Gig Preview: Dennis Rollins & Durham Alumni Big Band at Darlington Jazz Club, 2nd July

Darlington Jazz Club are hosting a Summer Gala Concert this Saturday, 2nd July, featuring the incomparable Dennis Rollins with the Durham Alumni Big Band.

Dennis teamed up with the big band for the Darlington Jazz Festival and went down a storm to a sell out crowd so this one is sure to be a concert to remember. The band will perform a selection of big band material spanning from the 1950s to the present day.

Raised in Doncaster, Rollins was a member of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association before moving to London. Now based back in the North, he is a core member of the DYJA team and the North is lucky to be able to hear him perform regularly.

Venue: Hummersknott Academy, Edinburgh Drive, Darlington 
Date Sun 2 July 

Doors open at 5:45, music from 6:30. Tickets are £6 on the door. Audiences are advised to get there early to ensure they get a ticket!

Doncaster's Supa Dupa Big Band Bonanza, 16th-18th September

Doncaster Youth Jazz Association have teamed up with NYJO to run a weekend of workshops and performance entitled the Supa Dupa Big Band Bonanza.

From their website...

In partnership with the National Youth Jazz Organisation and proudly sponsored by Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation and the Doncaster Music Hub, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association is excited to be hosting the first Supa-Dupa Big Band Bonanza between Friday 16th and Sunday 18th September 2016 aimed at attracting anyone and everyone interested in learning or listening to jazz from across the Yorkshire region.
On Friday DYJA and NYJO Jazz Ambassadors will be engaging with Doncaster secondary school students, and on Saturday a range of workshops designed to encourage budding young musicians develop their jazz talents will aim to attract a regional audience to the CAST theatre and the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association Centre on Beckett Road. 

A team of support Ambassadors will be on hand to encourage, discuss and support young musicians. “This is an unmissable weekend” says John Ellis MBE. “We have a unique opportunity in providing a focused learning experience for the next generation of jazz musicians and lovers. Learning from the likes of Mark Armstrong (Musical Director NYJO) or Dennis Rollins (Associate Musical Director DYJA) as well as being exposed to the high standards of jazz expertise from the country’s finest young musicians on our very own doorsteps should be on every student’s priority list.”

The weekend kicks off with a workshop on Saturday from 10.30am until 12pm called Come and Try. This is a session for those of you who are new to jazz, have always wanted to take up an instrument or just fancy trying something new!

Running at the same time, is Develop Your Jazz Skills. This is an intermediate workshop for those who want to build on the basic skills needed to be a jazz musician and promises to be a fun session of jazz improvisation.

Later in the afternoon from 1pm until 4pm, an advanced workshop will run. This session is designed to challenge participants and will focus on three key areas - performance, theory and the emotional side of playing - dealing with nerves, using intuition, playing with feeling etc.

The weekend culminates in a performance on Sunday between 2.30pm and 5.00pm. Mark Armstrong and Dennis Rollins team up to lead a jam packed big band performance.

Information on all events over the weekend can be found on the DYJA website. 

Let's Get Lost Festival, Doncaster 4th February

There's a jam packed concert going on in Doncaster on Thursday 4th February presented by the Let's Get Lost Festival.

From the event page...

Bringing together people of all ages from across Yorkshire, this event looks to explore an eclectic blend of styles from across the globe. Expect a diverse experience at an incredible venue in the heart of Doncaster.

The line-up includes Dennis Rollins & DYJO, Garforth Jazz Rock band, Arts Live Folk Band, Roma Khamoro, Vale Academy's Taiko Drummers and Wind Band, Semi-Skimmed Soul and Don Valley Academy.

The event starts at 7pm and there are a limited number of free tickets available through the CAST Doncaster website. You can also contact info@letsgetlostfestival.co.uk for further information (at time of print, the CAST Doncaster website was not working!)

This event is part of the School Partnership Trust Academies festival programme, supported and funded by Arts Council England, CapeUK, D.A.R.T.S, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association and Arts Live.

DYJA Announce New Appointment for Dennis Rollins

Doncaster Youth Jazz Association have announced Dennis Rollins as their new Associate Director of Band Studies. In this role, Rollins will lead the senior DYJO ensemble and work closely with John Ellis (both pictured above) to develop the strategy of the organisation.

Rollins has been associated with the organisation since his early days as a musician and since leaving as a player, he has regularly returned to give workshops and feature as a guest soloist in concerts.

In a press release, John Ellis says 

I could not be more pleased. Dennis will bring a wealth of jazz knowledge and experience to this position. I cannot thank him enough for joining me on this journey. I am now very optimistic for the long-term future of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association John Ellis MBE

Doncaster Big Band Festival

Sunday 27th December 2015
2:00 - 4.30pm : Matinée concert
7.30 - 11.00pm: Evening concert

Venue: EARL OF DONCASTER Hotel, Bennetthorpe, Doncaster, DN2 6AD

Over the years, this big band knees-up has definitely become the most eagerly-anticipated  event of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association calendar. All current DYJA members will perform in their respective ensembles. The individual Big Bands are featured in order over two separate concerts as follows: The matinee performance (2.00pm - 4.30pm) will feature the talented younger members of the STAGEBAND and the SWING ORCHESTRA. The evening performance (7.30 - 11.00pm) will highlight the DONCASTER YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA (DYJO) and the senior DONCASTER JAZZ ORCHESTRA (DJO Alumni) in concert. The evening will also feature several visiting guests, including Dennis Rollins, Tom Ashe, Dean Nixon, etc..

We take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a MUSICAL 2016!... May it start with us - we hope to see you at our Big Band Festival!

Cheers:  John Ellis and the DYJA Team

Tickets cost £10 for one concert and £15 for both. A note from John on buying tickets -

Tickets are now available from the Doncaster Jazz Centre, Beckett Road, Doncaster, DN2 4AA. Tel: 01302 320002 or e-mail johnellis@dyja.info   Please give your full name, postal address and state clearly which of the 2 concerts you require tickets for. We do not have the facility for payment by card, so please make cheques payable to DONCASTER YOUTH JAZZ ASSOCIATION or DYJA. You can of course collect tickets from the Centre Office if you wish, but be sure to arrange a mutually agreeable day and time. Thank you for your understanding.

Preview: Marsden Jazz Festival

This year's Marsden Jazz Festival runs from October 10th to 12th in venues throughout Marsden. Their diverse programme features groups from across the UK, spanning all types of jazz.

Rising star vibes player Lewis Wright will perform with Ben Crosland's Threeway on Friday, and the award-winning Troyka appear on Saturday afternoon. This year's Young Musician of the Year, Alex Bone, will perform with Jam Experiment at the Marsden Royal British Legion. Vocalist Louise Gibbs brings her Seven Deadly Sings project on Saturday evening, after receiving 4 stars from Jazzwise for her recent album release. The festival will close with a performance by Doncaster Jazz Alumni Orchestra featuring Dennis Rollins.

For information on the full line-up and details of how to book tickets, see the Marsden Jazz Festival website.