Yamaha Education Projects

'Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2009' CD

Video: highlights from the 2009 Yamaha New Jazz Sessions CD launch, recorded at London's 606 Club, December 2009

In both 2008 and 2009 Yamaha has further supported the annual recipients of the Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarships with a CD recording of all the scholars, with their bands, with additional tracks generously contributed by some of the UK's leading jazz stars. The CD is cover-mounted on the Christmas issue of Jazzwise magazine which, with the inclusion of tracks from established jazz stars, really helps bring these outstanding young artists - who are tipped to be tomorrow's jazz stars - into the spotlight.

2009 track listing and artist info:

1. Sam Wooster: Cheers Me Dears. Sam Wooster (t), Nick Jurd (db), Jimmy Brewer (g), Ben Kane (d)
Sam Wooster grew up in Bristol and first picked up the trumpet at school. He developed an interest in jazz as a teenager and joined his local jazz orchestra. After several years of this he was encouraged to apply for a place at Birmingham Conservatoire's Jazz course. Whilst studying, Sam was fortunate enough to receive tuition from Hans Koller, Richard Iles, Neil Yates, and Tony Levin and has participated in workshops with Cuong Vu, Dave Holland, John Hollenbeck and Dan Weiss. Sam graduated from the conservatoire in 2009 with first-class honours. Earlier in 2009 he recorded his debut album cap-a-tan with his quartet, now available on iTunes, Amazon and cd-baby.

2. Kit Downes: William Cooper. Kit Downes (p)
After attending the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Kit now plays regularly with his own trio, Troyka, The Golden Age of Steam, Sam Crockatt and Clark Tracey - as well as having played with Joe Locke, Seb Rochford, Asaf Sirkis, Empirical, Stan Sulzmann, Fraud, Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble, Acoustic Ladyland and Empirical. With them he played at North Sea Jazz Festival and the JVC Festivals in New York, Montreal and Newport. He has twice been nominated for the British Jazz Awards whilst winning the 'Rising Star' Award in the BBC Jazz Awards 2008 and has just released 'Golden', his debut album with Basho Records, recorded by Andy Ross at Astar Studios with grand piano provided Yamaha.

3. Liane Carroll: Dublin Morning. Liane Carroll (p, v)
Liane Carroll is one of the UK's top jazz vocalists and has toured with the likes of Gerry Rafferty, Gerry Donahue, Sir Paul McCartney and London Elektricity. Her catalogue of critically acclaimed album releases on Splashpoint Records has won a major jazz award every year since 2003, including a record two BBC Jazz Awards in 2005, 'Best UK jazz vocalist' at the inaugural Ronnie Scott's Awards 2007 and the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Award for 'Musician Of The Year'. 2009 saw Liane continue an extremely busy touring schedule throughout the UK, a duo album and tour with acclaimed Scottish jazz pianist, Brian Kellock, and trio performances at New York's Lincoln Center and the Rochester Jazz Festival.
Producer: Neal Richardson. Liane Carroll appears courtesy of Splash Point Records.

4. Mark Perry: Meteors. Mark Perry (t), Josh Ison (ts), Sam Leak (p), Sam Lasserson (db), James Maddren (d)
An in-demand trumpet player on the London jazz scene, Mark Perry has been playing the trumpet since 1996, initially playing classical music with his first trumpet teacher, Barbara Snell. A developing interest in jazz led Mark to Trinity College of Music's jazz course, where he recently completed his studies under the tuition of renowned musicians including Pete Saberton, Steve Waterman and Paul Eshelby. During his time at Trinity, Mark won the Gladys Puttick Competition for free improvisation and toured with various bands to New York, Spain and Japan. Mark also plays piano and composes his own music, which he performs with his group, the Mark Perry Quintet. Recent performances include the jazz festivals in Vienna and Brecon where Mark recorded three tracks for BBC Radio Wales.

