Jazz Promotion Network AGM & Conference, June 26th and 27th

At the end of June, the Jazz Promotion Network will hold a two day college at Leeds College of Music including talks, presentations and discuss on the current and future jazz scene in the UK.

As a brief overview, you can expect -

• Discussion groups (led by facilitators) exploring the future of jazz
• Facilitated meetings for different areas of the sector on shared opportunities and challenges
• Updates on new and ongoing JPN projects
• Live music from some of the north’s leading jazz artists
• The formal JPN AGM (open to JPN members only)

Promoters, musicians and industry professionals will travel from all over the across to attend this two day event and tickets are available for non-JPN members. The prices are as follows - 

Under 30s - £15 for one day, £30 for both days

Non-members, individuals and volunteers - £30 for one day, £45 for both days

Non-JPN  organisation - £99 for one day, £139 for both days

For more information and to register to attend, visit the Jazz Promotion Network website.

NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Dave Kane (Dec 18th)

With only a week to go until the big day, we have 6 more musical offerings in our advent calendar. Leeds College of Music has released an Alternative Christmas Playlist featuring music from their alumni including a piece by double bassist Dave Kane.

Click here to listen to the Playlist including Dave's piece Uh Hu Hu - https://www.lcm.ac.uk/News/An-alternative-Christmas-playlist-to-get-your-toes


Composer/ Bassist Dave Kane was born in a small town called Bangor in County Down in Northern Ireland. At age 16 he bought an electric bass guitar from a catholic priest for 50 pounds, and began moving his fingers up and down the ‘ E ‘ string in local punk and alternative bands. With aspirations of eventually playing on the other 3 strings of the bass, Kane began studying music at a local college with the internationally acclaimed composer and bandleader Brian Irvine. As a direct result of hanging out with Irvine, Kane began to explore the idioms of free improvisation, contemporary jazz, classical music, funk, metal, red wine and general mayhem! Further exploration was required, so Kane rowed across the irish channel on his double bass and studied Contemporary music (essay writing!) at Bretton Hall College of the University of Leeds.

 Unfortunately there were no influential teachers there like Irvine, so he learnt how to use a library and subsequently encountered the music of John Cage, Edgar Varese, Cecil Taylor, Barry Guy, John Coltrane, Iannis Xenakis, Charles Mingus, Frank Zappa and John Zorn. Upon graduating from University Kane lived and worked in London for a while trying to get his ’shit together’ and playing free music with some British Jazz legends including; Keith Tippett, Paul Dunmall, Elton Dean, Evan Parker, Tony Levin, Mark Sanders, Paul Rogers, Alex Maguire and many other heads! Currently based in Leeds, Kane is a founder member of L.I.M.A. (Leeds Improvised Music Association) and the musical director/ composer for the L.I.M.A orchestra. An ever expanding large improv orchestra featuring some of the UK’s finest young musicians inc, Matthew Bourne, Chris Sharkey, Christophe De Bezenac, Petter Fadnes. Other projects include; The internationally acclaimed Bourne/ Davis/ Kane. Dave Kane ( solo double bass + voice ).
The Shank Trio (featuring saxophonist James Allsopp and drummer Tim Giles).
 Didrik Ingvaldsen’s Quartet Alpha. Dave Kane’s Rabbit Project.

Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann at LCoM, December 2nd

Leeds College of Music is to host Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann in a special workshop on December 2nd.

The workshop will focus on duo playing and improvisation and who better to learn from than a pair of musicians whose musical friendship spans over 20 years and two duo albums?

Pianist Nikki Iles has a long connection to LCoM, first studying there as an undergraduate and later teaching piano. Recently, Nikki was asked to direct an all-star alumni big band to celebrate the college's 50th birthday.

This workshop is open to the public and tickets cost just £5. For more information and to book tickets, visit the LCoM website.

Black Cygnet: Jazz and Beyond

Black Cygnet is a new series of events taking place at The White Swan in Leeds which showcases the best of cutting edge and improvised music.

In association with Leeds College of Music, the gigs are curated by pianist Matthew Bourne. The first gig takes place on November 15th and will feature two groups - a trio featuring Matthew Bourne, Ed Jones and Joost Hendrikx and support TBC.

Following on from that, their next gig is December 6th, this time featuring Epic Toe Birth (Johnny Richards and Mick Bardon) and a duo with Dave Kane and Chris Sharkey.

For more information on these upcoming gigs, see the facebook event page, Also, check out the Leeds College of Music website for information on this and their other projects and events.

Leeds College of Music's Jazz Festival at the White Swan

Leeds College of Music is continuing the 50th year celebrations with a two day jazz festival to celebrate the wealth of talent on their jazz degree course.

On May 9th and 10th, The White Swan pub in Leeds will host gigs from ensembles made up of LCoM students - some familiar, some new to the jazz community in Leeds.

The line-up for May 9th has been published on the LCoM website and we predict the 10th won't be far behind - 10 hours of live jazz each day, with groups playing 30 minute sets from midday until 10pm.

