Tuesday 2nd September

Gary will be taking us through So What. It's a Miles number and is in the Real Book. Only two key centres, D dorian (C major) and Eb Dorian (Db Major) - both in concert so you will need to transpose if you have a different pitch. It's a modal piece so you don't need be-bop licks.

Simon D'Souza - gig opportunities and workshops


Firstly I have 2 gigs coming up for which I could use some players.  It's my sextet, Spirit, and if you've seen the band you'll know that we usually do a couple of numbers with additional horns, who we call 'pitch invaders'.  So I'm looking for  3 or 4 more players who are up for learning some simple parts and coming down earlier on the evening of the gig(s) to rehearse with the band, then perform with the band.  It'll involve some simple reading and following directions.  Players won't be expected to improvise.

Players get in for free and get the chance to play with a great band (even if I say so myself!).  All we ask is that each player brings at least one paying guest with them....

The tunes for both gigs are Love Is Moving Our Hearts To Make Music, a slow hymn like piece and Freedom Blues, a more uptempo groovy thing in 6/8.  The parts will be simple and I will direct in my usual bombastic style so people will know what to do when...

The gigs are:

Wed 3rd September:  Brunswick Pub, Holland Road, Brighton - starts 8.30 get there for 7pm
Mon 29th September:  Hare and Hounds pub, Portland Road, Worthing - starts 8.30 - get there for 7pm

Players don't have to be able to do both gigs.....but can if they want.

Spirit are:
Rob Heasman Trumpet
Simon D'souza Saxes
Tim Wade Trombone
Luke Rattenbury Guitar
Nick McGuigan Bass
Dave Trigwell Drums

If you haven't heard the band, we play soulful, original compositions with lots of interplay and improvisation.  You can hear excerpts from our new album here:

If you don't want to play but do want to come and listen, the Brunswick gig is £5/£4 and the Hare and Hounds is free...


Secondly, I run saxophone workshops with Beccy Rork  on Wednesday nights at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Rd, Hove for improver to intermediate players.  The workshops are usually pretty booked up but there may be one or two places this term.  Workshops start on 1st October and run weekly (except 29th Oct) till 3rd December, with an end of term gig on 7th December. We supply all music and a CD of the tunes we're learning.  All inclusive price is £71 (inc tea and biscuits and costs of gig).  

If anyone's interested in either of these opps ring me on 07796 032 867

Cheers

Simon

Next Jam Session 26 Aug

Comrades in Jazz

Four tunes for Tuesday if you want to check the chords early. They go from easy to harder. They are all in the Real Book so if you have not got a copy then best get one.

Las Vegas Tango by Gil Evans. This is a beautiful tune with a strong minor feel to it. Only two minor chords, Eb-7 and A-7 (concert). If you use the dorian mode there is only one note difference between the two so it is down to the improvisor to make it work.

Blue Bossa by Kenny Dorham. This is older in style and feel but is one of the jazz standards that everyone should know by heart (tune and chords). I'm not going to write all the chords out but if you know your Eb minor blues chords (concert) it will help. Starts on C-7.

Lady Bird by Tad Dameron. This is a bit more tricky. 2 5s in 4 keys so it does move about a bit. It starts in C maj.

All The Things You Are. This moves through about 6 different key centres using 2-5-1s. Nice tune as well.

Mehr Clef Summer School

SUMMER JAZZ COURSES
Roehampton University, London
17-23 August 2008 for Musicians aged 18+
24-30 August 2008 for Musicians aged 14-21

Tutors
Nick Weldon - Piano
Malcolm Edmonstone - Piano
Jeff Clyne - Bass
Trevor Tomkins - Drums
Alan Barnes - Woodwind
Steve Waterman - Brass
Lee Gibson - Vocals

Tel 020 8997 4050 / 07718 424509
mailto:info@mehrclef.com

Gig Opportunity for bands

The Save The brighton Bandstand campaign is looking to fill three slots from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on August 24th & 31st, and September 7th.

