Celebrating and developing jazz
in Yorkshire and the Humber
Demo in a day
One of the challenges for a jazz musician is getting your music heard. The aim of this scheme has been to offer jazz musicians living in the region the opportunity to spend a day recording in a professional studio.
This might be 'putting down' new compositions or recording a demo to help promote the band to clubs, venues or agents. An upcoming studio date certainly adds impetus to any musical project. The scheme has been run twice and we hope to run again in 2011-12
Musicians were invited to apply for a place on the scheme via an online application. Each application was be considered on its individual merits i.e. no restrictions on styles of jazz or age of musicians. The two key factors in our decision on who to support were:
1) That the project demonstrate 'excellence'
2) Projects where our support will help the musician / band in a practical way to develop / support their artistic career.
I am sure that after you have listened to the tracks featured here that you'll agree that they demonstrate the rich quality and excellence of music created by musicians from our region.
Musicians / Bands from scheme
2009-10: If Destroyed Still True, The Kevin Holbrough Quartet, Matthew Anderson, Shame and Guilt (John Marley), Rob Lavers Ensemble, The UK Mingus Collective (Colin Byrne), Poachers Pocket (Anna Stott), The Desmond Morris conspiracy (Chris Moore), The Ruby Wood Quintet, Jamil Sheriff Quartet. 2010-11: Kate Peters, Rebecca Robyns, Nicki Allan, Emlyn Vaughn (mi4), Derrick Harris, Alec Robinson, Andy Cholerton, Tessa Smith (Solaris).
Featured musicians
MI4
Confrontation (Burkill / MI4)
www.myspace.com/emlynvaughan18
Emlyn Vaughn (bass), Joost Hendrickx (drums) Tony Burkill (saxophone), Nick Svarc (guitar)uitar
Emlyn Vaughn "I have been transcribing and writing some tunes for my quartet. We have been rehearsing once a week for 3 months. A demo is what we need right now to make the next step to promote us for gigs/workshops".
Kate Peters Septet
Money Talks
Kate Peters (vocals), Ian Chalk (tpt), Matt Anderson (sax), Aubin Vanns (gtr), Zezo Olimpio (pno), John Marley (bass), Sam Gardner (drms)
John Marley "I would like to record a demo to showcase the Kate Peters sextet with some great musicians whom I studied with at Leeds College of Music. I would like to use this demo to promote the band use it as promotion for all the musicians involved."
Alec Robinson Quartet
Cloud Nine
www.myspace.com/alecrobinsonquartet
Matt Anderson (tenor sax), Ali Mac (drums), John Marley (bass), Alec Robinson (piano)
This recording provides me with a longer-term opportunity, specifically that of moving my musical career in a new direction. The impetus for forming this ensemble came from my desire to achieve a new level of creativity in my performing, and especially writing and arranging, for which there is less scope with the private function gigs. This project has provided the ideal platform for the performance of both my original compositions and new arrangements of standard material. With a recording I can promote this quartet to jazz clubs and festivals, pick up work from these areas and so perform for, and establish a rapport with, jazz audiences.
Derrick Harris Septet
Wait and See (Harris)
Ronnie Bottomley (drums), Joel Purnell (saxophone), Graham Hearn (piano), Derrick Harris (guitar), Paul Baxter (bass), Kevin Holbrough (trombone) and Simon Nixon (trumpet)
Over the last few years I've written a substantial amount of original music for a jazz septet and I'd welcome the opportunity to promote it further. Many thanks to all the fine musicians who contributed to this project and also to JazzYorkshire for giving me the opportunity to make this recording.
Rebecca Robyns
Movin Outa Town (Cox/Robyns)
www.reverbnation.com/rebeccarobyns72
Rebecca Robyns (Vocal), Peter Cox (Guitar), Johnny Cox (Bass), Martin Hyde (Percussion)
Bandiqui are Jazz vocalist: Rebecca Robyn's and Guitarist: Peter Cox. This songwriting duo met through playing together in their former group "Off The Grid" where they both realised their mutual love of Jazz music. Formed in 2009, they have played at the Hull Jazz Festival, Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival, and have enjoyed airplay on Jazz FM when their first release made the playlist "We get a cross section of ages at our gigs that then say...hmm Jazzy stuff is ok, that's cool when that happens, just because we may take "Nature Boy" for example and set it to a more uptempo "Hip Hop" style groove...kids love it, they get it ..and then I will say...look check out Nat King Cole, check out George Benson's versions too.
Nicki Allan
Working it Out (N Allan)
Nicki Allan - vocals, Joel Purnell - sax, Mark Chandler - trpt / flug, Graham Hearn - piano, Adrian Knowles - d bass, Ronnie Bottomley - drums.
I want to record a follow up Cd to our first release by the Nicki Allan Sextet. We have so much more material now including some original songs. I feel that this 2nd album is going to be great. I'm really going to push myself and the sextet this coming year with gigs and promotion since winning the Jazz Yorkshire vocalist of the year award. This recording with some fresh songs and arrangements will show people what we can do.