Andy Scott

Hello!

Thanks once again for visiting my web site, I know….. I'm so duff at writing these Newsletters, hence the last one being in July ! I'll try and update the 'events' page in a day or two. If this is your first read through one of these newsletters it's really just a chance for me to briefly talk about some of the musical experiences that I've encountered, I hope that it is of interest to you !

In August I finished composing 'Dark Rain' a BASBWE College Consortium Commission. Writing a Concerto (for two solo saxophones and wind orchestra) was a massive challenge. I enjoyed the challenge and tried to be as honest musically as I could, drawing upon previous writing and performance experiences, and as usual maybe the biggest challenge for me is form and shape of a piece. Knowing who you are writing for, I was incredibly fortunate that John Harle and Rob Buckland were soloists for the premiere, really helps me visualise and hear the music and speeds up the writing process. Thanks to Charles Hine and James Gourlay for giving me an opportunity to compose for Wind Orchestra.

The 2nd Harrogate Saxophone Summer School also took place in August. I'm Artistic Director of this 4-day course, which is organised by Stuart Angel at Windstruments in conjunction with the Royal Northern College of Music. My RNCM colleague and Principle Clarinet of the Halle Orchestra, Lynsey Marsh, was Artistic Director of the Harrogate Clarinet Summer School that ran concurrently with the Saxophone Course. There were 20 sax students in Harrogate and we had a great time musically and socially ! My Apollo Quartet & RNCM colleague Rob Buckland joined us for two days giving inspiring masterclasses, likewise RNCM Jazz Saxophone Tutor Mike Hall made everyone feel comfortable and confident in his improvising classes. Halle Orchestra Bass Clarinettist Jim Muirhead joined us this year as well, contributing enormously to both saxophone and clarinet courses. RNCM Saxophone Graduate Meriel Price (now undertaking her second year of postgraduate studies in Berlin) joined us for the second year running, helping me direct rehearsals and giving a 'contemporary techniques' class. We had a rhythm section for two full days enabling everyone to play through some of my SaxAssault charts ! The RNCM commissioned composer Lucy Pankhurst to write a piece for massed saxes and clarinets, which we all premiered in Wesley Chapel in Harrogate at the end of course concert. Lucy's new work, entitled 'Romany Beck' was a huge success ! Many thanks to all of you that came along, special thanks to Andrew Woodhead of Windstruments and Stuart ! Please spread the word, the next Harrogate Saxophone Summer School runs from August 20th-24th 2006 (see Events Page).

Lots of events in September and October were geared towards the 5th RNCM Saxophone Day and RNCM International Wind Festival in November. A couple of 'warm up' gigs at the Cinnamon Club and DeBees gave me the opportunity to try some new arrangements out with SaxAssault. Barbara Thompson gave me permission to arrange her big band chart 'Sax Rap' for the nine saxes and rhythm section of SaxAssault, whilst James Fieldhouse provided a stunning arrangement of Michael Brecker's 'Itsybene Reel' ! These gigs were well worth while, the payback came in Manchester on 6th November !!

The Apollo Sax Quartet also gave several gigs during this time. Recently commissioned works by the ASQ, especially those written by Dai Fujikura, Keith Tippett and Luis Tinoco are major additions to the ever-expanding saxophone quartet repertoire.

I continue to work in collaboration with the Trevor J James Company. As I've said before, they are a British saxophone and flute making company, and they put their money where there mouth is ! They sponsored me to present 'Saxophone Days' in Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Preston and Chelmsford this Autumn.

Teaching started again at the RNCM in September, this academic year I have four students and give a weekly class which all fifteen sax students attend. They have a pretty full timetable ; sax quartets, solo work, big band, improvisation classes, sax orchestra, wind orchestra, quite apart from academic work and masterclasses from saxophonists such as John Harle and Bob Mintzer. A bit of hard work never did anyone any harm : I also paid my once a term visit to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff in my capacity as 'Saxophone Consultant'.

Maybe the most musically inspiring event for me during these months was being part of a masterclass given by Dave Hassell. This event was attended by well over 100 percussionists, amateurs and pros alike. Dave spoke for about four hours, covering an amazing array of musical topics, we would demonstrate a particular style or genre by playing pieces from our Duo repertoire. The main elements of Dave's presentation that inspire me are his total commitment to music, his enthusiasm and work ethic, and the level of listening. Paul Clarvis, an amazing percussionist, who was at this event phoned me when Dave and I were driving back, saying that he was exhausted and 'buzzing' at the same time !

