums

www.samleak.com 

Aquarium was formed in 2008 by pianist and composer Sam Leak.  The group features James Allsopp on reeds, Calum Gourlay on double bass, Joshua Blackmore on drums, and Leak on piano.  In 2009 they recorded their debut album which was subsequently released to great critical acclaim in 2011.  The album received rave reviews in the national press and extensive radio play on Jazz FM, and BBC Radio 2 and 3 in particular. The group was tipped by Selwyn Harris and Mike Hobart as Jazzwise’s ‘Ones to Watch in 2012’ and the album was listed as the 6^th top album in MOJO Magazine’s International Jazz Chart for 2011.

In April 2012 they returned to the studio to record their second album, entitled Places.  The recently released album superbly showcases the wonderful sympathy between each of the players as well as their own individual talents.  Leak named the album to evoke sensations and memories of various important places in his life, and as such the resulting recording that invites the listener to explore a very personal musical world.

Sam Leak – piano

Sam is a pianist based in Greenwich, and has performed with musicians including Gareth Lockrane, Martin Speake and Stan Sulzmann, and has played in the bands of musicians including Anita Wardell, NYC Saxophonist Arun Luthra and the UK-based Australian Saxophonist Ray Warleigh. He has performed at most of the best known venues and festivals within the UK, including Ronnie Scotts, The Southbank Centre, and Brecon Jazz Festival. He has been described by broadcaster Helen Mayhew as “one of the brightest young stars in the jazz piano galaxy, a heavenly improviser, and a brilliant prospect for the future.”

James Allsopp – saxophone

Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Allsop has received a great deal of critical acclaim for his own bands Fraud and The Golden Age Of Steam, and has played with a number of notable jazz musicians including Django Bates, Polar Bear, Kit Downes and Kenny Wheeler. He has won numerous awards including the 2007 BBC Jazz Award for best record, the 2008 BBC Jazz Award for Innovation, and the Ronnie Scott Award for Best New Act.

Joshua Blackmore – drums

Joshua is a highly regarded drummer and a co-founder of the hugely popular trio Troyka, which also features organist Kit Downes and guitarist Chris Montague. He has played with many of the best known names in UK jazz including Tom Cawley, Mike Outram and Martin Speake, as well as having played with the US saxophonist Seamus Blake. With his group Curios he won the BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-up Best Band Award in 2008, and the same group was described by MOJO Magazine as “the most formidable piano trio in the UK.”

Calum Gourlay – double bass

Double bassist and composer Calum Gourlay is a leading light amongst the new generation of jazz musicians in Europe. As a bassist, he is already known for his deep warm tone, controlled execution as both supporter and improviser, and rock solid time and pulse. He plays in many of the best loved bands in the UK including the Kit Downes Quintet, the George Crowley Quartet and the Josh Arcoleo Quartet.

“Leak is a committed musician, expertly constructing flowing, natural, singing lines and also unafraid of taking risks. His careful touch allows him to draw a distinctive, personal sound from the piano." – Music OMH 

“Multi-faceted and smart as a pin, this is poetic chamber jazz of a very high order" - MOJO 

“an artist of comparable promise...Leak is a subtle storyteller who keeps the grooves and colours changing.” - The Guardian 

The Lyric Ensemble

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

Line-up:

Nette Robinson – vocals

Tony Woods – saxophone/alto clarinet/flute

Nikki Iles – piano

Matt Ridley – double bass

www.lyricensemble.co.uk

The Lyric Ensemble was the last creative endeavour of the late Michael Garrick MBE, the celebrated composer and pianist who sadly passed away in 2011.  Prior to his death, Garrick had been working with singer Nette Robinson on a wide range of his compositions and arrangements involving poetry and music, often writing specifically for her voice.  The partnership resulted in the creation of The Lyric Ensemble, which combined Garrick and Robinson’s elegant collaboration with the skills of saxophonist Tony Woods and bassist Matt Ridley.  Following Garrick’s untimely death, pianist Nikki Iles lent her talents to the line-up.

The group has to date has released two outstanding albums, 2010’s Remembered Time – Garrick’s final recording - and 2012’s Home Thoughts, both of which stand as fitting reminders of Michael’s life and work as well as excellent releases in their own right.  This tour will showcase music from both albums, and the group has also begun writing new material in a similar vein, setting poetic lyrics to music.

Nette Robinson – vocals

Nette Robinson began a musical collaboration with the legendary composer/pianist/arranger/educator Michael Garrick MBE in 2009. From that year up until his untimely death in November 2011, they worked closely and performed and recorded many of his songs. They performed all over the UK, including at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and the Pizza Express Jazz Club. The first album, Remembered Time (2010), received great critical acclaim, including a 4 star review in MOJO Magazine. She was the vocalist for the BBC Radio 3's live broadcast of Michael Garrick's Peter Pan Suite.

Tony Woods – saxophone

A graduate of Keele University, Leeds College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music Tony received awards for saxophone, outstanding performance and the soloist's prize at the Dunkirk International Jazz Festival. To explore the possibilities of improvising on English classical music, Tony formed the Avalon Trio. The debut album Forlana was released in 2011 to great critical acclaim, resulting in air play and interviews on BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM. With Tony Woods Project he has recorded three highly commended albums of original, folk inspired compositions: High Seas, Lowlands and Wind Shadows.  TWP has toured the UK extensively, performing at festivals across the UK.

Nikki Iles – piano

Nikki Iles was a founder member of the Creative Jazz Orchestra.  In 1996 she won a Special BT British Jazz Award for contributions to jazz and recorded an acclaimed CD, Treasure Trove, with Stan Sulzmann. Recordings with Tina May and Martin Speake followed and this was the beginning of three important musical relationships.

Nikki is also a composer who has had several nominations from the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award and commissions from the Creative Jazz Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, the London Philharmonic and Tim Garland's Northern Underground Orchestra.  She was also nominated for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, her own group, The Printmakers.

Matt Ridley – double bass

Matt trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music, where he graduated with Distinction and was awarded the 'Bass Student of the Year' award.  Following this he went on to study at Trinity College of Music, picking up the college’s award for excellence as well as the Archer's Scholarship for big band.

He plays in all of Mike Garrick's many ensembles, including quartet with Martin Hathaway, Mike Garrick Jazz Orchestra, and the 'MJQ Celebration'. He has recorded and toured extensively with Darius Brubeck. He is a founder member of the SE London Jazz Collective, a community of musicians in South East London hosting innovative, improvised live music.

“A great vocalist I’ve just discovered, Nette Robinson who does a terrific job on some difficult melody lines…beautifully sung and played by Michael Garrick’s Lyric Ensemble.” - Claire Martin, BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line Up

“A suitable closing statement from Garrick, a well-crafted album of great beauty and sensitivity that showed him to be in rude creative health until the end.” - The Jazz Mann