Jazz clubs in the North held two “Development Days” in Leeds on 27 and 29 March 2014.
The following feedback was received:
“Independent jazz promoters often feel isolated, unsupported and overworked in doing what appears to be more a burdensome than fun. So the Development days for northern independent jazz clubs – the second of which were held in Leeds on 27 and 29 March were a useful bit of support. Funded by the Arts Council the idea was to encourage clubs to look at things like audience development, marketing, working with schools and fundraising. A useful innovation this time is that clubs actually got face to face consultation with four experts in the field, so could concentrate on their own specific problems – a bit like a doctor’s surgery for jazz clubs! The next suggested topic is using Social Media better. Watch this space!”
The consultants were Helen Dunnett, Janet Dunnett, Anna Franks, Colette Dutot, Sandra Marcy, Pam Pfrommer,
Are you a jazz promoter in the north of England? Do you want help promoting your gigs, running your gigs, touring and programming bands to play? Then why not join the NorVol Jazz network of independent jazz promoters! It costs just £50 per year. Complete the form on our membership page by pressing the join button above.
Jazz North, the northern jazz development agency, today announced the 6th roster of Ambassador Artists to be selected for the northern line scheme. Lucy Woolley, northern line project manager says:
“The northern line scheme aims to highlight both the quality and variety of jazz being composed and performed by artists all across the North. This year’s roster is no exception, reflecting the diverse talent living and working in the region”.
Jazz North will support these Round 6 artists with professional development and tour subsidy between September 1st 2018 and December 31st 2019.
Artephis Aaron Wood trumpet, flugelhorn, electronics / James Girling guitar / Ali Roocroft piano, keyboards / Alasdair Simpson bass guitar / Matt Brown drums RNCM alumni combining outstanding musicianship and spry energy with organic yet sophisticated compositions; light-footed grooves that call on late-‘60s/early-‘70s Miles Davis, prog rock and electronic music.
Täpp Rebekah Reid violin, loop pedal / Polly Virr cello, loop pedal A Manchester duo combining acoustic strings and classical composition practices with loops and improvisation, conjuring up pieces that evolve and borrow from jazz, minimalism, folk, world and electronic dance music.
Treppenwitz Matthew Aplin piano / Tom Riviere double bass / Steve Hanley drums Their sound spans European avant-garde and spiritual blues; exploring improvisation, at times peaceful and spacious, at others frenzied and angular, this Leeds trio offers a collective approach to the classic format.
Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat Emma Johnson tenor saxophone / Calvin Travers guitar / Sam Quintana bass guitar / Alasdair Wells drums Lyrical, contemporary swing with an emphasis on accessible melodies and a warmth of sound, played by young instrumentalists who met at Leeds College of Music and have since formed a strong and joyful bond, immediately apparent in their sound.
Paul Taylor Paul Taylor piano A solo recital from this Newcastle-based pianist, composer and improviser, whose trademark performances are rhapsodic journeys that lead listeners through twists and turns, complex harmonies and classical vignettes, with a restless capacity for invention.
Manchester Jazz Collective Kyran Matthews, Jeff Guntren, Emily Burkhardt saxophones / Graham South, Nick Walters trumpets / Ellie Smith trombone / Rich McVeigh bass trombone / Andy Stamatakis-Brown piano / Paul Baxter double bass / Johnny Hunter drums A collaboration of northern players creating large-scale compositions and defying stylistic categorisation, thanks to their varied palettes and democratic approach: rich orchestrations rub shoulders with middle-Eastern harmonies, Afro-jazz and heavy metal.
glowe_ Lis Murphy voice, violin / Mali Hayes voice / Kate Moran, Simmy Singh violins / Kath Ord viola / Sarah Dale cello / John Ellis piano / Mark Lewis double bass / Myke Wilson drums Hauntingly beautiful and uplifting, blending personal stories and an interest in musics from across the globe via Manchester, Lis uses pop-song formats to convey the intense darkness and light arising from humanitarian subjects such as war, loss and love.
The Mark Williams Trio Mark Williams guitar / Paul Susans bass guitar / Russ Morgan drums Influences from rock, metal and fusion, with added electronic effects, give this guitar trio from Newcastle an edgier and more modern sound, yet with melody and improvisation still at its core.
Ponyland Jordie Cooke guitar / Frankie O'Keeffe voice / Faye MacCalman tenor saxophone / Matthew Forster tenor& baritone saxophone / Geoff Bartholomew trumpet / John Pope bass / Dave McKeague, Oscar Cassidy drums Saddle up for a ride into a heady, energetic world of samba reggae, punk-jazz and Afro-beat via the steppes of Cumbria and Newcastle; tackling loss of cultures, community and a changing society with good vibes, animalistic behaviour and raw energy.
Newton/Tracey band to play their music, primarily the Bootleg Eric Suite - Friday 20th April at Wakefield Jazz. The Bootleg Eric suite was written to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Wakefield Jazz. One piece was composed and titled Bootleg Eric, a Wakefield character (Eric Parkin) who always made his own recordings of Wakefield Jazz gigs. The suite was recorded and the consequent album also named “Bootleg Eric”. The band and the music was revived at last year’s Swanage Jazz Festival. Eric Parkin died shortly before that performance.
We asked Dave and Clark to reprise the music once more to celebrate the anniversary of Eric’s death. After more than 20 years few of the original band were still playing or available. This is also a variant of the Swanage band - a very special Octet. This will be a rare experience and should not fail to move us.#
David Newton - piano (composer) Cark Tracey - drums (composer) Steve Fishwick - trumpet Mark Nightingale - trombone Derek Nash - alto sax Paul Booth - tenor sax Dean Masser - tenor sax Arnie Somogyi - bass