Dave Hassell (Drums and Percussion), Paul Kilvington (Keyboards), Ken Marley (Double Bass) and Andy launch a new project called 'Celebrating Brazil'.
"The Quartet has been exploring music from Brazil in rehearsal, tracks from Hermeto, Airto and Jobim. It's amazing music, harmonically and rhythmically complex with memorable melodies. It's been great learning these tunes and we are all looking forward to the forthcoming gigs." Check the events page for further details.
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Seventeen-year-old Saxophonist, Jess Gillam is due to take part in the Woodwind Final of the BBCs Young Musician of the Year competition.
"Jess Gillam is a wonderful young musician, who works very hard and has a great attitude. For a number of years, she has been studying at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School, and will be commencing her studies as an undergraduate student at the RNCM in September 2016. Everybody is delighted that Jess has once again reached the Woodwind Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and wish her the best of luck in Cardiff on 7th March. On a personal level, I am really pleased that Jess has chosen to include my piece 'Fujiko' in her programme." www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/bbc-young-musician www.jessgillamsax.co.uk Lucky Draw Sax Tour is an idea of Andys that sees him directing a number of saxophone days and saxophone courses in the UK and France from March to July 2016. By attending one of these events, you will automatically be included in a draw to win some fantastic prizes to take place on 31st July.
"I'm really looking forward to working with lots of saxophonists in the UK and France and am very grateful to Selma Paris Saxophones, Vandoren, Astute Music and Libero for providing a wonderful array of prizes. In addition, I will compose a 3-minute piece as one of the main prizes specifically to that persons saxophonic experience." See the Events pages for dates and further details., About 15 months ago, Andy was approached by Mark Concar, Director of the Love Music Trust percussion ensemble, to see if he would be interested in writing a work for the group. Love Music Trust is the music hub for Cheshire East and has a number of flagship County ensembles, with the percussion ensemble at the forefront, giving performances in London and Manchester as well as Cheshire East and undertaking collaborative projects that give the young musicians of the group invaluable musical experiences.
The quirky title of the piece, Elvis was my Taxi Driver, came about when Andy himself was a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. After gigging one night with an Elvis impersonator, the following lunchtime, Andy was giving a workshop in a Manchester school with his Jazz Quintet and was waiting for percussionist, Mike Hamnett, to arrive by taxi and lo and behold, the very same Elvis was his driver! The 6-minute piece divides in to three sections; By Day, Morphing and The King which roughly follows a day in the life of our Taxi-driving Elvis impersonator. "A big thank you to Mark, LMT Percussion Ensemble and the Love Music Trust. You gave a great performance at the RNCM Day of Percussion on Sunday, 7th February 2016, a composer couldn't ask for any more at a World Premiere of a new commission." www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/drum-sweat-and-tears-young-musicians-rai... www.lovemusictrust.com/world-premiere-for-percussion-ensemble-at-rncm/ Andy was approached by Manchester Camerata to play in a new project, Hacienda Classical. For the very first time, the DJs who shaped the Hacienda sound - Graeme Park and Mike Pickering - will perform a continuous set of Hacienda Classics alongside a 70-strong Manchester Camerata Orchestra, with special guest vocalists. Taking the euphoria of Hacienda nights to a whole new level, Hacienda Classical is a unique meeting of styles.
"Musical Director Tim Crooks has created some amazing arrangements in a carefully crafted one-hour, 40 minute set. There are two saxophone parts which Carl Raven and I are playing and the combination of DJs, Gospel Choir, 70-piece orchestra and guest vocalists is something special. I can remember going to the Hacienda in about 1987, at a time when Manchesters music scene was exploding and known worldwide, it's fascinating 30 years later to be part of this project and play the music in concert halls such as the Bridgewater Hall and Royal Albert Hall." For dates and further details, check the Events page. www.thisisgraemepark.com/general/hacienda-classical-here-we-go www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/hacienda-c... www.manchestercamerata.co.uk |
news items and blog posts by Andy ScottArchives
May 2023
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