Jazz Jam is coming to Lancaster Jazz Festival on Saturday 14th September

 

We are really pleased to announce that Lancaster Jazz Jam will be part of Lancaster Jazz Festival this year.

You'll be able to find us at the Innovation Hub in The Gregson Centre Main Hall on Sat 14th Sept from 9pm and everyone is welcome!

Check out the full festival line up here: https://www.lancasterjazz.com/2024-festival/

Lancaster Jazz Jam was established in 2017, emerging out of the Orbit Jazz Workshop at Lancaster Community Music Centre. Our aim is to present an inclusive jam session that allows players of all abilities to have an opportunity to play, gain confidence, learn about jazz music, develop performance skills and hear other musicians. At the jam we have a selection of tunes/standards to play and there is music available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass. You can choose which tunes you wish to play on and sign up to be part of the band when those tunes are called. The emphasis is on having fun, supporting each other and enjoying the music. The event is free and non-players are very welcome to come along too. For more information please email lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com or visit 'Jazzjam Lancaster' on Facebook.

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 30th August

 

 

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 30th August from 19:30 at the Printroom Cafe Bar located in the historic Storey Building on Meeting House Lane near Lancaster Castle.  Here's more info;

Lancaster Jazz Jam was established in 2017, emerging out of the Orbit Jazz Workshop at Lancaster Community Music Centre. Our aim is to present an inclusive jam session that allows players of all abilities to have an opportunity to play, gain confidence, learn about jazz music, develop performance skills and hear other musicians. At the jam we have a selection of tunes/standards to play and there is music available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass. You can choose which tunes you wish to play on and sign up to be part of the band when those tunes are called. The emphasis is on having fun, supporting each other and enjoying the music. The event is free and non-players are very welcome to come along too. For more information please email lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com or visit 'Jazzjam Lancaster' on Facebook.

Gregson Gig Series will return on 27th October

 

The Gregson Gig Series will take a short break over the summer months. The next gig will be on 27th October so save the date and keep an eye on us for further announcements...

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 26th July

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 26th July from 19:30 at the Printroom Cafe Bar located in the historic Storey Building on Meeting House Lane near Lancaster Castle.  Here's more info;

Lancaster Jazz Jam was established in 2017, emerging out of the Orbit Jazz Workshop at Lancaster Community Music Centre. Our aim is to present an inclusive jam session that allows players of all abilities to have an opportunity to play, gain confidence, learn about jazz music, develop performance skills and hear other musicians. At the jam we have a selection of tunes/standards to play and there is music available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass. You can choose which tunes you wish to play on and sign up to be part of the band when those tunes are called. The emphasis is on having fun, supporting each other and enjoying the music. The event is free and non-players are very welcome to come along too. For more information please email lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com or visit 'Jazzjam Lancaster' on Facebook.

 

Mike Hall & Andy Hulme Post-gig Post

It was a real treat to be in the company of Mike Hall and Andy Hulme on Sunday as we continued our Gregson Gig Series.

 

Joy Spring was a perfect opening statement for a balmy June evening and set the scene for a varied and absorbing set to follow. The duo were equally impressive with pacey standards as they were on gentle ballads. The beautiful l Never Told You was enthralling as was the subtle interplay between the musicians on bossa Gentle Rain. It was special to be part of their conversation and their virtuosity and technical mastery was on display to great effect as we closed out with Donna Lee. 

Andy's compelling, graceful precision and deft handling of rhythm and improvisation was captivating. Mike played with a fluid energy throughout flowing phrases and a wonderful mix of colours that filled the room.

In the second set, the bass clarinet version of Blue in Green was an engaging addition, the use of electronics lending it an ethereal weight. The solid unity of the pair on bebop classic Ornithology was thrilling as was their skilful interaction on Kenny Wheeler's affecting Everyone's Song But My Own. The performance remained strong through to a flourishing Oleo and on to the inevitable encore, called for by our appreciative audience. 

 

Thank you to Mike and Andy and to all those who came out to support us once again, we are so very grateful. The Gregson Gig Series will have a break for the summer months and our next event will be on the 27th October so keep in touch with us and join the mailing list if you haven't already at lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com

 

 

Lancaster Jazz Scene supports "Super Kader" Sat 13th July

 

Kader is a Lancaster-based jazz septet formed in 2017. For this very special gig the band have invited past members, friends and family who have played with and supported the band over the years to join them on special arrangements of the band’s repertoire.  The regular combination of drums, percussion and bass with keys, saxes and trumpet will be enhanced by more horns, more wind and more rhythm for this unique show "Super Kader" in the Auditorium at the historic Storey building in Lancaster. Expect a range of exciting and eclectic music from this one-off, live collaboration as the band put their own creative collective spin on compositions by artists like Roy Hargrove, Kenny Garrett, Terrace Martin, Snarky Puppy and Ibrahim Maalouf to name just a few.

