Crowd funding and jazz

The modern music world has changed in the last 10 years, with the record deals vanishing, file sharing, music streaming and vinyl coming back!

For a jazz musician or a band to record they are now mostly dependent on self-funding the album, my estimate would be that to record through to having a product will cost the musician in the region of £5k however Tommy Smith recently quoted £18k to produce his last album. Then there are the promotion costs on top, with the average jazz record sales being fairly low, it is unlikely that the jazz musician is going to become a millionaire soon!

There are a variety of ways the musician goes about funding a project, be this directly out of their own funds, from government (ACE) funding, getting loans from family and friends,  pre-sales. This where crowdfunding comes into play, various safe websites have been set up to enable the artist to collect funds from pre-sales, donations and wild and exuberant gifts! This gives the funder (hopefully you) a chance to see the early stages of the process coming together as well as getting something for your money. Who knows in the future this could be the modern way of buying music?

Craig Scott recently funded the production element of his latest cd through one of the sites and now it is Matt Anderson who is looking to generate funds for his debut album as leader. At ‘Jazz Goes To Leeds’ we have the following information for you.

Wild Flower Sextet Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

The Wild Flower Sextet have launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the making of their debut album, which they are recording on February 22^nd and 23^rd in the Leeds College of Music recital room after receiving a place on the Jazz Services Recording Support scheme.

The band, led by Leeds-based tenor saxophonist Matt Anderson, takes its name from a composition by the great Wayne Shorter, and the project celebrates the master saxophonist's music with deconstructed re-workings of his compositions as well as new material. Also featured in the band are young London-based trumpeter Laura Jurd, guitarist Alex Munk and pianist Jamil Sheriff, as well as the ever-popular combination of Sam Vicary and Sam Gardner on double-bass and drums.

The project has received support so far from a number of sources. As well as being awarded a place on the Jazz Services Recording Support Scheme, the band is also being supported by Leeds College of Music who have donated their recital room and Steinway grand piano for the recording. Alongside this, the band has also set up a crowdfunding campaign on Sponsume.com, allowing fans to support the project by pre-ordering copies of the album and signing up for different rewards. These range from mp3 downloads and a bonus disc with live footage and photos from the session to having their names printed in the album sleeve and tune dedications.

The campaign on Sponsume.com runs until the 1^st March, which is when mixing and mastering of the album will begin with a view to an Autumn release, and can be accessed by following http://www.sponsume.com/project/wild-flower-sextet-album.

www.matt-anderson.org.uk

Here are some early studio takes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6dNSdcjinE

Leeds Jazz Listings

Jazz-at-heart gigs 2014

Dominic Marshall Trio

Saturday 22 February 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

Dominic J Marshall: piano; Tobias Nijboer: double bass; Kaspars Kurdeko: drums.

'brings together a great heritage of the past, but also something very fresh and new' - Jamie Cullum

Support: Moysey’s Noisy Sextet

Kasseldown Quintet

Saturday 22 March 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

A new project led by Harry Orme, formed in late 2013 playing all original compositions. With special guest Matt Anderson, who has been making waves performing and recording as a sideman with Jiannis Pavlidis, Jamie Taylor and Jamil Sheriff, as well as leading his own projects. Also, rising stars of the northern scene: Declan Forde (Piano), Sam Vicary (Bass) and Sam Gardner (Drums).

Support: Toby Noble Trio

 Eirik Svela Trio

12 April 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

The trio features Eirik Svela (Guitar), Simon Read (Bass) and John Arnesen (Drums). The band plays firmly within the hard-bop tradition drawing influences from legendary guitarists such as Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino. The trio’s repertoire is a mix of interpretations of standards and some original tunes.

"If I hear anything better all Fringe I'll eat my umbrella" (Audience member, Buxton Fringe)

 Sam Watts Solo Piano

17 May 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

Sam studied at Leeds College of Music before continuing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music with a scholarship. He graduated with distinction in 2013, also winning the Humphrey Lyttleton prize. In November he performed a solo concert in the 2013 London Jazz Festival playing a selection of ragtime/stride piano pieces. This evening he takes us through his influences on solo piano, leaving not a dry eye in the house. http://wattsworld.co.uk/sounds/

 Apollo US presents: Fat Face Trio

7 June 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

Jazz at Heart hosts the first Transatlantic tour by Apollo Jazz Network. Hailing from North Carolina, Fat Face Trio features trumpet, tuba and guitar. Led by trumpet Matt Postle, the group plays a diverse range of music and embraces the challenge of their unconventional line-up. A rare UK appearance from a group which promises unexpected turns and a fresh take on the jazz trio.      

