Jazz North award fourteen new bursaries.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Jazz North has announced the awardees of its open bursary, a recent one-off initiative to respond to the ongoing challenging situation for the jazz industry in the north.
We have received the following press release;
JAZZ NORTH AWARD 14 BURSARIES - 75% OF RECIPIENTS NEW TO THE ORGANISATION’S SUPPORT
Jazz North is delighted to announce the awardees of its open bursary, a recent one-off initiative to respond to the ongoing challenging situation for the jazz industry in the north.
From 81 applications, 14 bursaries were awarded to a range of artists, promoters, and educators across the area. A total of £6381 was awarded to help the jazz sector in the north negotiate the next few months of their professional activity.
“We are especially excited to reach a broad range of people from Cramlington to Liverpool and Darwen to Hull, with 75% of recipients new to Jazz North support,” explains Jazz North’s Programme Manager Heather Spencer. “Activities ranged from recording and vital equipment purchases to record labels and education projects.”
The recipients are;
MALI HAYES
Manchester singer-songwriter, Mali Hayes, will deepen her production and writing skills by undertaking mentoring with female producers and sound engineers. “I’m really looking forward to be able to broaden my knowledge on those fronts,” says Mali, “which I hope will give me more skills and confidence when it comes to collaborations in the future, and as I continue to work with my band to get ready for live gigs to continue!”
OUT OF THE BLUE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The Liverpool based Out of the Blue Jazz Orchestra will be remotely recording a new funky jazz tune, Get Groovin’, written and scored by 18-year-old Ted Ford, band member and alto saxophone player. The track will also feature guest soloist, Alex Clarke.
WESLEY STEPHENSON
Newcastle’s Wesley Stephenson will expand his catalogue of releases with an album of solo prepared piano by Leeds’ Johnny Richards for the New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings label.
ABBIE FINN
Drummer Abbie Finn will use the bursary to purchase a zoom camera so she can produce videos of herself and her trio performing for promotion. Abbie will also get some low volume cymbals so she can practise more at home.
JONATHAN SCULLY
The bursary will allow Jonathan Scully to buy equipment which will enable him to put on safe, outside gigs in areas with no electricity supply, accessing audiences which wouldn’t otherwise benefit.
MARK WEBB
“Covid has been tough on all of us gigging musicians, and this grant will enable me to purchase a flugelhorn so I can hit the ground running when live music returns.” – Mark Webb
PAUL RIGBY - BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN BIG BAND
The bursary will be helping others young and old to perform in the comfort of their own home via virtual performance projects. Here’s an example of BWD Big Band produced and edited by yours truly.” – Paul Rigby
https://youtu.be/KAQqy_mTSHY
MARCO WOOLF
“As I started to explore how I wanted to use stories in my live shows, I began telling a few stories featuring different characters, but it was always the ones featuring this woman, Francine, that garnered the most responses by far. Francine is an elderly African woman who, when looking back at her life, is considering the weight of her decision to migrate for the sake of her children’s futures. I began a deeper exploration of this elusive and deeply engaging character, resulting in the collection of songs which I formed into an album.
I had planned to complete the recording process and release this album last year however due to the COVID-19 crisis, I was unable to. This Jazz North Bursary will allow me to finish the album for release and set me up for the exciting projects that are to follow!” – Marco Woolf
RACCOON DOG SOUP
The band, Racoon Dog Soup is currently in the process of recording three experimental tracks for their first substantial single release Moon and Stars, in May 2021. The band aims to create an online buzz around the release, with artwork and an animation to go alongside the single, striking the local and national jazz scenes with their new sound.
YILIS SURIEL
Yilis will be using the time allotted by this bursary to develop new strategies, skills, and ways of making music: “I will learn how to use and perform with Ableton Live and Midi pad. This will not only enhance my musicianship but it will also greatly increase what I am able to offer as a soloist, composer, and band member.”
SAMADHI
Samadhi will be benefitting from Jazz North’s Open Bursary for the use of music equipment. To develop their ensemble further, Samadhi plans to purchase new recording and amplification equipment that they can use both in the world of online music, and in person playing whenever possible again.
LUBI JOVANOVIC / JAZZLAND SESSIONS
“With the gradual re-opening of society, the economy and the music industry in particular from the 17th May, I have organised 10 socially distanced live jazz gigs in Leeds featuring local musicians and all within a one month period from 21.05.2021. to 23.06.2021. Under the banner ‘Jazzland Sessions’, they feature two live bands per show and will take place at Brudenell Social Club Community Room. Artists include Vipertime, Svarc Hanley Longhawn, Skwid Ink, Malcolm Strachan Sextet, Jeff Hewer Quartet, Another Workout, JASMINE, Wandering Monster, Ben Haskins Quartet, Grifton Forbes Amos Quintet, Nico Widdowson Trio, The Mabgate Organ Trio, Awen Ensemble, The Mabgate Organ Trio, Book, George Hall’s UGETSU and Plantfood.
Thank you to Jazz North for the Open Bursary grant which will help hugely with design/promotion costs.” – Lubi Jovanovic
Full info on all shows from http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk
HYDE PARK BOOK CLUB RECORDS
The bursary will really help Hyde Park Book Club Records promote upcoming records from Vipertime and Ben Haskins. “The support will really help us get this great music out to more people,” says Jack Simpson from Hyde Park Book Club Records.
JEZ MATTHEWS, JAZZ AT THE LESCAR
Jazz at the Lescar plans to select the best music from gigs and live-streams that it will be running in 2021, “to put together a compilation album that provides a lasting snapshot of the amazing and varied music being created and played now by musicians from the UK, and in particular the northern, jazz and improvised scenes,” explains Jez Matthews.
“We hope that this will give musicians and audiences a chance to connect with each other; that musicians deprived of gigs and tours can showcase their music, and that audiences can hear the music that is being created during this difficult time for everyone.”
See the full list of recipients and projects in more detail on the Jazz North website here
https://www.jazznorth.org/jazz-north-award-14-bursaries-75-of-recipients-new-to-our-support/
Watch Jazz North social media channels for a portrait of each of our recipients, one every weekday over the next three weeks and find out how people are benefitting from Jazz North support.
Jazz North is a Company Limited by Guaranteed registered in England and Wales no. 08401690 Charity No. 1166241 Registered Office: 30 Tennyson Avenue, Campsall, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, DN6 9NL