Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

Jazz Services has revceived the following press release from our friends at NYJO, with news of the expanded rehearsal structure for the organisation.

NYJO is also advertising for the hiring of a new MD for the NYJO Jazz Ensemble - further details and application information can be found on their website at the following link:

http://www.nyjo.org.uk/nyjo-recruiting-md-for-the-nyjo-jazz-ensemble

NYJO announces its new configuration – NYJO and The NYJO Academy

 Following an extraordinarily successful year in 2012 (including performances at the BBC Prom, Snape Maltings and a critically-acclaimed new album THE CHANGE) and consequent increased demand for NYJO’s activities, the NYJO rehearsal structure will change and expand.

 The successful autumn 2012 move to the London Centre of Contemporary Music has enabled NYJO to consider this expansion and a more structured set of rehearsal and workshop arrangements. NYJO is therefore pleased to announce a new concept: the NYJO Academy, which will encompass all NYJO’s educational workshops for younger musicians, as a linked but separate activity to the rehearsals for the main gigging band.

 From February 2013, the  NYJO Academy will run the following Saturday workshops, an increase on previous activity:

- The NYJO Jazz Ensemble. 10am. Guideline: up to age 16, approximate standard ABRSM classical grades 3-5 or jazz grades 2-4. Focuses on ensemble performance skills in a large jazz ensemble: an introduction to standard big band repertoire, interpreting notation, familiarity with a variety of grooves from jazz and related genres and jazz improvisation. Acting MD: Tom Stone (post to be recruited).

- The NYJO Academy Big Band. 10am. Guideline: This band is for musicians with technical abilities and musical qualifications that suggest a possible professional career, but who are not yet ready for the NYJO main band. For most the age range would be 17+, but exceptional younger players would be considered. More complex and demanding repertoire, some written for the NYJO main band or other professional level compositions and arrangements. Experience in large jazz ensemble performance is expected, with music reading, improvisational abilities and overall jazz style developing well. A possible preparatory route for audition/selection for the main NYJO performing ensemble. MD: Paul Eshelby.

- The NYJO Academy Vocal Workshop. 10.30am. For singers who are keen to experience and develop their skills in jazz vocal singing. The workshop will be more integrated with the other ensembles and will include the chance to sing with a band each week. Coach: Jess Dowdeswell.

- NYJO London. 2pm. Guideline: up to 18. Focuses on smaller ensemble and improvisation skills. The ability to sight-read to a fair level would be useful. MD: Phil Meadows.

In addition, the main gigging band (NYJO) will rehearse starting at 10.30am. Participation in this will be strictly by audition or invitation of MD Mark Armstrong. NYJO now runs yearly auditions in London and a northern city. With the support of the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund NYJO is able to offer travel bursaries to rehearsals and gigs for exceptionally talented musicians in higher education outside of London so that distance and finance need be no hindrance to participation.

NYJO Executive Chairman Nigel Tully commented:

"This new structure will improve the learning opportunities for students whilst giving more focus to individual development of ensemble jazz playing and improvisation skills for instrumentalists and singers. It will also enable us to work more closely with Music Hubs and other partners."

NYJO MD Mark Armstrong noted:

"It’s a hugely exciting time for the whole organisation and I’m delighted that, despite these straightened times, we are actually able to expand our offering to young musicians developing a passion for jazz. I look forward with huge interest to following their progress!"

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is one of Britain’s longest-running ensembles for young people under 25 playing big-band jazz. Founded by Bill Ashton OBE in 1965, the orchestra offered aspiring young musicians the opportunity to rehearse, write and gain experience in live performance at a time when UK jazz education was in its infancy. Since then the orchestra and its training bands have met to rehearse almost every Saturday morning to deliver a creatively challenging experience within an informal environment.

NYJO features 23 musicians and vocalists from around the country, most of whom go on to become professional musicians. Alumni include Guy Barker, Mark Nightingale, Gerard Presencer, Pete Long, Dennis and Winston Rollins and Amy Winehouse. Members are encouraged to write their own arrangements and compositions, thereby creating a diverse repertoire to draw from in addition to classic big-band standards.