It's a great chance to meet the next batch of musicians coming through LCoM and all for free!

More information here - http://www.lcm.ac.uk/whats-on/Upcoming-events/White-Swan-Jazz-Festival

Alex Munk's Flying Machines Kickstarter Launched

Jazz listeners first came across guitarist Alex Munk when he came to Leeds to study Jazz at Leeds College of Music from 2006-2009. He then moved to London to study his Masters at the Royal Academy in London and since then, he has proved himself to be a guitarist at the forefront of the jazz scene. He has maintained his connections with the North, bringing his own group Flying Machines to perform in Leeds as well as working with fellow LCoM Alumnus Matt Anderson in his group Wildflower and in 2015, he was invited to take part in an all-star big band put together by Nikki Iles to celebrate 50 years of Leeds College of Music.

Alex has recently recorded his debut album with his quartet, Flying Machines and has now launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to help with mastering, CD and print costs and PR. Their target is £3,500 and the total currently stands at 38% with 20 days to go.

Alex says

We have the end in sight! It's been a long haul (no pun intended) but the final mixes of our debut album, which we recorded last year, sound like they did in my wildest dreams. All the rehearsing and gigging really paid off. We've captured 9 original compositions in the studio and there's something on the album for everyone, from visceral, rock out improv to lyrical ballads and lush soundscapes. We worked with an incredible engineer called Tim Thomas for both the recording and mixing; he has done a wonderful job of bringing this music to life. 

We are aiming for a late September 2016 album launch date, ahead of our national tour in February 2017. We already have a number of dates booked, from Cornwall, London to Edinburgh - we hope to see you at one of them! We'll be adding more dates as we go along.

Donors can opt to pledge at a number of different levels, each with their own rewards. These range from digital downloads of the album to guitar lessons and private gigs by the band.

You can find out more about Alex and Flying Machines by visiting his website, and to learn more about the Kickstarter and donate, see their campaign page.

Jazz North Education Conference - 8th March

                                                  Dr Kathy Dyson (Photo: Porl Medlock)

Jazz North have announced the date for their annual Education Conference and networking day as March 8th. As in previous years, the event will be held at Leeds College of Music.

This will be our fourth annual jazz education conference day and a valuable opportunity to find out what Jazz North can offer Music Education Hubs and the jazz education sector, listen to case studies from hubs and delivery organisations, network with colleagues and discuss how we might work together to mutual benefit. 

Music teachers, youth music leaders, Music Hubs and freelance musicians/teachers are invited to attend the event and for the first time, there will be 5-minute bulletin slots offered to all attendees to provide a snapshot of the work they do or perhaps a pitch for a new project.

A full list of speakers is expected within the coming weeks and you can visit the Jazz North website to sign up and read reports from previous conferences.

NJ Advent Calendar - Video: Phil Meadows (December 20th)

 Saxophonist Phil Meadows has been extremely busy in the last few years, leading his own ensembles, setting up and running Engines Orchestra and releasing albums. As a graduate of Chetham's School of Music and Leeds College of Music, Phil flies the flag for Northern Jazz. You can find out more on his website and the Engines Orchestra site.

NJ Advent Calendar - Jazz Degrees (December 7th)

Behind door number 7 is the world of HE jazz education. One of the jewels in the Northern jazz crown is the fact that Leeds had the first jazz course in Europe, with LCoM celebrating its 50th year this year. In the relatively new world of jazz as a whole, this 50 year old institution represents a great achievement in the field. But it's not alone; there are a number places that young musicians can study jazz in the North.


Leeds College of Music

As mentioned above, LCoM was a trailblazer in the field of jazz education and it continues to be one of the most highly regarded centres for jazz studies in the UK. It has an impressive alumni and has seen many well respected jazz musicians come through its doors. The jazz faculty at the college is run by Jamil Sheriff and includes musicians like Sebastian De Krom, Dave Walsh, Steve Fishwick, Richard Iles and Joel Purnell.

Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

RNCM in Manchester recently launched their Jazz Studies specialism on their BMus course and there's also jazz electives available for those studying other genres of music. They boast an impressive of previous visiting artists - Tim Garland and Chris Potter to name but two. Their Big Band regularly gigs with guests like Nikki Iles and Mike Walker and the staff includes Steve Berry, Julian Arguelles and Steve Waterman.

LIPA, Liverpool

The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts doesn't have a specialist jazz degree but its BA Music degree has many staff members that are prominent jazz musicians. Head of Music is Martin Isherwood and among its staff, jazz audiences and musicians will recognise names like Steve Berry, Peter Fairclough, Jim Faulkner and Mike Smith. Over at Liverpool Hope University, jazz is represented too with Liverpool International Jazz Festival's Neil Campbell on staff.

Sage, Gateshead

The Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music degree at Sage Gateshead is run in partnership with the University of Sunderland. It has musicians like Paul Edis and Ian Paterson on staff and recent masterclasses have been led by Bill Bruford, Robert Glasper and the Yellowjackets.
 

