Gregson Gig Series #8: Mike Hall & Andy Hulme

On the 23rd June we are joined by Mike Hall and Andy Hulme for the ninth gig 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 which led to a twenty year association with composer/pianist Michael Garrick including a tour of Malaysia, CD recordings and national radio broadcasts. He is a member of the London-based Echoes of Ellington Orchestra but also runs his  own quartet and octet! 

Career 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 and 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 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.

Gregson Gig Series #7: Jack Yerkess Quartet

 

 

On Sunday 12th May we welcome something new to the jazz scene, the Jack Yerkess Quartet. Four like-minded musicians who play a wide range of reimagined standards and contemporary jazz, they are bringing a fresh, exciting approach to jazz classics plus lots of style and talent.

 

Jack Yerkess -trombone

Marcus Schofield - piano

Jonathan Berry - bass

Tom Royle - drums

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

 

Sunday 12th May, doors 18:30. Entry £7:50 cash or card on the door.

 

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 26th April

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 26th April 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.

Richard Iles & Les Chisnall post-gig post

 

 

 

We spent a very special evening in the company of Richard and Les on Sunday and were very grateful to be able to experience top quality jazz from two masters of their craft in such an intimate setting.

Les’s inventive and intricate playing was compelling; combined with Richard’s soulful tone and graceful runs, standards like Body and Soul and My Funny Valentine were elevated to something exceptional. It was in Richard’s original compositions though that the duo really thrived, from the evocative and contemplative Morfa Nefyn to the mesmerising Microscopic and the moody Every Silver Lining. The respect and affection that the pair have for each other was evident in the performance and echoed by the attentive and appreciative audience.

This was a great way to end our initial run of 6 gigs in the Gregson series. We are pleased to say that through the support of the Gregson and our fantastic audience members we will be continuing with jazz events in the Olive Bar. Thank you so much to everyone who has come along to support these gigs. Our next presentation will be the Jack Yerkess Quartet on 12^th May so save the date and watch out for more details coming soon!

 

Gregson Gig Series #6: Richard Iles and Les Chisnall 24.03.24

 

 

On Sunday 24th March we proudly present Richard Iles and Les Chisnall, two musicians of the highest quality who form part of the beating heart of jazz in the North West and beyond.

Richard and Les have been playing together for over 30 years working in various group settings and the last 10 years as a duo. They enjoy playing a wide variety of jazz from the standard repertoire to their own original music which is steeped in the jazz tradition. The Olive Bar at the Gregson Centre is going to be the perfect setting to experience their intimate and engaging music, full of twists and turns, swinging and soulful.

 

Richard Iles is a jazz trumpeter, composer and educator based in the North West. After leaving the Leeds College of Music in 1980 Richard became a founding member of the Creative Jazz Orchestra performing with Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs, Vince Mendoza, Peter Erskine, and Bill Frisell as well as being a member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra working with John Scofield and Gary Burton amongst others. Formerly principal lecturer in jazz at Leeds Conservatoire he now teaches at Chethams School of Music.

https://soundcloud.com/richard-31

https://richardiles69.wixsite.com/website/blank-1

https://www.facebook.com/richard.iles.18

 

 

Les Chisnall is a jazz pianist and has worked with some of the world’s finest jazz musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Mike Walker and Ian Bellamy to name but a few. As a composer Les has written for orchestra, piano, organ and choir. Parallel to his playing career Les teaches at Chethams School of Music and LIPA and gives masterclasses at RNCM.

https://www.facebook.com/leschisnall

 

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

 

Sunday 24th March, doors 18:30. Entry £10 cash or card on the door.

 

If you would like to reserve a space send an email with your name and arrive by 18:45 on the night so we can cross you off the list: lancasterjazzscene@gmail.com

See you there!

Lancaster Jazz Jam Thursday 28th March

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Thursday 28th March 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.

Neil C Young Trio post-gig post

                 

                                       

                 

 On Sunday we were very proud to present the Neil C. Young Trio in the Olive Bar at the Gregson Arts Centre. The first set was largely devoted to Neil's "Reworks" project which takes riffs and phrases from artists like Elvis Costello and Madonna and upcycles them into something that takes flight through the technical proficiency and creative drive of the trio. With expert use of hooks and reels the band took us with them into catchy funk grooves and expansive ambient territories. Neil's inventive, stylish guitar, the impeccable timing and rhythmic flares of Euan Palmer (drums) and pulsing patterns from Sam Dale (bass) were all showcased beautifully in the second set with original compositions like "Run Fishy Run". This was a great addition to our Gregson Gig Series... keep an eye on us for details of the next event from Lancaster Jazz Scene.

 

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 16th February

 

 

 

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 16th February 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.

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 26th January

 

 

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 26th January 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.