Apollo US presents: Veronneau26 July 2014 7.30 p.m. £8 (£5 concessions)

Launched in 2010, international quartet Veronneau have captivated festivals, concert halls and jazz clubs across North America and Europe. Led by French-Canadian singer Lynn Veronneau, the group play a mix of bossa nova, swing, samba and gypsy jazz performed not only in English but in French and Portuguese, too! The band return to the UK this summer following on from hugely successful festival appearances in recent years.

For more info :

http://www.heartcentre.org.uk/jazz-at-heart

Seven Jazz Leeds springs into action!

Leeds is the place to be for jazz this Spring. Shake off the winter blues with some great jazz! Lots of international stars, and lots of talented Yorkshire bands to see at Seven Jazz’s two venues, Seven Arts and Inkwell Arts in Chapel Allerton. 

Firstly award-winning jazz alto saxophonist and hip hop star Soweto Kinch celebrates the release of his studio double album titled ‘The Legend of Mike Smith’ - the tale of a young MC caught in a very modern world of temptation on January 23^rd at Seven Arts. Then Canadian Trumpeter Jay Phelpes has put together a wonderful trans-Atlantic sextet to perform the music of Miles Davis in his “Projection of Miles” concert for February 20th.  Leeds based jazz singer Louise Gibbs premieres her new “Seven Deadly Sings” on March 6^th, a jazz song cycle scored for voice and septet and a star line up of international musicians such as Tony Kofi, Tim Whitehead and Quentin Collins and then the same month on March 20th Jean Toussaint – the sax playing member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - returns Seven Arts leading his own quartet.

Australian tenor sax jazz star Brandon Allen with his exciting new quartet on April 3^rd and finally before Easter on 10^th April the superb duo of saxman Tommy Smith and pianist Brian Kellock make it down from Scotland – just before they close the border!

The funky Sunday afternoons provide good entertainment and good value too with some wonderful new Leeds based bands including bassist Simon Read’s Octet, saxman Robin Porter’s Quartet, fresh from this year’s Proms, the piano trios of Jami Sheriff and Declan Forde, guitarists Jamie Taylor and Gary Boyle, saxman Will Howard’s double drum Quintet, and from London the wonderful young trumpet star Laura Jurd.

To get jazz fans in the mood for Le Grand Depart from Leeds we have a couple of groups that recreate the music of Stefan Grapelli and Django Renihardt – Ben Lowman’s Django Project and Matt Holborn’s Gypsy Jazz quartet. And for those who like jazz singers we have welcome returns by Kate Peters and Kevin James!

All this to see enjoy then.  But if you want to join in too, then there is the highly successful Seven Jazz workshop, improvisation group, the Seven Jazz Voices Choir and the Spring Jazz Café and Jam Session on March 30^th!

To find out more – check our website www.sevenjazz.co.uk, or follow us on facebook  www.facebook.com/pages/Seven-Jazz-in-Chapel-Allerton-Leeds-LS7/.

Sela Bar

Continues to run with its Cooler and Tuesday night sessions, most gigs start about 9pm

Feb 4th- Matt Anderson Quartet

Matt Anderson-Sax , Nik svarc -Guitar , Simon Read-Dbl Bass, Sam Gardner-Drums

Feb 11th -Joel Purnell

Joel Purnell-Sax , Nik Svarc-Guitar, Garry Jackson-Bass,  Dave Walsh -Drums

18th Feb -Scott Devine Project

25th Feb -Harry Orme Quintet

Harry Orme-Guitar, Will Howard –Sax, Declan Forde-Piano, Sam Vicary-Bass, Sam Gardener -Drums

4th March-Jiannis Pavlidis  Quartet

Jiannis Pavlidis-Guitar , Matt Anderson –Sax,  Sam Vicary –Bass,   Sam Gardner-Drums

11th March -Svarc/Hanley/Longhawn

Nik Svarc Guitar, Steve Hanley Drum, Martin Longhawn Keys

18th March -Afuri Ko

Hiroshi Fukutomi – guitar, Akiko Horii – percussion, Jim Funnell - keyboards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wVDu5x8nCA&feature=youtu.be

