One Day Jazz Vocal Workshop with Nicki Allan, September 10th

Well loved jazz singer Nicki Allan has announced that she will host a one day jazz vocal workshop on September 10th at Inkwell in Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

Nicki says...

Would you like to learn to Scat Sing or do an intrumental solo with your voice but don't have the confidence or ability quite just yet? Then this could be for you..I'm running a Jazz Vocal Improvisation and Repertoire workshop to cover all of that stuff from simple, effective warm ups, modes and phrases to help you get going plus lots of interactive singing and scatting and an afternoon session putting it all together with repertoire and how to connect with lyrics with our live house jazz trio plus light lunch and all day refreshments are included in the price for just £75 for the whole day. 


To book a place simply email me, Nicki Allan at allannicki@hotmail.com or call 07905 482615 or better still, both.
Places are limited because this is an intimate workshop not a huge crowd. Everyone gets a go and gets to take part.

As Nicki says, space will be limited so if you're interested, book soon. To find out more about Nicki, visit her website - www.nickiallan.com.

York Big Band Initiative ft Marlena Kelli in Wakefield, 9th July

Wakefield Jazz are hosting a special, family-friendly gig this Sunday July 9th featuring the York Big Band Initiative and vocalist Marlena Kelli.

In addition to their regular Friday evening programming, this gig will take place on Sunday afternoon from 1pm, giving families and young people the chance to experience the joyous force of a full big band live and up close.

Musical director Ian Chalk says This will be a fantastic opportunity for them, and just shows how much they've grown, musically, in the last five years.

Tickets cost £10 full price and £5 concessions and can be booked online via the wegottickets website. 

For more information on the band, see the York Big Band Initiative website.

Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition - Call for entries

The 6th Annual Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition is now open for entries, with a 1st prize of $5,000 and an offer to record an album with the Concord Music Group.

Last year, London-based vocalist Deelee Dube (pictured above) scooped the top prize. Also offered are a second prize of $1500 and a third prize of $500.

The competition is open to solo vocalists of all nationalities who are not signed to a major record label and, for the first time this year, both men and women. Singers will be judged on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation and ability to swing; winner will receive a Concord Record deal.

Now in its 6th year, The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition, also known as the SASSY Awards, honors the talent and tradition of the competition’s namesake as the only international jazz competition of its kind, providing a platform for one outstanding jazz singer to launch a career within the music business.

Previous winners include Jazzmeia Horn (2013) who also was the 2015 winner of the Thelonious Monk Competition, and Cyrille Aimee (2012), the first-ever winner of the competition, whose major label debut in August 2014 was called “a bravura turn, presented with a smile” by The New York Times.

This year's judges are Gary Walker, Vanessa Rubin, T.S Monk, Will Downing and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Entries will be accepted until September 5th. For full information and to apply, visit the Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition website. 

AJ Brown Summer Tour Dates

Halifax born and LcoM Jazz graduate singer AJ Brown has been described as a cool, clean vocal hero by Cork Jazz Festival and is a favourite of audiences across the country. Recently, he recorded a special live EP at Dean Clough in Halifax and now he has announced a string of gigs over the summer which see him supporting some pretty big names.

On June 30^th and July 1^st in Scarborough and Preston respectively, AJ will support Will Young. Then on July 5^th, he will head to London to support 2Cellos. Towards the end of July, he will perform as support for Sir Tom Jones in Knutsford and Simply Red in Scarborough and Betley.

To keep up with gigs and news from AJ, visit his website. (www.aj-brown.co.uk)