LCoM Alumni nominated for LMA Rising Star Awards

Three graduates from the LCoM jazz course have been nominated for Rising Star Awards in the London Music Awards. The winners will be announced tonight at a ceremony at the Roundhouse in London.

Pianist Sam Watts graduated from the jazz course in 2010 and has since moved to London to study a Masters degree. Saxophonists Riley Stone-Lonergan and Phil Meadows graduated in 2011 and were both featured heavily in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for a number of years. Phil Meadows currently directs the Engines Orchestra in London who recently picked up  Parliamentary Jazz Award and Riley, a winner of the Yamaha Jazz Scholar Award, has gone on to study with Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek and Joel Frahm in New York.

Congratulations to all three nominees and we wish them luck!

Gig Preview: Sam Watts Solo Piano at Heart

Saturday 13th June
Jazz at Heart presents Sam Watts Solo Piano
£8/6conc
7.30pm

On June 13th, Jazz at Heart will host a special concert featuring pianist Sam Watts, a mixture of performance and discussion.

A year ago, pianist and composer Sam Watts gave a solo piano concert, interspersed with some of his thoughts and ideas about music. It was the talk of Headingley and many people asked for it to be repeated because they’d missed it – or wanted to see it again! So, we’re bringing him back!
Sam will be talking about how we listen to and perceive music and about exactly how it works and how we can better understand it, with illustrated examples. He is a great communicator and this concert/gig will suit music lovers, young and old.
 There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and discuss the ideas collectively. The concert will include music by Duke Ellington, Claude Debussy, traditional Brazilian music, and many others as well as Sam’s own compositions.
Sam is a brilliant jazz pianist who has taken the capital by storm since he left Leeds College of Music. He has been known cause people to cry with the beauty of his playing, so bring hankies!

More information on Sam can be found on his website. 
See the Jazz at Heart website for details on other upcoming gigs, workshops and jam sessions.

Gig Preview: Matt Roberts plays Fats Navarro at Heart, 25th April

Jazz at Heart presents: Matt Roberts plays Fats Navarro
Saturday 25th April 
HEART Arts Centre, Bennett Road, Leeds
7.30pm
£8/6

When not busy touring with bands like Gentleman's Dub Club, Everything Everything and Paloma Faith or leading his own big band, trumpeter Matt Roberts has found some time to work on the music of Fats Navarro for his upcoming gig at HEART on April 26th.

Navarro was known for his work with big band leaders including Benny Goodman, Billy Eckstine and Lionel Hampton and recorded with luminaries like Charlie Parker, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Bud Powell and Illinois Jacquet. This impressive CV is made even more so by the fact that Navarro died tragically young, aged only 26.

Matt will be joined by Matt Anderson (tenor), Ben Lowman (alto), Sam Watts (piano), Sam Gardner (drums) and Simon Read (double bass).

LCoM Alumni Wins Emerging Excellence Award

Pianist Sam Watts, a graduate of Leeds College of Music, has been announced as a recipient of an Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK.

Sam, who moved to London to study a Masters at Royal Academy of Music after graduating from LCoM, is one of two jazz musicians to receive the award this year. He will use the funding to help produce his debut album in the coming months.

The Emerging Excellence Awards are run by Help Musicians UK and help musicians under 30 who have already achieved recognition in their field to fund a project that will further their career.

Sam joins saxophonist James Mainwaring and trumpeter Kim Macari as LCoM graduates to have received the Award in recent years.

Find out more about Sam by visiting his website.

Jazz at Lotherton Hall, 19th July

Saturday 19th July
Lotherton Hall, West Yorkshire
7.30pm
£15/12

Edwardian country house Lotherton Hall is to play host to a jazz concert featuring two LCoM jazz graduates, Will Howard and Sam Watts on Saturday 19th July, performing music from the Great American Songbook.

Headingley Festival of Ideas

Headingley is playing host to the Festival of Ideas between 6-24 May. A number of events will take place at HEART, Headingley Library, Headingley Club and Rose Garden.

From their website, the festival is described as being about creative ideas which may not necessarily lead to something – although some might – but the main purpose is to tap into the joy of ideas, debate and discussion. We aim to appeal to the wide variety of people in Headingley, and to all age groups.

Alongside debates, cycling events and literary events, there are two musical items in the programme. One is by Free Range Choir and the other is in tandem with Jazz at Heart and features well-loved LCoM graduate, pianist Sam Watts.