The band would be playing in the open area next to the bandstand. Power is available via a long extension lead, but muktiple socket adaptors would be needed for more than one amplifier.

If anyone from the Co-op is interested, then please contact Steve Lawless.

Next Jam - Tuesday 12th August

I just dug out a chart I wrote a while back. I'll bring it to the next jam so we can have a go. It's a blues in F, so easy enough, but with a couple of nice chord changes and a melody and harmony line just to keep horn players on their toes!

Weekend Workshop

Jazz Rhythm Section Weekend (6th and 7th of September 2008)

Needs Bassists and Drummers....please get in touch with Wayne if you wish to attend or forward on details to people who you may know. We have spaces for pianists left but urgently need more bassists and drummers.

Please contact Wayne on: wayneATwaynemcconnell.com or 07813 438681

Trinity Jazz Summer School - 27 July - 1st August


Well, I'm now back from this - the first time this course (formerly at Glamorgan University) has been run in the historic (and beautiful) site of Trinity College at Greenwich within the Royal Naval College.

The course was run by drummers Dave Wickens amd Buster Birch with Tutors for the week as follows :

Pete Churchill - Voice and Piano
Steve Watts - Bass
Alison Rayner - Bass
Dave Hassell - Percussion
Liam Noble - Piano
Martin Speake - Alto Sax
Geoff Simkins - Alto Sax
Lee Goodall - Alto Sax - various
Julian Siegel - Tenor Sax, flute
Stan Sulzmann - various saxes,flute
Chris Batchelor - Trumpet,electronics
Dave Cliff - Guitar

So I spent most of the week in a small band with some great players and our tutor was Julian Siegel http://www.juliansiegel.com/ http://www.myspace.com/juliansiegel
Julian was a great teacher - sympathetic, but demanding and got us through some challenging music - we performed 3 songs at the nightly Jazz Club in the college. The first was "Tetragon" by Joe Henderson , then Central Park West by John Coltrane in a superb arrangement by Julian with a 4-part front line! Finally we did Wayne Shorter's "United", as an Afro Cuban 3/4 in the style of Jerry Gonzalez Fort Apache band!

Julian also went through Coltrane's India and some of the tunes he is playing with Joey Baron and Greg Cohen in a trio. We also did alot of "Free" playing and discussed how to approach this.
So - most mornings were spent in the same "small band" with one tutor (Julian in our case)

Afternoons were different every day :
Monday - we all went with Dave Hassell for a session on Afro Cuban rhythms.

Tuesday - was Jazz Choir - everybody was split into Soprano,Alto,Tenor or Bass and sang parts written by Pete Churchill for an extended arrangment of the Latin tune "Estate" (accent on laste E) -spanish for Summer..?

Wednesday - was options - a choice of classes :
I did Free Playing with Julian Siegel and Steve Watts - great fun!
I can't remember all the other options - but there were things like :
Improvisation - Beginner's and Intermediate classes
How to remember tunes
Playing in small groups with no bass/drums - trios/duos
Lyrics
Walking bass lines
etc. etc.

Thursday - was choir playing with a band of Liam Noble,Julian Siegel,Steve Watts and various percussionists - so we rehearsed it and played in the Jazz club in the evening.There was also a feedback meeting and "Mornington Crescent"!!

Friday was exhange to visit more options and I went along to a trio performance/presentation by Liam Noble, Dave Wickens and Chris Batchelor, who as well as playing trumpet, used electronics; sampling parts of the performance and modifying it and reintroducing the sounds ....?
We asked questions and got to discuss this with the players.

So the basic layout of the day was :
9.00 am - 12.30 bands with tutor
Lunch
14.00 - 16.00 - Choir/Options etc
16.00-18.00 Jam sessions
20.00 - 23.00 Jazz Club with bar!

A full day and an exhausting week - but hugely enjoyable !!
Maybe more later...?
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