One Day Jazz Vocal Workshop with Nicki Allan, September 10th

Well loved jazz singer Nicki Allan has announced that she will host a one day jazz vocal workshop on September 10th at Inkwell in Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

Nicki says...

Would you like to learn to Scat Sing or do an intrumental solo with your voice but don't have the confidence or ability quite just yet? Then this could be for you..I'm running a Jazz Vocal Improvisation and Repertoire workshop to cover all of that stuff from simple, effective warm ups, modes and phrases to help you get going plus lots of interactive singing and scatting and an afternoon session putting it all together with repertoire and how to connect with lyrics with our live house jazz trio plus light lunch and all day refreshments are included in the price for just £75 for the whole day. 


To book a place simply email me, Nicki Allan at allannicki@hotmail.com or call 07905 482615 or better still, both.
Places are limited because this is an intimate workshop not a huge crowd. Everyone gets a go and gets to take part.

As Nicki says, space will be limited so if you're interested, book soon. To find out more about Nicki, visit her website - www.nickiallan.com.

BlueJam Arts Creative Jazz Workshop, 22nd July

BlueJam Arts in partnership with Cumbria Music Hub are running a day-long workshop in Creative Jazz for young musicians across Cumbria and Lancashire.

Sign up is already going well with young musicians coming from far and wide. Spaces are still available though, so does this sound like it's for you or a musician you know?

Do you play an instrument to Grade 4 standard or above?
Are you interested in jazz and improvisation?
Do you want to learn how to create music with a band?
Do you want to create and record solos over electronic jazz grooves?

Start your summer with an inspirational day of jazz and creativity for instrumentalists from Cumbria and Lancashire.

With professional jazz tutors including improvising composer Jilly Jarman and electronic composer and producer Tom Leah (Werkha)

For more information and to apply to attend the workshop, visit the Cumbria Music Hub website.

Calling Young Jazz Musicians - 2 day jazz workshop in York, 11/12th August

York Jazz Initiative are running a two day workshop for young musicians on August 11th and 12th, offering the chance to hone your jazz skills with the help of professional musicians for only £20.

Ian Chalk says...

The workshop is for any young person in full time education (including higher education) and is designed to help young people develop their jazz performance skills whether they are experienced jazz soloists or have never played jazz before!

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All young musicians would benefit from this workshop as it will widen their harmonic knowledge, help them get to know their instrument better and build their confidence plus having lots of fun!

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The workshop tutors are all high quality professional jazz musicians as well as experienced educators and the workshop will be led by York Jazz initiative's Musical Director Ian Chalk. 

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Attendees will learn how to begin to improvise with their instruments or voices or add to their existing skills in in fun-filled and encouraging environment.

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As the workshop progresses they will have the opportunity to perform with the tutors and have the thrill of playing with professional jazz musicians!

This workshop was made possible through the generous support of the Ronnie Scott's Charitable Foundation. 

For more information and to sign up, see the York Jazz Initiative website. 

Missed the Jazz North Education Conference? Watch it now!

Jazz North held their annual Jazz Education conference back on the 21st March. Each year, they bring together practitioners, youth music leaders and educators and invite a number of speakers to present their work.

This year they've upped the ante and filmed the entire event. For anyone who missed it, you can visit the Jazz North website and watch each presentation!

Dr Graeme Wilson - Psychology of Improvisation: how the brain responds and learns from improvisation

Una McGlone - Improvisation for Young Children and Toddlers

Dr Enrico Bertelli - Helping young people from challenging backgrounds develop musical, technical and performance skills

Dave Evans - The Improvisation Room

Chances to learn about jazz on LCoM's short courses

Throughout the year, Leeds College of Music offers a wide range of short courses for musicians of all abilities - from those who want to build on their existing skills to those who are brand new to music. Between September and December this year, jazz lovers will have a number of options. The Leeds College of Music website has full details on each course, how to apply and the prerequisites.

Pop and Jazz Choir (from 19th September, £150) - led by Jenny Chamberlain Smith

Jenny will teach an eclectic repertoire, giving you the chance to explore different styles of harmony singing, including call and response, close harmony, a cappella, and different styles of backing vocals. Material will be taught using a combination of aural and written traditions. During the 30 week course there will be three informal performances.

Introduction to Jazz Piano (from 28th September, £120) - led by Bob Birch

Working in a small group, this practical course will introduce you to some of the key concepts in jazz piano and improvisation by exploring practical jazz theory. You will learn how to play from lead sheets and play a wide range of jazz and blues repertoire in a friendly and supportive environment. You will be introduced to chord symbols and voicings, extended harmony, walking bass lines and using scales to build confidence in approaching jazz improvisation.

Jazz Composition Weekend (12th November, £150) - led by Rob Mitchell

This weekend course will introduce you to the foundations of jazz composition and arranging. The course will explores techniques, devices and structures used in composing melody, harmony and rhythm in jazz, with a focus on writing lead sheet and small ensemble compositions. Part of the course will be theory based with the opportunity to input compositional ideas into Sibelius software with a view to your own compositions being performed and work shopped.