Along with UK venues ranging from theatres and clubs to the Barbican Hall in London, Symphony Hall in Birmingham and Usher Hall in Edinburgh, NYJO has visited Europe, the USA, Australia and New Zealand and appeared on TV and radio. Schools concerts and workshops are also an important element in NYJO’s schedule, as part of its aim to raise the profile of jazz among young people. Recent highlights have included the orchestra’s debut at the Vortex Jazz Club in London, gigs at the Wigan and Scarborough Jazz Festivals, multiple national TV and radio appearances including a televised performance in the BBC Proms and the appointment of Mark Armstrong as Artistic and Music Director. 2013 gigs include the Gateshead International Jazz Festival and the annual residency at Ronnie Scott’s.

Media Enquiries: Stephen Chamberlain E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it T: 020 7494 1733

The February/March issue of JazzUK features Robert Mitchell, Derby Jazz and Corey Mwamba, the new NorVol Jazz initiative and the latest prospects from the youth scene in HotHouse, along with highlights from February's GIGS listings guide, interviews with JSL touring bands and more.

Issue 109's cover photo is courtesy of Brian O'Connor.  Brian is a well established photographer who has very kindly donated his entire collection of jazz photos to Jazz Services.  His superb archive of images can be viewed at Brian's website, http://www.imagesofjazz.com/.

To download the full magazine as it appears in print, click the link below. 

Click the link below to download the February 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.

The following video from 2012's Rochester Jazz Festival, filmed by our Board of Trustee's own Sue Edwards, will hopefully give you an idea of what Made In The UK is all about, and how it provides a platform to UK musicians in America:

Video editing by FrazzleFish.

And here is ESIP Director John Ellson being interviewed by a local news crew about the series:

The Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra were the stars of the show on Wednesday 16th January as they took over the Atlee Suite in the House of Commons' Portcullis House.  The young players made the trip to London to show off their skills for a 'celebration of youth jazz' event held by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and supported by PPL.

Each year PPL helps sponsor a youth jazz ensemble to work with a major guest artist, culminating in a live performance.  This year it was the Devon groups turn, and teamed up with them for the gig were Mike and Kate Westbrook, who appeared alongside DYJO for the Portcullis House performance.

The ten-piece group was conducted by Brian Moore, and played through two sets, culminating with a great version of the Duke Ellington/Barney Bigard number Mood Indigo.  With this kind of high-profile support and tutelage from PPL and the Westbrooks, young groups like the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra will surely go on to produce some great names to help brighten the UK jazz scene in the future.

DYJO with members of APPJAG and PPL.

Kate Westbrook with DYJO

Mike Westbrook with DYJO

All photos courtesy of Hayley Madden.

Jazz Services has received the following press release from PRS for Music Foundation, with information on another significant funding initiative for artists and bands in 2013.

See the full press release below:

PRS for Music Foundation selected to deliver new MUSIC INDUSTRY TALENT DEVELOPMENT FUND on behalf of Arts Council England.

PRS for Music Foundation is excited to announce that it has been selected by Arts Council England to manage and deliver the new MUSIC INDUSTRY TALENT DEVELOPMENT FUND – the first fund of its kind in the UK – which will inject more than £500,000 into the music industry over the next two years.

The fund has been set up to provide vital financial support which will help talented artists and bands to take their career to another level. Grants of up to £15k will be available, supporting emerging and mid career artists to develop their recording, writing, performing and touring ambitions.

PRSF is contributing £50k to the scheme, and will work in partnership with other influential music industry bodies (to be announced in the coming months) to maximise resources available to the broad range of musicians who might benefit from this fund.

Inspired by examples of other countries’ support for their contemporary and popular music industries, Arts Council England Chief Executive Alan Davey, said: “It’s the Arts Council’s job to champion the arts in its many varied forms and for all the arts that means supporting the talent who make it happen. Given the current tough economic climate this job is as important as ever.

“Changes in the financial environment means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for talent to find the right kind of investment at the right time to allow them to get to the stage of making a living from creating and performing music. That’s what this fund is all about – I’m passionate about talent that has something to say being able to say it and be heard. This fund is the beginning of something that I hope will grow, and that we will learn from.