Leeds College of Music wins RIBA Award

Leeds College of Music has won an architectural award in a ceremony held by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The revamp of the Quarry Hill building was led by Darntonegs Architects and was inspired by the fleet of Steinway Pianos recently delivered to the college.

LCoM were awarded the Small Project Award and the 10 other buildings also up for awards can be seen HERE.

Jazz Short Courses at LCoM

Leeds College of Music are gearing up to run some short courses focused on jazz in the coming months. These courses are open to anyone, with certain courses targeting beginner improvisers to those wishing to study jazz full-time. Full details can be found on the LCoM website but below are the brief outlines of the upcoming courses.

Jazz Brass Weekend - 25-26 April 2015

A fantastic opportunity for all brass players to gain valuable insight into improvisation, specific to brass technique. Covering aspects of blues, II-V-I progression, ear training, feel and instrumental technique; you will study with two of LCoM’s leading jazz tutors and brass specialists from our BA Jazz programme.  This two-day course is ideal for players who are perhaps intending to study music full-time or just building their confidence in general.  Working both with your tutors and a live rhythm section, you will learn how to improvise with increased fluency, whilst gaining knowledge of the repertoire and how your playing can best relate to it.  The weekend will conclude with an open rehearsal in front of an audience of friends and family.

To book, please visit www.lcm.ac.uk/courses/jazzbrass

Jazz Improvisation Weekend - 9-10 May 2015

Develop your confidence and creativity in this step by step guide to developing jazz language and improvisation.  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.  This intensive course is ideal for both the inexperienced improviser wishing to gain more knowledge, experience and confidence in improvisation, and for the seasoned improviser who wishes to take their jazz improvisation language to the next level.

To book, please visit www.lcm.ac.uk/courses/jazzimprovisation

 

Jazz North Education Conference

Jazz North is to host their 3rd Jazz Education Conference at Leeds College of Music on 17th March. 

The event will run from 11am until 4pm and features a number of talks and workshops focused on jazz and improvisation for children and young people.

Who Can Attend?

The event is aimed at -

• Primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, universities
• Senior educational leaders, subject leaders, educational professionals, teachers, teaching assistants, newly qualified teachers, Special Educational Needs Coordinators
• Local authority arts development teams, children’s services, school improvement services, events and festival coordinators
• Youth music services
• Arts organisations, artists and arts practitioners… and anyone who works with and supports those working with young people

Topics covered will include First Access, CPD for music teachers, youth jazz orchestras & more. Sign-up is required and interested parties should email info@jazznorth.org or use the contact form on this website to register their place.

Read a report of last year's conference.

Gig Preview: Bobby Avey's Authority Melts From Me! in Leeds & Manchester

Bobby Avey has come to prominence in the jazz community over the past few years, building a reputation as 'a young pianist of invention and refinement' (New Yorker). Since 2010, Avey has released his debut album, A New Face, to critical acclaim, been awarded the Thelonious Monk Prize for Composition, been invited to join Dave Liebman's band and has received the New Jazz Works Commission & Ensemble Development grant.

Avey used the New Jazz Works grant to travel to Haiti to develop Authority Melts From Me, a new suite of music based on the rhythms of Vodou drumming.

Currently touring this music with an A-List band which includes Miguel Zenon, Ben Monder, Jordan Perlson and Mike Janisch, Avey will perform two shows in the North as well as an afternoon workshop at Leeds College of Music.

December 9th - Band on the Wall
December 10th - Leeds College of Music

Enrico Pieranunzi comes to the North

Piano heavyweight Enrico Pieranunzi is to play in the North this week, with performances and workshops scheduled in Leeds and Sheffield.

Italian pianist Pieranunzi has an impressive CV including recordings and performances with Chris Potter, Joey Baron, Chet Baker and Lee Konitz amongst many others. His compositional talents have been showcased by the inclusion of his work in Real Books as part of the jazz canon and he remains one of the most highly regarded pianists in jazz today.

Leeds College of Music will host a masterclass led by Enrico (alongside a trio including drummer Steve Hanley and bassist Angus Milne) on Thursday 16th October between 2pm and 4pm. Later that evening, Enrico will perform at Seven Arts in Leeds with drummer Dave Walsh and bassist Pete Turner. On Friday October 17th, the trio will perform at The Crucible (Sheffield Jazz).

For more information, visit The Seven Jazz website, Sheffield Jazz website and Enrico Pieranunzi website.

Autumn courses for young musicians at Leeds College of Music

Chris Campbell, co-leader of Dubbin' is a Must! course

Young musicians can take part in variety of practical music courses at Leeds College of Music this Autumn and Winter. Two exciting two-day weekend courses coming up in November.

DUBBIN' IS A MUST! 
A Journey Through Jamaican Music and Culture for Young Musicians
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 November 2013


THE ABSTRACT HIP-HOP ORCHESTRA
A weekend of learning the history, the music and the skills to perform hip-hop from the last two decades.
Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December 2013

www.lcm.ac.uk/courses/Short-Courses/Autumn-and-Winter-Courses