25th March -Bloom Collective

Lorentz Bloom-Guitar ,  Sam Quintana – Bass, Luke Szoltysek- Drums

Apr 1st- Russell Van Den Berg

Russell Van Den Berg-Sax, Garry Jackson-Bass, Dave Walsh-Drums, Nik Svarc-Guitar,  Martin Longhawn-Keys

April 8th - Chillingworth/Svarc/Jackson/Hanley

Michael Chillingworth-Sax, Nik Svarc-Guitar, Garry Jackson-Bass, Steve Hanley-Drums

April 15th-Svarc/Jackson/King

Nik Svarc –Guitar, Garry Jackson-Bass, Si King-Drums

April-22nd- Kristian Borring Trio

Mick Coady-Bass, Jon Scott-Drums

April 29th-Joseph Howell Quartet

Joseph Howell – Guitar, Ian Bumstead -Tenor Sax, Marcus Penrose – Bass, Peter Ibbetson -Drums.

6th May-Cat Daniels Quartet Featuring James Mainwaring (Roller Trio)

Cat Daniels-Bass, James Mainwaring –Sax, Joost Hendrickx –Drums, Guitar -T.B.C

13th May Sam Dunn Trio

Garry jackson-Bass, Steve Hanley-Drums ,

https://twitter.com/SelaBarJazzJam

 Sproggits

A night of new work, improvised music and jazz from young improvisers and composers based in Leeds.

10^th Feb

9pm: Lorentz Bloom Trio

10pm: Kasseldown Quintet // Harry Orme (guitar), Will Howard (tenor saxophone), Declan Forde (piano), Sam Vicary (bass), Sam Gardner (drums) 

10^th March 8:30pm

Tori Freestone – Saxophones, Tim Giles – Drums, Dave Manington – Double Bass

Full details can be found:

http://www.wharfchambers.org/

Howard Assembley Rooms

A couple of big names grace the Leeds stage in April:

Bill Frisell Trio – 5^th April

Rene Marie – 23^rd April

Leeds Jazz Club

Armley Conservative Club  Ridge Road, Armley, Leeds, LS12 3NU

4^th Feb Spirit Of New Orleans

11th Feb Old Fashioned Love Band

18th Feb Frog Island Jazz Band

25th Feb Yorkshire Stompers

4^th March Tessa Smith & The Applejacks

11th March Harlem Hot Stompers

18th March New Orleans Heat Click

25th March Savannah JB

http://www.leedsjazzclub.com/

Jazz at The Grove
This 2 weekly club is still running with dates on Sunday evenings:
Sun, 9 February, 20:00 – 23:00 Zoe Gilby

Sun, 23 February - Krzysztof Urbanski

Sun, 9 March, - Svarc, Hanley, Longhawn

For those of you who fancy a trip out of town a couple of gigs worthy of note

Beverley Beirne quintet – Feb 22 - The Wildman Studio – Ilkley

Beverley Beirne is a jazz singer fast becoming known for her ability to innovate as for her stunning voice. A truly gifted interpreter, she sings a captivating mix of beautifully arranged standards and exciting interpretations from other genres. Beverley's arrangements of well known songs like 'Walk On By' make them her own. She has a wonderful feeling for interpreting numbers into a jazz context yet still keeping the original feel of the song.  

Beverley Beirne – Vocals, Declan Forde – Piano, Simon Reed – Bass, Matt Parkinson – Drums, Ben Lowman- Tenor

http://www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/

Benet Mclean Band – 8 March - Wakefield Jazz

You may not be familiar with London based Benet Mclean, so let me acquaint you, having  been the keys player in Dennis Rollins Bad Bone company and 3 albums as leader (in his own Name), Benet also is the support act at Ronnies to the reunion of Loose Tubes. Oh and he sings as well!