“It’s great being able to develop this programme in partnership PRS for Music Foundation and in a small way to help the music industry in this country – and the talent that drives it – to remain as strong and vibrant as ever.”

Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of PRS for Music Foundation, said: “As the UK's leading funder of new music and the songwriters who create it, we're proud to be delivering and contributing to this crucial talent development fund. Arts Council England has shown a real understanding of the music industry's current challenges by making new investment available to talented solo artists and bands who need financial support to break through to the next level. We're looking forward to using our 12 years experience as a music industry funder and our extensive network of industry partners, experts, talented songwriters and musicians to ensure that this fund has a tangible and lasting impact.”

The Music Industry Talent Development Fund will be launched to the public in May.  More details will be published on our website www.prsformusicfoundation.com over the coming months.

For more information about the Music Industry Talent Development Fund please contact Tamara Salhab at Arts Council England - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 020 79736890.

For more information about PRS for Music Foundation please contact Sarah Thirtle This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About PRS for Music Foundation

PRS for Music Foundation is the UK's leading funder of new music across all genres.  Since 2000 PRS for Music Foundation has given more than £14 million to over 4,250 new music initiatives by awarding grants and leading partnership programmes that support music sector development. Widely respected as an adventurous and proactive funding body, PRS for Music Foundation supports an exceptional range of new music activity – including British Music Abroad, a music export scheme run in partnership with UKTI, ACE and Musicians Union, for bands attending showcases overseas.

www.prsformusicfoundation.com

About Arts Council England

The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

 www.artscouncil.org.ukoundation.com

Owen Bryce, trumpeter, trombonist, pianist, composer and arranger, is the founder member of George Webb's Dixielanders which at one time included Humphrey Lyttelton, he formed the Original Dixielanders which included Chris Barber and Cy Laurie. Since 1956 he has led his own band. He has written four books in the 'Let's Play Jazz' series as well as 'The George Webb Dixielanders - My Part' - the story of the first 10 years of British revivalist jazz.

He started running his practical jazz courses in 1956 when Middlesex County asked him to start a course at Hendon Technical College. As a result The Workers Music Association asked Owen to take a course at their Summer School in Worley, Yorkshire and this carried on for twenty one years.

Evening classes followed very soon with courses in Lewisham and Chiswick held for many years on a regular basis and then many other, including residential courses, virtually all over the country. When Owen faced closure of some of the regular venues he sought for other venues for weekend residential courses and continued to run these independently of educational establishments. His son took over the organisational side of things some three years ago so that Owen could focus on teaching only. To all the young jazz musicians’ dismay he will teach his last weekend course in April this year.

Owen Bryce’s courses have been attended by huge numbers of people over the years and these will be sorely missed. He prides himself on the fact that on average 90% of all students have been to the course before and the other 10% are recommendations. This is why he did not need to advertise ever after his first course! He also believes he has found the right formula. In his words: “A typical weekend would start on the first night with a get together followed by an informal jam session. Four teaching sessions on the next day with an evening lecture and a following jam session, two teaching sessions on the Sunday followed, usually, by a mini concert for other students, staff, friends etc. The first teaching session is invariably divided between the 12 bar blues and the I Got Rhythm sequence which gives ample scope for advice on chords, jazz phrasing, harmonic backgrounds, riffs, balance, improvisation, presentation, routines, etc etc. Subsequent sessions are devoted to as wide a variety of items as is practicable, literally from Jelly Roll Morton to Sonny Rollins via Dixieland, Swing, Be Bop. The evening jam sessions are controlled but no formal tuition takes place. Students are encouraged to break into small groups or to play solo features and every so often it's a case of a Toutes Ensemble. No music is allowed at jam sessions though the rhythm section may use chord books.”

Many thanks to Owen for his invaluable contribution!

