I’m really looking forward to some upcoming gigs in early February 2020 with French pianist/vocalist, Franck Amsellem. All of which are in the Liverpool area where I have been resident since July 2018. Franck grew up in Nice, France and immigrated to Boston, USA in 1981 to study at the internationally renowned Berklee School of Music. He then moved to … Read More
YES, YES NONET
The Northern Lights Nonet makes its NW debut performance on Friday 30 August at 8PM at the Sefton Park Cricket Club. I originally formed the nonet in 1984 during my final year of university in New York City. The London version began in 1997 with a performance at the Kingston Jazz Festival that year. It included jazz stalwarts like Henry … Read More
Saxtivity Activity – Sax quartets are us
I’m very much looking forward to my sax quartet, Saxtivity, gig on 31 May, 8PM at the Sefton Park Cricket Club in Liverpool. This monthly jazz programme under the banner of Jazz on the Hill, is organised by Liverpool singer and promoter, Simonne Dale. One of the greatest aspects of writing for and leading a sax quartet is that one … Read More
Ya gotta be in it to win it…
Many of us are familiar with the saying “If you’re not a part of the solution you’re part of the problem.” After 40 years of trying to get a “leg up” (not over) in the Jazz Business, I couldn’t agree more with this philosophy. Below are some of observations and advice in helping the cause of the music as well … Read More
Teaching you how to make it up
Liverpool hosts a rich trove of adult musicians seeking to attain skills in jazz and improvisation. While only a few of them aspire to perform in public or become professional they devote themselves religiously to private lessons as well as attending classes, workshops etc. An example of this is the weekly Penny Lane Jazz Workshop that I lead, held at … Read More
Sir John and the Duke
UK Jazz fans will possibly be familiar with Sir John Dankworth (1927-2010) the great British saxophonist/clarinettist, bandleader and arranger/composer for his collaborations with his wife of 52 years, Dame Cleo Laine, and his prolific output for the John Dankworth Seven and his big band. I met Sir John, around 1993 when I heard his band in the UK for the first … Read More
Relocation Relocation Relocation
Having been based in the South East of the UK since 1996, I relocated to Liverpool in July of 2018. Moving 200 miles north has certainly presented new challenges from cultural differences, negotiating around geographically, and, most of all, establishing new work contacts…in the form of various big bands, other reed players and educational institutions. Happily, the first thing that … Read More