5. Gethin Jones: Lester Leaps Out. Gethin Jones (d), Esmond Selwyn (g), John-Paul Gard (o)
Praised by the iconic Quincy Jones, for whom he performed at his graduation from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, drummer Gethin Jones has amassed a wide range of experience across a variety of genres, as a regular performer in theatre and around the south-west's jazz venues and festivals, including Cafe Jazz and the Glastonbury Jazz Lounge. Gethin's first love is jazz and he has performed with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Big Band of Wales and names such as Cameron Pierre, Geoff Eales, Steve Waterman, Geoff Simkins, Esmond Selwyn, Ben Waghorn, Alex Hutchins and John-Paul Guard, with whom he has recently recorded a CD.

6. Ryan Quigley: Laphroig-ian-Slip. Ryan Quigley (t), Laura Macdonald (as), Paul Booth (ts), Steve Hamilton (p), Mario Caribé (b), Alyn Cosker (d)
Over the last ten years Ryan Quigley has become one of the best known and most sought-after trumpet players on the UK music scene. Touring and recording with the likes of Sharleen Spiteri, Bob Geldof, Michel Legrand, Ronan Keating, Curtis Stigers, Eddi Reader, Isobel Campbell and many others, Ryan is very much in demand as a lead player, soloist, section player and arranger, with orchestrating credits including BBC Concert Orchestra. Currently lead trumpet with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Ryan regularly tours with bands Salsa Celtica, the Unusual Suspects and others. His sextet has enjoyed much critical success in the last year since the recording of his debut album, Laphroaig-ian-Slip and he has since gone on to win the prestigious Promoters' Choice Award as well as a Parliamentary Jazz Award and a Scottish Jazz Award.

7. Daoud Merchant: Topaz. Daoud Merchant (d), Rick Simpson (p), Tom Farmer (b)
Daoud Merchant has always had a passion for music. Beginning on the violin and piano at age 5, he soon realised his true passion lay in the drums. Having played in his secondary school and sixth-form jazz groups, he was employed for both upon leaving, as director. He recently graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has played in various jazz clubs around London, including the 606, the Vortex and Charlie Wright's. Daoud has also played with top London jazz musicians such as Andrew McCormack and Soweto Kinch, and tutors on the Michael Garrick Jazz Academy course.

8. Alex Munk: Mirage. Alex Munk (g), John Marley (b), Dave Walsh (d)
Originally from London, Alex Munk switched from playing the classical guitar to its electric counterpart in his late teens, drawn to the flamboyant indulgences of rock guitar virtuosi, such as Steve Vai. Having been initially self-taught, Alex was later exposed to jazz through lessons with guitarist Chris Montague. Graduating from Leeds College of Music with first-class honours and the David Hoult Award for Outstanding Performance 2007/2008, Alex has performed alongside a diverse array of UK jazz artists, including Kenny Wheeler, Gerard Presencer, Stan Sulzmann, Kit Downes, James Maddren and Kathy Dyson. He is currently studying for an MA in jazz performance at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

9. Nigel Hitchcock: Skye Blues. Nigel Hitchcock and the Hitchgnosis Orchestra, featuring: Nigel Hitchcock (s), Laurence Cottle (b), Chris Dagley (d), Miles Bould (pc)
Nigel Hitchcock's playing can be heard in a variety of places-on film soundtracks, TV ads, jazz, pop and classical records. He has been in the studios for over 20 years and has an enviable discography including Robbie Williams, Ray Charles, Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue. He has also toured extensively with acts like Tom Jones and Wet Wet Wet. Inbetween all this he has been a shining light on the European jazz scene and often features with Stan Tracey, Claire Martin, Laurence Cottle, Colin Towns and many others. In 2004 Nigel moved to Scotland where he now finds his inspiration to compose music for orchestras and big bands.
Recorded at Abbey Rd/Mixed at Angel Studios by Steve Price. Mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering

A DJPR story

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(posted: December 2009)