Jonathan Gee Trio

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

Line-up:

Jonathan Gee – piano

Joseph Lepore – bass

Gene Calderazzo – drums

www.jonathangeetrio.co.uk 

A fixture on the UK scene for many years, Jonathan Gee’s presence has grown more imposing every year.  Easily living up to the accolade of “Most Promising Pianist”, received in the 1991 Guardian/Wire British Jazz Awards, Gee has since proved himself to be a remarkably adept interpreter as well as a hugely original player.  The trio format seems to be his natural home and he has led and contributed to many successful groups in this set-up up, but has also been an essential element of several groups with such highly-rated peers as Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Pharoah Sanders, Joe Lovano, Mark Murphy, Bobby Wellins, Claire Martin and many more.

This tour sees his New York Trio (with the excellent Gene Calderazzo replacing Nasheet Waits on drums) take to the road to showcase the new CD Dragonfly. Gee’s deft original compositions make up the bulk of the album and display an innate love of interplay and sympathy between the players, bursting with innovation.  He also returns to his long-standing affection with Thelonious Monk, and his version of the great composer’s ‘We See’ is an album highlight.  Following a string of fantastic reviews on the album’s release in late 2012, the 2013 tour will see the project truly take flight.

Joseph Lepore – bass

NYC native Joseph, partly  raised and educated in Italy, has performed around the US and Europe with Greg Osby, Bob Dorough, George Garzone, Steve Grossman, David Liebman, Mike Maineri, Bob Mover, Romano Mussolini, Rosario Guiliani, Jimmy Owens, Tony Scott and  Gary Smulyan.  He's also a prolific composer and recently released his debut album on Osby’s Inner Circle Music label.

Gene Calderazzo – drums

A New Yorker living in the UK, Gene is a hugely in-demand player on the national and international scenes.   He is a visiting tutor at various noted UK institutions including the Birmingham Conservatoire, Trinity College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music.  His CV features a wish list of top players, among them Randy Brecker, Pharoah Sanders, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Evan Parker, Hans Koller, Ulf Wakenius, Eddie Henderson, Zoe Rahman and Partisans, and he has also notched up a good few high-profile gigs outside of jazz with the likes of Sting and Radiohead.

"A brilliant gem of contemporary piano trio." - Jazz Tokyo magazine

"Pianist and composer Jonathan Gee's new album appears like an oasis of unpretentious, nimble-fingered wit." - Daily Telegraph 

“Gee has a persuasively lucid touch when it comes to exploring even the knottiest clusters of notes... and a fast-talking intensity that endows his playing with gritty elegance...” – Jazzwise

END

Click the link below to download the January 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 the Jazz Services team.  

Robert Mitchell – solo piano

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

Picture: A.Guadagnino

Line-up:

Robert Mitchell - piano

www.robertmitchellmusic.com 

A new project from Robert Mitchell is always an eagerly anticipated prospect amongst his fans and peers, and his latest offering is no exception.  Robert has regularly performed solo in the past, as it is at the heart his approach to playing.  However, his latest outing focus on a very particular aspect of his playing – the left hand.  Original compositions, covers, new arrangements, improvisations (sometimes derived from audience contributions) and explorations, all delivered via the left hand alone, with occasional augmentations using a loop pedal.  Throughout his career, Robert's solo piano work has changed and expanded his approach as a musician, and this tour, along with the accompanying new album The Glimpse (Whirlwind Recordings), showcases his developing fascination with left-hand only approaches to composition and improvisation.

The tour will also allow him a chance to explore audience interaction as a basis for creating music and improvisations, and the creative use of the looping pedal, especially rhythmic or melodic ideas as a basis for developing in the moment music.  Free improvisations are as likely to appear in his repertoire as a completely composed piece, but regardless of what is on offer, audiences are certain to have their horizons broadened…in at least one direction.

“He imbues everything he plays with an affecting earnestness that compels listeners' respectful attention…whether his music is gentle or florid, tumultuous or delicately thoughtful, his patent sincerity and the overall seriousness of the project shine through all he plays” – Chris Parker, The Vortex

“one of the most original pianists on the UK scene” – Jazz FM

“…there are those who are so skilled at what they do that nature itself demands that it be imparted; Robert Mitchell is one such person. If he was born with a baby grand fused to his fingers he could not be more qualified to share this amazing gift with the world.” - Soul Culture 

END