NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Jeffrey Hewer (Dec 4th)

Behind door number 4 is a fairly recent addition to the Northern jazz scene, Canadian guitarist Jeffrey Hewer. Jeffrey came to the UK to undertake a Masters programme at Leeds College of Music and has been making waves on the scene here ever since.

Listen to an original composition entitled Villa Italia - https://youtu.be/T6puOVyi1tU

Jeffrey Hewer
David Rubel
Ed Sweetman
Steve Farrugia

Jeffrey is a jazz guitarist and composer who lives in Leeds, UK. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Jeffrey received his Bachelor Of Music degree from Carleton University and recently completed his Master in Music Performance and Composition degree at Leeds College of Music. In the UK he has studied and taken classes with Stuart McCallum, Mike Walker, Jamie Taylor and Howard Alden.  He has also studied with Gilad Hekselman, Lorne Lofsky, John Abercrombie, Barry Harris, Ted Quinlan, Howard Reese and Alan Gorman.

Since moving to Leeds, Jeffrey has been playing with members of the jazz scene at venues such as Seven Arts and LS6 and with the function bands Might As Well Be Swing, Kabuki and Phil Lyons New Vintage Band. He has put together a quintet of fantastic local musicians for performing original music and plans to release an EP of his original material in early 2017.

Charlie Hunter UK Tour, November 2016

American guitarist Charlie Hunter has developed a huge worldwide following with his unique playing style, simultaneously playing bass lines, rhythm guitar and solos on his custom 7 and 8 string guitars.

Earlier this year, Charlie released his latest album on Ground Up, the first time his album has been released by a major label in 9 years after a number of self-releases. The amazingly titled Everybody Has A Plan Until They Get Punched In The Mouth (10 points for anyone who can name the person who first uttered those words) features a quartet line up including Bobby Previte on drums, Curtis Fowlkes on trombone and Kirk Knuffke on cornet.

The arrangements lock in, offering many twists and turns, but never leave the groove behind….All killer, no filler. – All Music Guide

Hunter willl appear in the UK in November to perform material from this latest album and he is joined by Bobby Previte plus two special guests - Kieran McLeod on trombone and Yelfris Valdes on trumpet.

Audiences in the North will have a chance to see the band when they perform at Band on the Wall on November 20th. The band will also perform at Ronnie Scott's (November 18 + 19), Birmingham (November 21st) Bristol (November 22nd) and Edinburgh (November 23rd).

For more information on the Manchester date, visit the Band on the Wall website. For information on Charlie Hunter, visit his website.

Martin Taylor 60th Birthday Solo Tour (October/November)

One of the UK's national jazz treasures is gearing up to celebrate his 60th birthday in style with a tour across Scotland and England starting October 14th.

Martin Taylor MBE has a career in music that spans 5 decades and over 100 recordings. His solo playing and virtuosic fingerstyle playing has earned him an international reputation and the list of his musical collaborators spans both countries and genres; Bill Wyman, Stephane Grapelli, George Harrison and Gary Burton to name but a few.

This 13 date tour will include two Northern performances - at Whitby's Musicport Festival on October 21st and then at Band on the Wall in Manchester on October 27th. Tickets for all tour dates can be purchased through Martin's website (as well as more information on his music, teaching and more).

Martin Taylor 60th Birthday UK Tour

Friday 14th October -  FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts Centre

 

Saturday 15th October - NEW MILTON Forest Arts Centre

 

Tuesday 18th October - COLCHESTER Colchester Arts Centre

 

Wednesday 19th October - GUILDFORD G Live

 

Friday 21st October - WHITBY Musicport Festival

 

Tuesday 25th October - MILTON KEYNES The Stables

 

Thursday 27th October - MANCHESTER Band On The Wall

Friday 28th October - LONDON Indigo O2

 

Monday 31st October - UPPINGHAM Uppingham School

Tuesday 1st November - RUNCORN Brindley Theatre

Wednesday 2nd November - LOUGHBOROUGH University Arts

Thursday 4th November - DUNDEE Gardyne Theatre

Friday 5th November - INVERNESS Spectrum Centre

Martin Taylor UK Tour

Martin Taylor has one of the busiest touring schedules in the business. His solo and duo shows tour across the world and he runs guitar retreats in picturesque locations like the Amalfi Coast, Upstate New York and California. Starting from today, though, he will be travelling a bit closer to home as he embarks on an 11 date tour of the UK.

Martin is considered, both by audiences and by his peers, as being right at the top of his field. His work with the legendary Stephane Grappelli is well-known and the unique style of his solo performances has led to a global community of guitarists who look to him for advice and tuition.

The tour kicks off tonight (Tuesday 15th September) in Guildford and continues until the 27th of September with a number of dates in the North. Full tour dates can be found below and you can visit Martin's website for more information on shows, guitar retreats and more.

UK Tour - September

15th - G Live, Guildford
16th - The Stables, Milton Keynes
17th - Brewery Arts, Kendal
18th - Town Hall, High Wycombe
19th - Arts Depot, Finchley, London
22nd - Gala Theatre, Durham
23rd - East Riding Arts Centre, Beverley
24th - Gardyne Theatre, Dundee
25th - Band on the Wall, Manchester
26th - Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale
27th - Cheese and Grain, Frome

International Jarek Smietana Jazz Guitar Competition

The first International Jarek Smietana Jazz Guitar Competition is being held in Krakow this year and applications are now being invited by guitarists across the world.

The competition is in celebration of the year of Jarek Smietana, a polish guitarist whose extensive career included performances with Art Farmer, Joe Zawinul, John Abercrombie and Nigel Kennedy. Smietana passed away in 2013.

The competition will be judged by a panel including Mike Stern, John Abercrombie and Ed Cherry. First prize is $10,000, second prize is $5,000 and third is $2,000. There will also be a special prize funded by Smietana's wife and daugther.

Guitarists who wish to enter the competition are asked to submit two audio files and one video file by March 31st with a 30euro entry fee. Those who are successful will take part in the semi finals and finals in Krakow on 1-4th July. Participants will be required to cover their own travel expenses.

Full details can be found on the Jarek Smietana Jazz Guitar Competition website.

Album News: Mike Walker's Ropes

Guitarist Mike Walker will release a new album in 2015 as a follow up to his critically acclaimed debut, Madhouse and the Whole Thing There.

Ropes will feature music originally commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival in 2008 and features a 22 piece string orchestra alongside a jazz quintet featuring Les Chisnall, Iain Dixon, Adam Nassbaum and Steve Rodby.

A fundraising gig will take place on November 8th at the Cinnamon Club in Manchester to raise funds for the creation of the album and a Kickstarter campaign will also be launched. This gig will feature Mike with Les Chisnall, Iain Dixon, Gary Culshaw and Tom Higham. Tickets cost £20 and all proceeds go to making the new album.

To keep up to date with news on this album and Mike's other projects, see his website.

The Friday Interview: Alex Roth

  

Guitarist and composer Alex Roth is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, and is part of a group of forward thinking UK musicians who take inspiration from visual art, dance, film and literature as well as music.He performs with groups including Blue Eyed Hawk, CHAOS orchestra and Outrenoir, but has recently been recognised through his work with his own group, Otriad and their decision to embrace crowd-funding as a way to finance their UK Tour. He joins a small but growing number of jazz musicians including Gwyneth Herbert and Reuben Fowler who have explored this source of funding. In return for pledging money which will help to fund their UK tour, Alex and the group have a number of rewards and unique experiences to offer. We spoke to Alex about the project, crowd-funding and what lies ahead for him in 2013... 

Go find out more from Alex's Sponsume page and to pledge money visit Otriad Sponsume page.