Benet McLean - piano and voice, Duncan Eagles – sax, Max Luthert – bass, Mark Mondesir – drums

http://www.wakefieldjazz.org/index.html

And the of course Boston Spa:

http://www.jazzinthespa.co.uk/

8 Feb 2014 New Orleans Heat

15 Feb 2014 Spirit of New Orleans

22 Feb 2014 Boston Spa Real Ale Festival with Ron Burnett's Mardi Gras Jazz Band. NB 2.00.pm to 4.00.pm

1 Mar 2014 Frank Brooker's Happy Chappies

8 Mar 2014 Papa Pider's Jazz Band - from Sweden £10

15 Mar 2014 Jump Jive and Wail

22 Mar 2014 Amy Roberts/John Hallam Jazz Five

29 Mar 2014 Richard Leach's Seven Stars of Jazz

5 Apr 2014 Trefor Williams + the Usual Suspects with Christine Tyrrell £10

12 Apr 2014 To be confirmed

19 Apr 2014 Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz

26 Apr 2014 Enrico Tomasso + Roy Williams + Tom Kincaid Trio £10

3 May 2014 Brian Carrick's Algiers Stompers

10 May 2014 Oriental Jazz Band - from the Netherlands £10

24 May 2014 Jeff Barnhart + John Hallam + Jamie Brownfield £10

31 May 2014 Savannah Jazz Band

If anyone has more gigs they would like posting here please let us know and we can add them to these 67 or so!!!

Jamie Taylor Outside Line Quartet – “Introducing Outside Line”

Jamie Taylor certainly has pedigree when it comes to the world of jazz guitar. As principal lecturer at Leeds College of Music he has been involved in the tuition of musicians who have gone on to become members of Led Bib, Submotion Orchestra, Everything Everything, Roller Trio and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra. Taylor himself graduated from the college in 2000 with first class honours and went on to complete postgraduate study. He has performed with a variety of UK musicians including Adrian Ingram, Alan Barnes and Jim Mullen. Most recently he has been involved as a sideman in The Jamil Sheriff Big Band amongst other divergent projects.

The “Outside Line” project is his latest venture and features Matt Anderson on tenor saxophone, Garry Jackson on bass and Dave Walsh on drums.  Essentially “Introducing Outside Line” is broken down into two suites over six tracks, all composed by Taylor himself, the “Someone New Suite” and “Three Colours: Blues Suite”.  Before a note of music is heard, the album cover artwork for this release strikes one as both industrial and organic in nature. There is an almost “scientific” feel to the imagery, which compliments the fresh production.   The opening few minutes of “Someone New” are a master class in restraint as percussion and guitar roll gently around one another before the saxophone lines mournfully cut through. Here we have music that would not be out of place on a well-known Scandinavian jazz label with an evocatively austere cover. As the piece progresses the specific personalities begin to emerge however. “Fugue (Hazy)” has a gossamer thin childlike quality that is somehow baroque in its’ delivery, whilst “The Optimist” is, unsurprisingly, more upbeat and “optimistic”. The first three numbers that make up the “Someone New Suite” have a fragile charm, which makes for melancholic listening in the way that well crafted jazz can.

 The second suite “Three Colours: Blues” is an altogether brisker affair, which brightens the mood without losing any of its’ charisma. The music here is somehow now reminiscent of an earlier decade of jazz, and whilst not as contemporaneous sounding as the previous suite, is certainly jazz that is appropriate for the twenty first century. Maybe these tunes are more indicative of the influence on Taylor’s playing of guitarists such as Barney Kessel, whilst “Canon for Cannon” wears its’ Cannonball Adderley influences proudly. After some filthy double bass playing on the introduction “Dig Doug” is the perfect showcase for some soulful soloing from all band members and highlights their ability, over the two suites, to take on a variety of temperaments and paces. With teachers such as Taylor educating our future jazz musicians, Leeds will continue to breed a gloriously disparate cohort of musicians, that draw from any number of influences to create an exhilarating future for music in the city and further afield.

Jamie Taylor website

Gig update

The Abstract Hip Hop Orchestra are now supporting Soweto Kinch at Seven Arts on Thursday 23 January:

Gig Details

Soweto Kinch, saxes, reed, voice with Nick Jurd double bass and Shane Forbes drums.

Support from the Abstract Hip Hop Orchestra: (8pm start) Jim Corry/Russ Henderson/Athol Ransome - saxes, Malc Strachan/JamesHamilton/Si Denis -trumpets, Rosie Nicol/Kevin Holbrough/Pete Johnson -trombones, Izzy Flynn -keys/Fatty -bass and Matt Davis -drums

Award-winning jazz alto saxophonist and hip hop star Soweto Kinch celebrates the release of his studio double album titled ‘The Legend of Mike Smith’- featuring his new... trio Karl Rashid-Abel (double bass) and Shaney Forbes (drums). It tells the tale of a young MC caught in a very modern world of temptation.