The 5th RNCM Saxophone Day was held on 6th November. Rob Buckland & I instigated and have organised this event for the last four years, fortunately it seems to be commonly agreed that this is a highlight in the UK saxophonists calender. We're been proud to have booked some wonderful guest artists, and this year was no exception with US saxophonist/composer Bob Mintzer ! Special thanks go to Selmer Paris for sponsoring the 5th RNCM Saxophone Day. I could write pages about this event, and the RNCM International Wind Festival (4th-6th November), but I noticed that Rob has given a great review of these few days on his web site, please check Rob's site www.robbuckland.com when you've finished looking at my site !!

Briefly though, thanks to the amazing players in SaxAssault who blew their socks off in the final set of the RNCM Sax Day Gala Concert ! Saxes - Tim Redpath, Rob Buckland, Simon Willescroft, Jim Muirhead, Mike Hall, John Helliwell, Andy Morel, Jim Fieldhouse, Bass Guitar - Ollie Collins, Drums - Elliot Henshaw, and the wonderful pianist Gwilym Simcock. The SaxAssault rhythm section played a great set with Bob Mintzer as well !

Also thanks go to John Harle (who performed with a cracked rib !), Rob Buckland, James Gourlay and the students of Chethams School of Music who performed brilliantly in the World Premiere of 'Dark Rain' ! My thanks also go to Charles Hine and the British Clarinet Ensemble who gave the UK Premiere of my piece 'Fujiko', Bob Mintzer for writing a great sax quintet for the Apollo Quartet that we premiered, and for being such an inspiration ! During these days I interviewed Bob, read what he has to say about the music business, improvising, composing, and saxophone and life matters in the next issue of CASS (Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain).

Various other gigs have now brought us to today, 21st December. I've been commissioned to write a big band chart for Bluejuice Big Band, who are recording this (at this point mythical !) piece in early January, plus working hard on a new 'Concerto for Tubax and Symphony Orchestra'. Astute Music publishes my music, please visit www.astute-music.com. A couple of new saxophone books were launched by Astute Music at the RNCM Saxophone Day, 'Changing times' Rob Buckland/Andy Scott and a Sax & Piano book by the Apollo sax Quartet.

To finish off, just a couple of events that I'm involved in that I think warrant a special mention in 2006. Dave Hassell and I are off to New York to perform at the 33rd IAJE Conference, were delighted to have been invited and thank the Royal Northern College of Music and Salford University for their support, and also Ian Darrington (European Representative, IAJE).

On 2nd March 2006 I will be performing 'Concerto for Getz' by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett with the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Wilson, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre in London. It is a great honour to be asked to play this major work for the tenor saxophone, in a concert that is the official celebration of Richard's 70th birthday. The Apollo Saxophone Quartet were originally going to be giving the World Premiere of a 'Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Symphony Orchestra' at this particular concert, which unfortunately is for the moment postponed. Keeping the Apollo connection I was then approached to perform the 'Getz Concerto'.

I am currently editing 'Concerto for Getz' with Richard, to give a World Premiere recording in a Tenor Saxophone & Piano version with pianist Peter Lawson in February 2006. Also to be included on a new CD of music for Tenor Saxophone are works written by Pete Meechan, Matt Wright, Dave Heath, Graham Fitkin, Paul Mitchell Davidson and myself. More details to follow………

Finally, the World Saxophone Congress is being held in Slovenia (5th-8th July 2006). I've never been able to make it this particular event, but will be there this time ! I hope to see you there !!

Thanks for taking the time to read this Newsletter ! It's not an ego thing for me or anything like that, more a case of taking advantage of this relatively new form of publicity to converse with you. It's cheaper, easier and quicker than printing a load of flyers and posting them to everyone, so better all round for self-employed musicians such as myself !

I'm just going to keep on practicing as much as I can, listening and learning from people and hopefully pick up enough gigs and commissions to pay my mortgage and bills !

I hope that you have had a good 2005 and best wishes for a happy and peaceful 2006 !

Andy

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