NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Mike Smith (Dec 6th)

Behind door number 6, we head to Merseyside and to one of the major exponents of jazz from the region, Mike Smith.

It's another highly generous offering today, with a full album available to listen to. Head to youtube to check out Mike Smith's Ginger Tunes Quartet and their latest album, Mersey Mersey Mersey - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYTB7XS9jkaL9YJOoAtsvDh09gDj8VgN1

Mike Smith,musically promiscuous and unfortunately Ginger. I play Saxophones, Flute and Keyboards, specialising in all things groovy! Having started to play at the age of 12 so that I could escape Maths lessons on a Tuesday, I Graduated from LIPA in 2005 with a first class honours degree. It was then that I went on to tour the planet with hundreds of different acts, teaching back at LIPA on my days off. Currently, I'm working as a session musician, playing keys and saxophones for a multitude of bands and artists. So far I've worked with Steve Winwood, Sandy Thom, Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Craig David and Kid Creole to name a just a few. In 2011 I recorded alongside jazz legends Randy Brecker and Scott Henderson. Over the last couple of years I have decided to form a band under my own name - Mike Smth's "Ginger Tunes" Quartet We have been busy playing the jazz venues and festivals across the UK and have a good selection of Ginger flavoured tunes on spotify.

www.gingertunes.co.uk

Twitter @gingertunes

Facebook/gingertunesmusic

A new jazz night in Southport

Southport Jazz Club will present a series of jazz nights at the Bakery in the Atkinson in Southport to showcase the wealth of local talent in the area.

Jazz Cafe will feature local bands led by musicians like Mike Smith (pictured above), Miranda Rimmer and Tom Sykes and after the band performs, a jam session will run open to all ages and abilities.

The venue will have food, cake and a full bar on offer.

Listings:

Thursday 27th October - Ginger Tunes Quartet
Thursday 24th November - Sonorous Quartet
Thursday 15th December - Naomi Webber

For more information, visit the Atkinson website.

Liverpool Fringe Jazz Festival

The Liverpool International Festival for Business is currently running in Liverpool until July 1st. During the course of this festival, there are around 50 live jazz events spread across pubs, clubs and bars in the city. Groups like Ginger Tunes (pictured above), Blue Magnolia Jazz Band, Trio HLK and more will all perform. Most of the events are free and Jonathan Butters has set up a very handy facebook page which lists every event along with timings, address and websites links.

To find out more, check out the facebook event page for the Liverpool Fringe Jazz Festival.

New Album from Ginger Tunes - Mersey, Mersey, Mersey

This weekend as part of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, Ginger Tunes Quartet will launch their new album - Mersey, Mersey, Mersey.

The album was produced with support from Liverpool Jazz. (a project which we reported on recently, read the full article here)

The band's leader, saxophonist Mike Smith says

This album is a reflection of Merseyside. It is a celebration of the city that has given me, and so many others a life in music. With its diverse cultural roots and chequered history, Liverpool has retained its defiant humour and will always be the home of artistic mischief. This is a sentiment worth celebrating, and one we hope to have captured in the live recording of this album. Each player brought their sense of fun and good humour to the studio, and you can hear it in every note. 

 

Titles include:

Upton girl

Hitchhiker's guide to Fazakerley 

Tox town

Bossa Scouser

 

Ginger Tunes have been playing together for over a decade and have built up a strong following. They will appear at the jazz festival as part of the Liverpool Jazz showcase at Capstone Theatre on Sunday 28th February at 1pm. Admission is free.

 

You can find out more about the band on their website and the new album can be purchased on iTunes here.

Albums, TV shows & festivals all thanks to Liverpool Jazz

Liverpool Jazz has been supporting the jazz scene in Merseyside for 11 years. The gift of funds left by one of its supporters has meant that they have recently been very active in supporting a range of projects and events.

Recording - Three local bands have been supported in producing albums of their own material recorded at Parr Street Studios. The Weave (pictured above), Ginger Tunes Quartet and Viktor Nordberg Trio will all be featured in a special showcase event at the Liverpool International Jazz Festival on February 28th.

TV - Liverpool Jazz were approached by a group of students at Edge Hill University making a Jools Holland-style show as part of their course. The organisation was able to sponsor the programme and pay musicians to take part as well as providing a grand piano. The show featured performances from The Weave, The Bobby Swing Band and vocalist Su Eyo.

Music Education - Liverpool Philharmonic Society's In Harmony programme and Rare Studios both offer performing arts tuition either for free or at subsidisd rates to young people in underprivileged areas. Liverpool Jazz sponsors these programmes and supports the work they do.

These projects above are the tip of the iceberg, with a range of other sponsored concerts, a regular radio show and a website full of useful information all going on throughout the year. NJN would like to congratulate Liverpool Jazz on the vital work they do to support jazz and music education - long may it continue!

For more information, visit the Liverpool Jazz website.