Andy Scott

Thanks for coming back to my web site, and for the positive comments about the new design (special thanks to Caroline & Lauren!). A few thoughts, comments, ideas are below but first………

It was fantastic to see so many good friends at my birthday bash a couple of weeks ago. We all had a ball, the musicians that played that day/night were superb - John Ellis, Mikey Wilson, Frank Grime, Dave Walsh, Ully Elbracht, Doreen Edwards, Rob Buckland, Mike Hamnett, Elliott Henshaw, Steve Crow, Ollie Collins, Jim Fieldhouse & Laura Hassell… you all swing, rock, everything ! Thanks !! Life begins at 40…….

The party was a good break from writing, I've been working on some new charts for SaxAssault, and everything is taking shape for the next couple of weeks. SaxAssault premieres the new charts on Sunday 3rd July in Derby, then records its new CD 'Surfacing for Air' on 3rd/4th July with two gigs at DeBees in Winsford. If you are able to please come along and support the band ! We then fly out to Slovenia to perform at the 'Selmer Jazz Night' at the 14th World Saxophone Congress in Ljubljana. A gig with the Yellowjackets and the Slovenia Radio Big Band, and Bob Mintzer has agreed to guest with SaxAssault, he is also guesting on the new CD.

I'm looking forward to experiencing Slovenia, meeting and hearing lots of sax players, and supporting all the other UK sax players present and playing at the WSC. John Harle and Rob Buckland perform 'Dark Rain' my Double Saxophone Concerto with Wind Band, on Friday 7th July at the WSC, with the Slovenian Army Band, conducted by Alain Crepin. The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain (run by Nigel Wood) play at the WSC on Saturday 8th July, their programme includes a piece that I wrote for the Royal Northern College of Music Saxophone Orchestra, 'Big Red'.

Performing in Mexico was a great experience, thank you to Evaristo for looking after Dave Hassell and myself. We've made some good friends and got to know the city of Tampico, another world ! The Duo is planning to record a CD in August, all the music being totally improvised - this is a musical area that Dave & I have experimented with for the last three or four years, the time feels right to follow this path.

Manchester Jazz Festival and Wigan Jazz Festival are both amazing events, both based in the North West UK. If you can check out either or both of these Festivals you won't be disappointed, some great music and musicians will be appearing at this years events. Dave Hassell's group Apitos Pequeno plays MJF on Saturday 22nd July, 12 noon.

Also, have a look at the North West JazzWorks web site (www.nwjazzworks.org). I've been asked to be on the NWJW Steering Group and for what it's worth I would encourage jazz musicians in the region to include their gigs and news on the site. A central web site such as this for NW Jazz Musicians will be an invaluable source of information to musicians, promoters and audiences alike.

Graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music, and winners of the Peter Whittingham Award, Jazz Sextet 6Pac have released their debut CD, check it out ! 'Last Minute Changes' by 6Pac (www.6paconline.com).

SUMMER SCHOOLS ! Time is fast approaching for the Woldingham Saxophone Summer School (July 22nd-28th) and Harrogate Saxophone Summer School (August 20th-24th). It would be great to see you there ! Please see the diary page for more details.

After 21 years without a break the Apollo Saxophone Quartet has decided to have a couple of years sabbatical. All being well we will be back refreshed well in time for our 25th Birthday in 2010 ! The ASQ is great but as anyone will know who performs in a contemporary music group, it's very intense both from the playing side and the promotional and management side, I hope that a break will do us all good !

Have a great Summer!
Best wishes
Andy

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