Andy Scott

Hello!

SaxAssault - Sponsorship

The organisers of the 14th World Saxophone Congress have contacted me to offer SaxAssault a performance at the WSC 'Selmer Jazz Night' in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Thursday 6th July 2006 (a double bill concert with the Yellowjackets). This really is a fantastic opportunity to bring the group to a wider audience, and SaxAssault is the only British group to be offered performing time in one of the evening 'Gala Concerts'. Whether I will be able to accept this performance invitation totally depends upon whether I can raise funds in the next couple of weeks that will enable me to pay for air fares, hotel and musicians fees. As over 1500 saxophonists attend the World Saxophone Congress it is impossible for the organisers to pay fees or expenses.

On July 3rd and 4th SaxAssault will record its second CD, a follow up to the 1996 recording 'Bang!'. I am delighted to announce that SELMER PARIS saxophones have agreed to sponsor this CD recording.

As a matter of urgency I am trying to secure funding for: the SaxAssault performance in Slovenia at the World Saxophone congress; and co-sponsors (with Selmer) of the new SaxAssault recording.

If you would like to become involved please email me. There are opportunities to: sponsor the SaxAssault CD; sponsor SaxAssault at the WSC; sponsor a particular member of SaxAssault (orchestras operate a similar scheme - sponsor a 'chair' in the orchestra); and other sponsorship ideas that I am happy to discuss.

Last night I was part of a great gig with the 'Bluejuice Big Band' who performed to a packed out Garrick Theatre in Altrincham. Watch out for this group, bandleader Giles Rimmer puts an enormous amount of energy into the presentation and organisation of Bluejuice, and has assembled a fine group of musicians. Bluejuice premiered a specially-commisioned big band chart from me last night, called 'Lip Service' !

I'm about to go to London and start rehearsing for a concert this Thursday night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's 'Concerto for Stan Getz'. I recorded the piece in its sax and piano form last week with the amazing pianist Peter Lawson, and the publishers are to re-publish a new edited version of the piece which Peter and I have been working on in conjunction with Richard. So if you're free on Thursday evening please come along and listen to the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by John Wilson, and celebrate the music of Richard Rodney Bennett to mark the composers 70th birthday. The concert is also being broadcast 'live' on BBC Radio 3 from 7:30pm.

Finally, there are some very exciting Apollo Saxophone Quartet concerts in March, please see the 'events' page for details. The ASQ will be performing concerti written by Barbara Thompson and Graham Fitkin (with the Goldberg ensemble conducted by Malcolm Layfield) and giving the world premiere of 'Oodunnit?!' by the wonderful Bill Connor (with Huddersfield University Wind Band conducted by Philip McCann, and Katabatic Winds conducted by Keith Allen). The latter concerts also include the world premiere of new arrangements of the music of Richard Rodney Bennett, alongside his 'Saxophone Quartet no.1' that was commissioned and premiered by the ASQ in 1994.

Thanks for all the emails in response to the 'Latest News' features that are posted on my web site. Keep them coming !

Andy

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