Yamaha Education News

Yamaha jazz scholars impress capacity audience at 'Yamaha New Jazz Sessions' CD launch

Mark Perry (2nd left) whose band is one of six led by Yamaha's 2009 jazz scholars, featured on the Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2009 CD, playing at the CD's launch at the 606 Club in early December 2009

A capacity audience at London's award-winning 606 Jazz Club was treated to an evening of outstanding live performances from the UK's hottest new jazz talents, to celebrate the launch of 'The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2009' CD, cover-mounted on the Christmas and New Year double-issue of Jazzwise magazine. Produced by Andy Ross at Astar Studios the highly acclaimed 'Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2009' CD showcases the UK's very best new young jazz artists, alongside special guest tracks from renowned Yamaha jazz artists Liane Carroll, Nigel Hitchcock and Ryan Quigley. The 2009 CD takes the total number of copies distributed by Jazzwise and Yamaha to 30,000, ensuring maximum exposure and support for this crop of new British jazz talent.

In addition to the CD and live album launch, a one-hour special on Jazz FM's 'Yamaha Sunday Jazz Jam' provided the latest initiative to showcase Yamaha's partnerships with Jazzwise magazine, the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and 606 Club that have resulted in an acclaimed scholarship programme which offers financial support with performance and recording opportunities to a new generation of young jazz musicians.

Nominated by the heads of jazz at six of the UK's leading conservatoires, Yamaha's award-winning jazz scholars - Sam Wooster (trumpet), Kit Downes (piano), Mark Perry (trumpet), Gethin Jones (drums), Daoud Merchant (drums) and Alex Munk (guitar) - each took centre stage, contributing a 30-minute set to a three-hour musical powerhouse of stunning live jazz and virtuosity that both entertained the packed 606 audience and provided a unique insight into the musicians who will take UK Jazz forward in the future. Highlights included pianist Kit Downes (whose trio featured 2008 Yamaha jazz scholar, Calum Gourlay, on bass) and trumpet stars of the future Mark Perry and Sam Wooster, whose tracks appear on the CD alongside Yamaha trumpet artist Ryan Quigley who perform at a special Yamaha Trumpet Night at the 606 Club on Saturday 12th December 2009. Another former Yamaha Jazz Scholar, Rick Simpson (piano), was also on hand to accompany drummer Daoud Merchant.

Among the discerning jazz audience were Michael Connarty MP, of the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, Yamaha senior director, Mike Ketley, Jazzwise editor, Jon Newey, producer Andy Ross of Astar Studios, award-winning Jazz FM broadcaster, Helen Mayhew, and 606 owner, Steve Rubie.

Yamaha's senior director Mike Ketley commented, "The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions' CD and live launch at the 606 offer showcase and professional development opportunities to these innovative scholarships that have further extended our relationship with Jazzwise, the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, Jazz FM and 606 Club. By any standard the talent and performances of these young jazz musicians on the CD and at the live launch has been exceptional, justifying our continued financial support and commitment to promote the playing of jazz music and complementing our many other music education and student support initiatives." Michael Connarty MP, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and co-patron of the Yamaha Jazz Experience project, stated, "Yamaha added another dimension to the Parliamentary Jazz Group'a efforts to promote jazz, with their wonderful Yamaha Jazz Scholarships, developing our events from appreciation and enjoyment of jazz to encouraging jazz education. I hope this showcase CD of the young talents we enjoy at our 'live' Yamaha jazz scholarship concerts in Parliament will open peoples' ears to the high quality of jazz music being created in the UK. Yamaha gets my vote - of thanks!" 2009 has seen an extended commitment to jazz in education from Yamaha with The Jazz Experience, a pioneering jazz-in-education programme combining free teacher training and masterclasses, culminating in high-profile live performance opportunities for award-winning new Jazz Ensembles aged 11-19 at some of the UK's leading venues and live events including the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott's, the 606 and the Bull's Head Jazz Club, Barnes.

(ends - a DJPR story)

(posted: December 2009)