A multimedia collaboration featuring Roger McGough’s epic poem, Summer with Monica with: Richard Ellis – actor, Andy Scott – saxes, Dave Hassell – percussion.

A journey through a relationship from passion to paranoia, Summer with Monica is a spell binding show. Richard Ellis narrates Roger McGough’s epic poem with spontaneous musical interaction by the acclaimed Dave Hassell/Andy Scott Duo. "...as comfortable and fearless as a duo can get..." Combine this heavy mix of classic 1960’s beat poetry, free improvising saxophone and percussion with back-projected ‘Warhol” style images from Gary Abbott, and you have a 45 minute show which never fails to entertain. Summer with Monica forms the second set of a multimedia double bill programme, and was premiered at the Studio Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, in April 2005.

The first half of the concert was entitled My Mountain Top and was based primarily on accessible contemporary classical music for solo tenor saxophone presented in a theatre setting with lighting, projected images, and with Richard Ellis narrating a short poem between each piece.

Summer with Monica and My Mountain Top may be performed as two contrasting sets in a concert, or two stand alone shows. Dave Hassell : Andy Scott Duo Exploring, experimenting and creating new music for percussion and saxophone. The Duo was formed in 1998. 'SandDancer' is its debut CD recording, released on the Quartz label, and is an intimate reflection of both Dave and Andy’s musical experiences. Ranging from the free improvisations of As it Happened to arrangements of jazz standards Django, My One & Only Love, and Moanin through to original compositions such as Otria, SandDancer and The Light That Falls, the duo display musical versatility, empathy and honesty.

Performances have included ; Manchester Jazz Festival, Oxford Jazz, Saxophony 2000 (Bridgewater Hall, Manchester), Royal Northern College of Music Percussion & Saxophone Days, 5emes Jounees de la Percussion at Conservatoire Superieur de Paris, and in January 2006 a performance at the International Association of Jazz Educators 33rd Annual Conference in New York City, USA.

Dave Hassell is a widely experienced drummer/latin percussionist who has performed with artists as diverse as St Winnifreds Choir, ET Mensa, Dr John and the London Symphony Orchestra as well as leading his large group, Apitos ! Playing squeaky toy dogs, exotic percussion or drum kit Dave is equally comfortable performing free improvised music to complex arrangements. He is one of the UK's most respected educationalists; regularly hosting workshops and masterclasses, teaching at all the Royal Conservatories, whilst his own series of tutorial books are widely used throughout the music profession.

www.davehassell.co.uk

Andy Scott is an extremely versatile saxophonist, performing contemporary music, jazz, funk and salsa, and free improvisations. His performing work centres around the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, SaxAssault, Hassell-Scott Duo as well as solo tenor saxophone projects. Andy is also a respected composer who apart from being commissioned by leading performers writes for today's young musicians, and gives composition & improvisation workshops/masterclasses in schools, universities and music conservatories. He is a Tutor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music, Saxophone Consultant at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Andy Scott is a Selmer Paris Performing Artist.

andyscott.org.uk