Yamaha Education News

Jazz unites the House as Yamaha honours 2010 jazz scholars

(Standing, L-R rear): 2010 Yamaha Jazz Scholars: Chris Gilligan, Dave Hamblett, Peter Randall, Dougie Freeman. (Seated L-R front): Lluis Mather, Andrew Linham. (Photography: © Hayley Madden

The hugely successful, high-powered and influential partnership between Yamaha in association with Jazzwise, PPL and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) celebrated the fourth year of its Parliamentary Jazz programme at the APPJAG annual summer jazz event at Portcullis House, House of Commons, on Wednesday 14th July.

Six winners, representing the cream of young British jazz talent, put in an exceptional performance, after being nominated for special consideration by the heads of jazz at six of the UK's leading conservatoires. Award-winning Jazz FM presenter Helen Mayhew, Yamaha Music Education Manager Bill C Martin and Yamaha Senior Director Mike Ketley presented scholarships to Andrew Linham, an alto saxophonist studying at Leeds College of Music; drummer David Hamblett, a student at the Royal Academy of Music; pianists Dougie Freeman, studying at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Chris Gilligan from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Peter Randall, who studies double bass at Trinity College of Music and Lluis Mather, who studies tenor saxophone at Birmingham Conservatoire.

All six scholarship winners, who are about to leave college, each received £1000 to help set themselves up as they embark on their new musical careers. More importantly, the unique platform of a performance at the Palace of Westminster provided the opportunity to showcase their talent, not only to Members of Parliament who are interested in jazz, from both Houses, but also VIPs from the jazz community, including press, venue operators and record company executives.

In addition to the £1000 scholarship, all six scholarship award winners will have the opportunity to feature alongside some of Yamaha's most highly respected and established jazz artists on The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2010 promotional CD, sponsored by Yamaha Music Europe (UK), to be recorded and distributed via Jazzwise magazine's Christmas and New Year double issue, with the chance to perform live at the CD launch at London's internationally renowned 606 Jazz Club. Previous years' highly acclaimed Yamaha New Jazz Sessions CDs, produced by Andy Ross at Astar Studios, have included tracks by Yamaha artists Liane Carroll, Nigel Hitchcock, Julian Joseph, Gwilym Simcock, Jason Rebello and Ryan Quigley, who performed an inspired set at the Summer Jazz event with Brass Jaw. The CD series is expected to top 45,000 copies circulated since its debut release in 2008, amounting to one of the most significant jazz albums of the year and following the 2009 recordings Yamaha Jazz Scholar Kit Downes invited Andy Ross to produce his debut trio album ‘Golden’ (Basho), featuring 2008 Jazz Scholar Calum Gourlay on double bass, that received 4- star reviews from Guardian and Observer jazz critics. Kit and his trio have this month also been nominated for a coveted Mercury award.

The annual scheme, sponsored by Yamaha Music Europe (UK) in association with Jazzwise, is designed to support young emerging jazz musicians by providing valuable funding and important marketing support through performance and recording opportunities.

Yamaha's senior director Mike Ketley commented, "These innovative scholarships have further extended our relationship with Jazzwise, PPL and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group. We are committed to the promotion of jazz performance and these scholarships complement our many other music education and student support initiatives. What better way to support the studies and showcase the talent of the UK's finest young jazz musicians than through financial assistance, live performance and the recording opportunity that features them alongside major artists in the jazz world on the cover of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine."

PPL director of government relations Dominic McGonigal stated, "Once again we heard the extraordinary talent of the young musicians now entering the profession and joining what is such a rich musical scene. We have had a long association with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group as their main sponsor and they have done a great job in bringing politicians face to face with the music. We are pleased now to be working with Yamaha to encourage and support young artists as they launch their careers and create the music of the future."

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A DJPR story (posted: July 2010)