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.

Gregson Gig Series #5: Neil C Young Trio 04.02.24

We are very excited to be bringing Neil C Young to Lancaster Jazz Scene for the fifth gig in our Gregson Gig Series.

UK-based fusion guitarist Neil C Young has established himself as a composer, arranger and musician on both the British scene and international stage.

Musically praised for his cool, melodic and harmonic sophistication whilst maintaining a feel-good instrumental format, Neil has worked with the likes of Nick Blacka (Go Go Penguin), Nathan Bray (Guy Barker), Anton Hunter (Sloth Racket, Ripshaw Catfish), Soweto Kinch, Wendy Kirkland (Piano Divas), Gary Boyle (Isotope, Soft Machine), Steve Tromans (IndoJazz Fusions), Dan Nicholls and Alison Symons.

https://www.neilcyoungtrio.co.uk/

 

Join us on the 4th February. Doors open 18:30, entry £7.50. Pay on the door by cash or card. Gregson Arts Centre, 33-35 Moorgate, Lancaster.

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 8th December

 

 

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 8th December 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.

 

Hotcha post-gig post

Last night we were transported to the Hot Club of Paris via expert renditions of Reinhardt and Grappelli plus some Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Grieg and a sneaky bit of Star Wars. Jon Moore's fast fingers and sensitive swing were coupled perfectly with the precise, lyrical violin of Heath Lavery, underpinned by the masterful rhythm playing of Alan Pill. The Olive Bar at the Gregson once again proved a perfect setting for an intimate, stylish and joyful gig and the audience were charmed. Thank you Hotcha!

Gregson Gig Series #4: Hotcha 26.11.23

 

 

We are very pleased to have gypsy swing quartet, Hotcha performing for our fourth event in the Gregson Gig Series. 

This will be a rare opportunity to see this band in Lancaster.  Amongst others, Hotcha have played Gypsy Swing at the Gregson before with Tim Kliphuis and Diz Disley but not for over six years so this will be something of a homecoming. Don't miss it!

 

Django Reinhardt, the gypsy guitar genius, and Stephane Grappelli the violin virtuoso, created what is now called ‘Gypsy Swing’ in the 1930s. They heard American jazz, and mixed it with their own Parisian musics, in Le Quintette du Hot Club de France. Hotcha play the same instruments, with the same swing. In addition to performing material from that era, they also tackle some surprisingly familiar modern repertoire. The music is joyous, accessible, and always swings!

Heath Lavery (violin), Alan Pill (guitar), Jon Moore (guitar), and Steve Simpson (bass).

Join us on the 26th November. Doors open 18:30, entry £7.50

Buy tickets in advance at https://pay.sumup.io/b2c/QURCLMWF or using the QR code below

Photo of Jon by George Coupe

Lancaster Jazz Jam Friday 20th October

 

The Jazz Jam is part of Lancaster Jazz Scene. The next Jam takes place on Friday 20th October 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.