Andchuck and J Frisco announced as new Jazz North Introduces recipients

Two ensembles have been named the recipients of this year's Jazz North Introduces scheme, J Frisco and Andchuck. The emerging ensembles will receive a number of high profile performance opportunities as well as mentoring and support with EPKs and press.

From the press release...


TWO OUTSTANDING bands of young musicians are being given the chance to make their name, thanks to a pioneering initiative by Jazz North, the organisation devoted to nurturing and showcasing talent. Manchester based Andchuck and Leeds band J Frisco are the latest beneficiaries of the Jazz North Introduces scheme, which will offer them high-profile exposure at leading jazz festivals in the north, along with guidance and supporting in promoting themselves.

 Now in its 5th round, Jazz North Introduces offers young musicians under 25 their first high profile showcase opportunities at major Jazz festivals across the North and Jazz North is delighted that additional funding support has enabled it to expand the scheme to support two bands in the current year. J Frisco is made up of Jemma Freese (Keyboards), Lara Jones (Saxophone) and Megan Roe (Guitar) who met whilst studying at Leeds College of Music and formed this free, experimental trio combining art and poetry with improvised music. Their aims are to change perceptions and break down boundaries through improvisation.

 Andchuck is a modern and experimental jazz quartet featuring Tom Chapman (Bass), Caitlin Laing (Saxophone), Jack March (Guitar) and Gabriel Alexander (Drums). Their main influences being Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Impossible Gentlemen and Snarky Puppy, they met at the Royal Northern College of Music and formed quickly, having played a few gigs across the North West already. The selection panel prioritized musical excellence, in terms of musicianship, creativity, innovation and potential. A shortlist was drawn up and assessed by an advisory panel consisting of experienced musicians, promoters, educators and Jazz North staff.

This year’s applications for Jazz North Introduces demonstrated the wealth of young talent in the north. ‘The Jazz North Introduces scheme provides a fantastic and unique opportunity for emerging musicians to present themselves to audiences and for promoters to showcase the best young talent developing in the north of England - Dave Shooter, Lancaster Jazz Festival.

 The initiative was open to bands of up to five musicians, 75 per cent of whom, including the nominated leader, must be under 25, and living or studying in the north of England. Both bands will receive a package of help as part of the Jazz North Introduces scheme, including payment and expenses for the gigs, a photo-shoot and assistance in creating an electronic press kit. Each band will be offered six showcase performances at leading northern jazz festivals during 2017-2018.

 Jazz North’s partners in the initiative were Gateshead International Jazz Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Liverpool International Jazz Festival, Marsden Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Cleethorpes Jazz Festival and Leeds College of Music.

Jazz In The Round & Rising Stars at Seven Jazz

With autumn upon us, jazz venues in the North are launching their new season of gigs. Seven Jazz in Leeds has taken this opportunity to introduce two strands of gigs in their programme - Seven Jazz Unplugged and Seven Jazz Introduces.

The Unplugged series has grown from their experience presenting gigs at the Inkwell and will feature a programme of groups playing acoustically. Pictured above is the Matt Anderson/Jiannis Pavlidis Duo at the first of these gigs and as you can see, the audience will be able to be in amongst the action with the new Jazz in the Round lay-out.

The Seven Jazz Introduces strand features the wealth of talent produced by the jazz course at LCoM (plus some students from the music department at Leeds Uni). There are a range of gigs on Sunday afternoons featuring these groups and the main Thursday evening programme will also have support slots led by student groups.

Below is the gig listings for these two strands - visit the Seven Jazz website for more information on these and all other Seven Jazz events.

Unplugged Gigs

4 October : “The Kumpus Quartet” -Higgins, Mulvenna, Blackstone, MacDonald

18 October : Bad Ass Brass (pictured)

1 November: Tom Rivière’s Family Band

Seven Jazz Introduces Gigs

October 8th - Georgina Barr/Calvin Travers (pictured)

October 22nd - Ben Powling/Will Powell Quartet

November 12th - Sam Dutton-Taylor Quartet

November 26th - Johnny Tunnard Trio

December 3rd - DS Murray Quartet

December 10th - Sam Hamstead/Dan Clarkson

Artephis announced as Jazz North Introduces latest group

Artephis, a Manchester based quintet, has been announced as the latest addition to the Jazz North Introduces scheme.

The band are students at the Royal Northern College of Music and formed a year ago. They have a repertoire made up of both original material and material from their influences - Christian Scott, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and Pat Metheny.

Artephis will receive mentoring and help with the development of an EPK as well as performances at six high profile jazz festivals -

19th September - Lancaster Jazz Festival
10th October -  Marsden Jazz Festival
24th January - Southport Melodic Jazz
28th February - Liverpool International Jazz Festival
23rd September - Scarborough Jazz Festival

You can find out more about the Jazz North Introduces scheme on their website and you can check out some recordings of Artephis on their soundcloud page.

Jazz North Introduces - Applications Open for 2015

Jazz North is inviting applications from young musicians to take part in their Introduces scheme.

Jazz North Introduces is a scheme that provides young northern jazz artists with their first high-profile showcase performances and mentoring with leading UK jazz artists. Working in partnership with Northern jazz festivals, the 2015 winners will receive the opportunity to be showcased at 5 leading jazz festivals across the North.

Benefits for selected young jazz artists

• a high profile performance opportunity at 5 leading northern jazz festivals
• the gigs will be paid and expenses will be covered
• photo shoot for the band
• video showreel for the band created from interviews and one performance
• help with producing EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
• mentoring from leading UK jazz artists 

 Musicians interested in entering should have recordings of their group and 75% of the band should be under 25 and live in the North of England. For full information on the criteria and application process, see the Jazz North website.

Jazz North Introduces Scheme

Jazz North Introduces scheme is open for applications now and is inviting musicians under 25 to apply for the chance to secure a high-profile festival appearance.

Selected musicians will receive -

• a high profile performance opportunity at a leading jazz festival

• The gigs will be paid and expenses will be covered

• Photo shoot for the band

• Video showreel for the band created from interviews and this performance

• Help with producing EPK (Electronic Press Kit)

 Jazz North says...

Jazz North Introduces is a new scheme that will provide young northern jazz artists with their first high-profile performance. This initiative builds on the mjf introduces scheme to showcase the very best new jazz talent from across the north. A pilot version of the scheme was run earlier this year with Leeds’ band The Stretch Trio being selected for a showcase at Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Jazz North will showcase the Introduces programme at selected jazz festivals across the North during 2014/15.

Submissions are being accepted until June 16th and the online application form can be found on the Jazz North website.