Hear Soweto talking about his new album, inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins on BBC Radio4.

“I’m really excited about these shows; the stripped trio format allows me more harmonic freedom and space to deliver lyrics. Moreover, I’m excited about integrating new things into the show, such as tenor sax and live looping” Soweto Kinch

“..a scalding display of post-Coleman alto-sax improvising, a virtuosic and intelligent exposition of political rap, and a visually riveting event into the bargain…A real tour de force – a contemporary take on The Seven Deadly Sins.” John Fordham The Guardian

Music here- www.soweto-kinch.com

Abstract Hip Hop Orchestra

The Abstract Hiphop Orchestra are a 13 piece ensemble with a big brass section, rappers and 4 piece rhythm section who play big band arrangements of classic 80s and 90s hiphop. The band leader is saxman Rob Mitchell (The Haggis Horns) who has arranged the music of Jay Dee, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde and many other golden era hiphop artists into a big band format .


Soweto Kinch ‘The Legend of Mike Smith’ - International Jazz Concert Series@Seven Arts Thursday evening 23 January 8-11pm £16/14 conc.

Full details and tickets
http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/whats-on

Mark

News - 2013

Happy New Year from us!
Well it is that time of year for reviewing what has gone and looking forward to what is to come.

Locally Seven Jazz have listed their top gigs from last year, it would be great to know if you agree? It is great to see a mix of local and touring acts listed.
The full list is here:
http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/component/content/article/38-general-news/1008-our-gigs-of-the-year-
On a more national level there is the parliamentary all parties jazz awards with 2 new categories to vote for. It would be great to see some Northern, Yorkshire or even Leeds nominations! To vote its free and anyone can do it!
www.jazzservices.org.uk

I will update you with what’s next to come in my next post! Have a great 2014
Mark

Svarc Hanley Longhawn – “For The Greater Good” album review

From the opening few bars of “Portals” there is an almost palpable sense that “For The Greater Good” will be a release that is built up on intelligent compositions, executed by musicians that are not only highly competent in their field, but have a sensitivity for the music that raises them up above some of the more pedestrian releases. Here we have Nik Svarc on electric and acoustic guitar/loops, Steve Hanley on drums and percussion and Martin Longhawn on organ and keyboards, and hearing the album through for the first time was almost akin to hearing an album by one of your favourite artists on the ECM label through for the first time. You are assured quality not just in the playing and composition, but also in the production and the packaging. The music progresses intuitively as each individual player subtly contributes to each piece without ever disturbing the delicate balance. “Portals” moves at a variety of paces and moods which are sometimes suggestive of electric era Miles Davis, particularly the organ sound which occasionally echoes that of Keith Jarrett and/or Chick Corea around that time. To many jazz enthusiasts, this one included, evoking electric Miles Davis can only ever be a good thing. The guitar playing here has a sense that it was informed by “Blow By Blow and “Wired” era Jeff Beck, in that is successfully crosses the jazz/rock border without losing the integrity of either genre. Built up almost on a number of differing musical movements, “Portals” displays stunning musical dexterity and composition that should be of interest to supporters of a wide range of musical approaches such as jazz, avant garde, rock and modern classical. “Like a Primate” features some beautifully restrained guitar lines that bristle crisply over the ethereal organ sound to create not only deeply moving music but also phrases that can almost be picked out as “jazz earworms”.

There is almost a discordant texture to the guitar work on “It’s Cold Outside” which suggests the guitar of Sonny Sharrock, but which Svarc infuses with his own personality. Looped phrases and plaintive guitar lines add further colour and dynamic. “Heavy Sky” showcases how contemplative and melancholic the organ and acoustic guitar can sound together, whilst the albums closing “Exit” brings together the delicacy and dynamism of the previous pieces and uses those qualities to put together music that not only may be loved by jazz enthusiasts but may also be appreciated by lovers of “progressive music” in general. The album closes on a majestic crescendo that is yet another of the many disparate characteristics that go up to make one of the album releases of the year for this reviewer. Gracefulness and power are very difficult to attain without upsetting the equilibrium, but this release manages that fine balancing act with a great deal of dignity.