Doncaster's Supa Dupa Big Band Bonanza, 16th-18th September

Doncaster Youth Jazz Association have teamed up with NYJO to run a weekend of workshops and performance entitled the Supa Dupa Big Band Bonanza.

From their website...

In partnership with the National Youth Jazz Organisation and proudly sponsored by Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation and the Doncaster Music Hub, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association is excited to be hosting the first Supa-Dupa Big Band Bonanza between Friday 16th and Sunday 18th September 2016 aimed at attracting anyone and everyone interested in learning or listening to jazz from across the Yorkshire region.
On Friday DYJA and NYJO Jazz Ambassadors will be engaging with Doncaster secondary school students, and on Saturday a range of workshops designed to encourage budding young musicians develop their jazz talents will aim to attract a regional audience to the CAST theatre and the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association Centre on Beckett Road. 

A team of support Ambassadors will be on hand to encourage, discuss and support young musicians. “This is an unmissable weekend” says John Ellis MBE. “We have a unique opportunity in providing a focused learning experience for the next generation of jazz musicians and lovers. Learning from the likes of Mark Armstrong (Musical Director NYJO) or Dennis Rollins (Associate Musical Director DYJA) as well as being exposed to the high standards of jazz expertise from the country’s finest young musicians on our very own doorsteps should be on every student’s priority list.”

The weekend kicks off with a workshop on Saturday from 10.30am until 12pm called Come and Try. This is a session for those of you who are new to jazz, have always wanted to take up an instrument or just fancy trying something new!

Running at the same time, is Develop Your Jazz Skills. This is an intermediate workshop for those who want to build on the basic skills needed to be a jazz musician and promises to be a fun session of jazz improvisation.

Later in the afternoon from 1pm until 4pm, an advanced workshop will run. This session is designed to challenge participants and will focus on three key areas - performance, theory and the emotional side of playing - dealing with nerves, using intuition, playing with feeling etc.

The weekend culminates in a performance on Sunday between 2.30pm and 5.00pm. Mark Armstrong and Dennis Rollins team up to lead a jam packed big band performance.

Information on all events over the weekend can be found on the DYJA website. 

Jazz North launches Northern Line Round 4

On November 23rd, Jazz North officially opened the application portal for the latest batch of Northern Line bands.

Now in its fourth round, Northern Line has so far seen 37 bands go through the scheme with over 350 performances for 130 different promoters.

Selected bands get to be part of the scheme from September 2016 until December 2017 and are available for promoters to book at a subsidised rate as part of the scheme.

The Jazz North website contains a set of guidelines for prospective applicants to read through as well as an online application portal.

A brief look at eligibility -

- There is no age limit or stylistic barrier

- The majority of band members must be based in the North of England

- Bands who have previously been part of the scheme are not able to apply, although musicians from these groups can apply as part of a different project

- Groups should have audio samples and a website (at least the bandleader must have a website if a band one is not available)

The deadline for submissions is 4th January 2016. Full information can be found on the Jazz North website.

JazzFM Awards 2015

This year's JazzFM awards will take place in London on Wednesday 10th June at Vinopolis, London Bridge.

This will be 3rd JazzFM and marks 25 years of JazzFM. The winners of awards in 11 categories (including jazz innovation of the year, breakout act of the year and international jazz act of the year amongst the usual fare) will be announced at the event, as well as a performance by Hugh Masekela who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

More details can be found here - JazzFMawards.com