Support is from Persimmon, a new jazz/neo-soul quartet, influenced by Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote and Roy Ayers, bringing a fresh and dynamic sound to the local scene.

 

Join us on Saturday 13th July at the Storey Auditorium, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster. Doors open at 18:30, entry is £7.50 on the door or pay what you feel. 

Gregson Gig Series #8: Mike Hall & Andy Hulme:

 

On the 23rd June we present Mike Hall and Andy Hulme for the next event in our Gregson Gig Series and we are really looking forward to it. 

Mike Hall is a jazz saxophonist and educator. He began with NYJO, leading to a long association with composer/pianist Michael Garrick including a tour of Malaysia, CD recordings and national radio broadcasts. A member of the London-based Echoes of Ellington Orchestra, he also runs his own quartet and octet, Boplicity. His career has seen him playing with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Bob Mintzer and Bob Brookmeyer.

Highlights have included a week at Ronnie Scott's Club, concerts at the World Saxophone Congress in Slovenia and Strasbourg with Andy Scott's Group S plus features in John Dankworth and Cleo Laine's Christmas Show.

Mike headed Jazz Studies at the RNCM for 25 years and continues to run jazz courses and summer schools in UK and France.

 

Guitarist Andy Hulme has been playing and accompanying musicians around Manchester and Liverpool since the late 1990s. Currently a member of Mike Hall's Boplicity, Andy came onto the North West jazz scene playing alongside Welsh guitarist, Trefor Owen, and has been a long-standing member of the Jamie Brownfield/Liam Byrne Quintet.

Over the years he has played alongside many distinguished musicians, including US guitarists Howard Alden and Jack Wilkins, the UK's John Etheridge and Jim Mullen, and saxophonists Scott Hamilton and Art Themen.

 

Come and join us in the Olive Bar at the Gregson Arts Centre, 35 Moor Gate, Lancaster LA1 3PY

 

Sunday 23rd June, doors 18:30. Entry £10 cash or card on the door.

 

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 28th June

 

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 28th June from 19:30 at the Printroom Cafe Bar located in the historic Storey Building on Meeting House Lane near Lancaster Castle.  Here's more info;

Lancaster Jazz Jam was established in 2017, emerging out of the Orbit Jazz Workshop at Lancaster Community Music Centre. Our aim is to present an inclusive jam session that allows players of all abilities to have an opportunity to play, gain confidence, learn about jazz music, develop performance skills and hear other musicians. At the jam we have a selection of tunes/standards to play and there is music available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass. You can choose which tunes you wish to play on and sign up to be part of the band when those tunes are called. The emphasis is on having fun, supporting each other and enjoying the music. The event is free and non-players are very welcome to come along too. For more information please email lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com or visit 'Jazzjam Lancaster' on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Jack Yerkess Quartet Post-gig Post

 

 

On Sunday we welcomed the Jack Yerkess Quartet to Lancaster Jazz Scene for their debut gig. The band started with a stylish rendition of Red Clay which set the scene well for a dynamic and varied programme, including an unusually funky Shadow of Your Smile and ending with an energy-infused party version of All of Me. On trombone Jack Yerkess used the full range of the instrument to great effect with technical proficiency and sophisticated sensitivity. Tom Royle’s drums were smart and dynamic and linked with Marcus Schofield on keys and Jonathan Berry on bass to provide some clever builds and breaks that were creative and energetic. Tell Me a Bedtime Story, Black Orpheus and Stars Fell on Alabama were highlights from the second set, a great showcase of the band’s talents leading to an inevitable request for an encore from the supportive and thoroughly-entertained audience. It was special to present the debut gig of this exciting band, we look forward to seeing more of them on the jazz scene in the future.

Don’t miss the next in our Gregson Gig series when we present Mike Hall and Andy Hulme on 23rd June.

 

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 24th May

  

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 24th May from 19:30 at the Printroom Cafe Bar located in the historic Storey Building on Meeting House Lane near Lancaster Castle.  Here's more info;

Lancaster Jazz Jam was established in 2017, emerging out of the Orbit Jazz Workshop at Lancaster Community Music Centre. Our aim is to present an inclusive jam session that allows players of all abilities to have an opportunity to play, gain confidence, learn about jazz music, develop performance skills and hear other musicians. At the jam we have a selection of tunes/standards to play and there is music available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass. You can choose which tunes you wish to play on and sign up to be part of the band when those tunes are called. The emphasis is on having fun, supporting each other and enjoying the music. The event is free and non-players are very welcome to come along too. For more information please email lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com or visit 'Jazzjam Lancaster' on Facebook.