Jazz Improvisation Weekend (3rd Devember, £150) - led by Rob Mitchell

This weekend course is ideal for the inexperienced improviser wishing to gain more knowledge, experience and confidence in improvisation and jazz. Taught in an ensemble environment, you will study the development of improvisation, jazz phrasing, chord scale relationships, understanding II V I harmony, guide tones, jazz lines, rhythmic development, jazz blues, rhythm changes and altered chords. Although this course is suitable for all instrumentalists (including drums), there is a focus on melodic instruments. The workshop sessions will provide plenty of opportunities to perform in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Efficient Brass Playing workshop with Ian Chalk

Jazz trumpeter Ian Chalk will run a one day workshop for brass players in August entitled 'Dispelling Myths & Building Strong Foundations'.

The workshop will cover all the fundamentals of brass playing and aims to give participants a comprehensive understanding on their instruments how to develop good habits.

The full day costs £60 and will take place in York, date and exact location to be announced. Ian is currently trying to gauge interest and invites people interested in attending to contact him via his website which can be found at http://www.ianchalk.net/

Jazz at Music for Youth's National Festival 2016

LCoM's Jamil Sheriff and Dave Walsh are heading to Birmingham in July to lead a workshop as part of the Music for Youth's National Festival.

The festival runs from the 5th until th 9th of July and features a huge range of masterclasses, performances and activities including choirs, World music, orchestral ensembles and more. Friday 8th July will be the jazz day and as well as LCoM's workshop, Soweto Kinch and The Big Shake Up will also run sessions. There are also performances by a number of youth big bands and ensembles.

About Jamil and Dave's session -

Gain an insight into improvisation within a jazz framework with Leeds College of Music’s Jamil Sheriff and Dave Walsh.
Described by The Guardian as ‘someone who has made a real difference to the vitality of the jazz scene in the North of England’, Jamil Sheriff is the Curriculum Leader for Jazz at Leeds College of Music and has received national and international accolades for his recorded work. Jazz drummer Dave Walsh has similarly made a name for himself on the jazz scene having featured on over 60 albums, completed four tours of Europe and played in international music festivals.
Session 1: 10:15 – 11:15
Session 2: 16:30 - 17:30 

Those interested in attending must register by Monday 16th May. This can be done by visiting the Music for Youth website.

Louse Gibbs Singing Workshop, June 4th

Renowned vocalist and teacher Louise Gibbs will run a one-day vocal masterclass on June 4th for vocalists who want to feel more relaxed and free in their singing.

The session will run from 10am until 5pm and is limited to 10 participants which ensures that each vocalist will receive ample performance time and tuition. Louise is joined by Sam Leak (piano), Sam Gardner (drums) and Mark Lewandowksi (double bass).

The masterclass will allow singers to -

• explore your “jazz voice”

• learn new repertoire

• develop your improvising skills

• learn how to direct a band and prepare for a jam session

• perform with greater confidence

• experience singing with a supportive trio of top young UK musicians

Louise is a distinguished educator and has taught at a number top UK universities and conservatoires including Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Goldsmiths, RNCM and LCoM as well as many workshops worldwide.

The cost of the session is £75 (£60 for full time students) and includes lunch & refreshments.

To book a place, contact Louise by emailing louise@jazzmine.co.uk.

Gig Preview: Clark Tracey at The Globe

Clark Tracey Quintet
November 1st (doors open 8pm)
The Globe, Newcastle
£15

Clark Tracey is to be perform at the Globe in Newcastle with his quintet featuring some of the UK's up and coming young jazz artists.

Tracey, the son of the late Stan Tracey, has been a mainstay of the UK jazz scene for decades and has been leading his own groups since the 1980s. This performance will showcase the new quintet's latest release 'Meantime'. The quintet features -

Chris Maddock: alto and tenor sax

Henry Armburg-Jennings: trumpet and flugel horn

Harry Bolt: piano

Daniel Casimir: bass

Clark Tracey: drums

Prior to the gig, Clark will lead a masterclass (3.30pm) and participants can attend both the masterclass and the performance for £22.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Skiddle (with a £1.75 booking fee).

Jazz Video of the Week

There's a wealth of jazz video footage on the internet so we've decided to add a new weekly slot to the site to feature some of the great concerts, interviews and masterclasses out there.

To kick off, a masterclass from alto saxophonist Dick Oatts. Oatts is a member of  the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and has been featured in the Metropole Orchestra and Danish Radio Big Band. He has toured and recorded with musicians like Fred Hersch, Lalo Schiffrin, Tom Harrell and Joe Lovano.

Here is he giving a masterclass to students at Loyola University (New Orleans) -

Dick Oatts Masterclass - Loyola University