Preston Jam Music Festival 2017 - 25th March to 1st April

In collaboration with the team at Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Festival, the University of Central Lancashire are running a five day programme of performances, jam sessions and talks on improvisation. Running between 25th March to April 1st, it acts as a fringe programme leading up to the main Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Festival which takes place a month later.

There will be two seminar/discussion events - one focused on Django Rheinhardt as the first non-American jazz artist and an artistic symposium featuring a number of keynote speakers as they discuss music and freedom.

There are a number of opportunities to hear the students and staff of the BA music course at UCLAN as they run a showcase of performances as well as a jam.

On April 1st to close the festival there will be a performance featuring not one but three well known acts. Audiences will be treated to performances  by Soweto Kinch, Nerija and Atomic Brass.

To find out more about the full programne of events, visit the UCLAN website here - www.uclan.ac.uk/whatson

Gig Preview: Nerija at Seven Arts

On Thursday 3rd November, Seven Jazz in Leeds presents one of the most talked about emerging ensembles in the UK - all-female group Nerija.

Recently nominated for Breakthrough Act of the Year 2016 at the JazzFM awards, Nerija are a group of London-based musicians that met through Tomorrow's Warriors. Since forming, they have toured together in the UK and Europe and have opened for Jazz Jamaica at Ronnie Scott's. Most recently, they released their debut EP, available on Bandcamp.

Nérija have their debut album out now, and it is well worth checking out. Comprised of young stars on the rise, they combine high energy with powerful talent and impressive jazz chops. Listen out for trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey and saxophonist Nubya Garcia in particular -  Jazzwise Nov 2016

Sheila Maurice-Grey - trumpet
Rosie Turton - trombone
Cassie Kinoshi - alto
Nubya Garcia - tenor
Shirley Tetteh - guitar
Inga Eichler - double bass
Lizy Exel - drums

The gig starts at 8pm and tickets cost £16/14 concessions. Support comes from Leeds vocalist Nel Begley.

To find out more about this and the other gigs lined up at Seven, visit the Seven Jazz website. 

BBC Introducing at Manchester Jazz Festival

As part of the Manchester Jazz Festival this year, Kevin Le Gendre and the Jazz on 3 team will be hosting a showcase event at Band on the Wall on Friday 31st July featuring four emerging groups from across the country.

Submissions through the BBC Music Uploader were invited from bands and were sifted through by a panel which include Kevin Le Gendre, Jez Nelson and Gilles Peterson to select the four who would take part -

Ashley Henry Trio - Ashley is a graduate of LCoM currently studying under Gwilym Simcock at the Royal Academy in London.

Nerija - Emerging from the Tomorrow Warriors project, this all-female septet cite Joe Henderson and Kurt Rosenwinkel among their influences.

Phaze Theory - London-based group with an interesting line-up that includes tuba, vocals, guitar and drums.

Cameron Vale - Hailing from Leeds, this quartet is currently part of Jazz North's Northern Line scheme and features four recent LCoM graduates.

The audience for this event is chosen through ballot but those not lucky enough to attend will be able to hear the show when it is broadcast on August 10th.