Wandering Monster announced as latest Jazz North Introduces recipients

Leeds based ensemble Wandering Monster have been announced today as the latest beneficiaries of the Jazz North Introduces scheme to support emerging jazz talent in the region.

The group, led by double bassist Sam Quintana, will perform at a number of high profile jazz festivals as part of the Introduces initiative, as well as receiving mentoring from one of the UK's leading jazz musicians and help with developing strong promotional materials like photographs and video footage.

Sam Quintana says

“I am thrilled that Wandering Monster have been awarded this opportunity. Since the band's formation two years ago we have developed a set of original material which I am really excited to showcase at some of the UK's best jazz festivals. Thanks to the scheme we will be performing to audiences who would otherwise never get to hear about Wandering Monster or listen to our music”.

Jazz North's Nigel Slee says

“We believe it is vital to help and support the next generation of jazz artists. Wandering Monster are an example of the exciting and diverse music that is being created by young musicians in the UK today. Thanks to our festival partners we can make sure their music is shared with audiences across the North”.

A junor award was also given to Muskrat Ramble. Aged between 12 and 16, Muskrat Ramble were the youngest applicants and impressed the panel with their enthusiasm and potential. They will be given mentoring sessions to develop their music.

Wandering Monster will appear first at Lancaster Jazz Festival on September 17th, followed by Marsden Jazz Festival on October 8th as well as performances at Liverpool Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival and more later in the year.

To find out more about Wandering Monster and the JNI scheme, visit the Jazz North website.

Dave Evans leads brand new Festival Band for Chapel Allerton Village Jazz Festival

Dave Evans is putting together a brand new big band to perform twice during the Chapel Allerton Village Jazz Festival.

The idea behind the group is to bring together community musicians - local musicians who play instruments but may not perform regularly with a band. Between now and the performances (2nd and 3rd of September) Dave will work with the band six times to show how quickly a band can come together and perform.

The band have already had one rehearsal but if you're keen to be involved, email Dave at  evansdj01@hotmail.co.uk and see if there's a space to join in the fun. There will be sessions on August 4th, 25th August, 2nd September and more sessions will be announced.

The performances will take place on Friday 2nd September at Seven Arts (8pm) and then on Saturday 3rd September in Regent Street (4.30pm).

NJ Advent Calendar - Summer Jazz Festival part 2 (December 22nd)

Here's part two of our look at summer jazz festivals in the North...

Hull Jazz Festival (late July)

J-Night, the organisation behind jazz in Hull, programmes a summer jazz festival at the end of July each year. It takes place at the Hull Truck Theatre and the programme is mixture of established UK acts and emerging artists. The line up for the festival in 2016 has already been announced with YolanDa Brown's reggae love songs, Helen Watson, Jean Toussaint and Northern Line's Manjula.

Manchester Jazz Festival (late July - early August)

2016 marks the 21st year of Manchester's Jazz Festival. MJF is one of the biggest in the country and pulls in thousands of people annually to the North. There's a huge programme with a mixture of local, national and international artists at venues across the North. There is a commission fund each year, lots of support for emerging artists and a specially brewed beer!

Chapel Allerton Jazz Sunday (early September)

The Chapel Allerton Arts Festival takes place each year and is a local festival which contains arts, theatre and community projects. At the end of each festival, Steve Crocker and his team at Seven Jazz programme a full day festival of live jazz. There's a focus on Northern artists and audiences can attend for the whole day for £3 - what a bargain!

Lancaster Jazz Festival (early September)

Lancaster Jazz Festival is growing year on year and is run by LCoM graduate Matt Robinson. This festival is populated by emerging artists playing original music. They programme at venues across in Lancaster and almost every gig is sold out at each festival!

Scarborough Jazz Festival (late September)

This highly popular festival just sneaks into the summer list in late September. Tickets are already on sale for the 2016 edition and ticket holders will be treated to performances by Nathaniel Facey, Trish Clowes and The Abstract Big Band.

NJ Advent Calendar - Summer Jazz Festivals part 1 (December 19th)

                                                                 Cleethorpes in summer

With less than a week to go until the big day, we look behind door number 19 to some of the jazz festivals taking place in the summer in the North.

Cleethorpes Jazz Festival (late June)

Grimsby Jazz promoter Gill Wilde also runs this weekend festival in Cleethorpes each year. It runs over a weekend at the end of June and is a celebration of British Jazz. It all takes place at McCormacks Bar and the line-up for 2016 features Alan Barnes, Dave Newton and Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra amongst many others. Tickets go on sale on January 2nd!

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival (early July)

Set in the picturesque surroundings of Burton Agnes Hall, this is another weekend festival. You can camp out at this one and make a holiday out of it! This is another one that focuses mainly on UK artists with people like Paul Baxter, Alan Barnes and Digby Fairweather making appearances regularly.

Buxton Beer & Jazz Festival (early July)

Buxton might be pushing it a bit in terms of North of England but it's Christmas so we'll relax the rules a bit! Buxton's beer and jazz festival is a weekend of traditional and dixieland jazz and of course, beer. Last year's festival had performances from Spat Langham's Hot Fingers, The Wabash Jazzmen and the Incredible Bibbington Limeburners.

Wigan International Jazz Festival (mid July)

We recently reported on the good news that Wigan Jazz Club has taken over the running of the Wigan Jazz Festival. 2016 will be in it's 31st year and it's bound to have a good programme. There's a good focus on Big Bands with groups like Echoes of Ellington and Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band making appearances last year.