What Next?

The first run of our Demo in a Day project is complete. We are now looking for funding so that we can keep the scheme going. As soon as we have some news it will be posted here and on the main Jazz Yorkshire website.

Jami Sheriff in Studio

Jami Sheriff is in the studio this week to record some new compositions with his latest quartet project. Another trans-pennine project with a Manchester rhythm section of Pete Turner (bass) and Luke Flowers (drums) with York based Rob Lavers on saxophone.

UPDATE
The band managed to get in for a few hours the evening before the session to set-up in the studio and then managed to record a CDs worth of material on their day in the studio.

Alex Munk receives Yahama Jazz Scholarship

Alex Munk has been awarded a prestigeous Yamaha Jazz Scholarship at the All Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group's Summer Jazz event on 1 July at Westminster, London. Yamaha has created a series of jazz scholarships in association with Jazzwise magazine and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz appreciation group.

A band made up from the 2009 Scholars played a set to an invited audience of the jazz loving MPs and 'movers and shakers' of the national jazz scene.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/news_events/about_yamaha/2009/scholarship_expands/

http://www.myspace.com/alexmunk

Kev Holbrough

Kev Holborough and Andrzej Baranek viewed through control room window.

Leeds based trombonist Kev Holbrough came into the studio on Friday with a pad of 8 tunes to record with his trans-Pennine quartet. Fellow Yorkshire musician, bassist Adrian Knowles was joined by Manchester musicians Andrzej Baranek on piano and Hugh Lawrence on drums.

Kev brought in a pad of 8 tunes - including some challenging arrangements written especially for him by arranger Steve Parry (Big Band from Hell). The video clip shows the view from the control room as they put down a version of a Samba arranged by Steve. Check out the ending which features a rather tricky unison phrase shared by Adrian on double bass and Kev on trombone.

http://www.kevinholbrough.moonfruit.com/


Alistair couldn't make the session so Barkley McKay came in to engineer the session.
Kev hopes to be able to get some gig dates for this line-up.


Check out the blankets and rugs on the piano to cut down the sound spill onto other microphones.

Adrian Knowles tuning up in his sound booth in the Leeds Media Centre studio

Hitmen and Rob Lavers gig in York

Catch two of the Demoinaday projects in action in York on Monday 20 April as a double bill at Basement Bar, City Screen, York.

THE ROB LAVERS QUARTET & ALEX MUNK AND THE HITMEN

roblavers.wordpress.com
www.myspace.com/alexmunk

City Screen Basement Bar @ 9pm
York
YO1 9QL

Rob Lavers

Rob Lavers was in the studio today with a quartet trying out some new compositions. Guitarist Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) and double bass player Pete Turner came over from Manchester and fellow York musician Simon Roth was on drums.

There's also a short clip of the band rehearsing one of the tunes - you can just see Simon's head in the drum booth.
www.roblavers.co.uk
www.myspace.com/roblavers
www.roblavers.wordpress.com

"A big thank you to Jazz Yorkshire and Nigel Slee for the 'demo in a day' scheme. I was able to record with my quartet to a very high level with excellent skills from our engineer Alistair McClaurin.
We had a hassle free day and recorded 7 new original compositions. This experience has provided us with a great demo with which we intend to get a tour to launch the band".

Rob Lavers

The UK Mingus Collective

Great session yesterday. Alistair was great. We got 2 or 3 takes on 7 tracks. Will send you a copy once I get it. Photos attached. Thanks a million again for your help.

Colin Byrne

www.bigbandbyrne.com



The full band


Paul Baxter


Chris Moore and Martin Strange

Colin Byrne

Colin is recording his Mingus project in the studio today. Pictures to follow soon.

Colin's band, the UK Mingus Collective, will be playing at Seven Jazz as part of Fuseleeds 'Blow a Fuse' day on Sunday 26 April.

www.fuseleeds.com

Rob Lavers

Rob is coming into the studio on Tuesday 31 March with his project. Rob has also contributed an introduction to the new York Jazz Scene magazine edited by Anna Lacy which can now be read online at issuu.com/yorkjazzscene

www.roblavers.co.uk
www.myspace.com/roblavers

Ruby Wood

Ruby was in the studio last Friday. Looking forward to hear some tracks soon.

With another project "The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions CD" Ruby's tribute to John Coltrane's Africa for voice, double bass (Jenni Molloy) and vocal percussion (Ball-Zee) reached a wide audience when included as a covermount on Jazzwise Magazine's December 2008 issue.

You can listen to Africa here

Check out some of Ruby's tunes and other musical projects visiting her website www.rubywood.net

John Marley / The Hitmen

John has been in the studio with his band 'The Hitmen'. The band has been playing and writing material for over a year and hoped to use their day in the studio to gain good quality recordings of their original compositions.

"Thanks a lot for giving us the day in the studio. We had a great time and it was very beneficial to the band.
We got on very well in the studio and managed to get down several takes of 4 tracks. All of these 4 tracks exceed 10 mins so we've come out with a lot of material which will help us get out there and get gigs. Alistair did a great job of producing the session and was really helpful. I must thank you again for providing us with this great opportunity. I hope you enjoy the music!"

John Marley.

www.johnmarleymusic.com

Matthew Anderson

Matthew was in the studio a few days ago and sent this message:

"Hi - I just wanted to say thank you to Jazz Yorkshire for the 'Demo in a Day' programme. We had a good day in the studio on Tuesday with Alistair and managed to get 5 original compositions recorded, which will be very useful to all of us as a demo. They are being mixed over the next week or so, and we'll send a copy over to you once they are done.

Thanks again,

Matt Anderson

PICS from Session:





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First Session Dates

Musicians confirmed for recording on the following dates.

Matthew Anderson - 17th Feb
John Marley - 20th Feb
Rob Lavers - 31st March
Ruby Wood - 6th March
Chris Moore - 17th March
Colin Byrne - 27th March

Sessions to be produced / engineered by Alistair Maclaurin

Alistair Maclaurin

If Destroyed Still True (IDST)

IDST recorded at LMC in August 2008. This recording session produced by Barkley McKay is now on release as their debut album
'Seven Dials'. Their debut CD is available from GLP records and is available to buy and download from a number of places including amazon. IDST were one of there winners of a Promoter's Choice Award in 2008. Nick Tyson of IDST says "It has been a very exciting few months for us, and hopefully the momentum will continue in 2009".

Hidden treasure on UK jazz scene?

LMC studio is perfect for recording acoustic jazz. A large modern live room with a Yamaha Grand piano. A hidden treasure on the UK jazz scene but with an impressive list of albums being recorded here overseen by producer / engineer Barkley McKay.

Artists recorded and mixed by Barkley McKay over the past 5 years:

Jamil Sheriff Octet
Rosie Brown
Matt Bourne
Davis, Bourne and Kane
Dave Kane's Klubbeduppe
Inertia Trio
Joel Purnell Qrt
Andrew Coleman Qrt
Rob Lavers
Sarah Littlefield Qrt
Laura Fowles
Adrian Knowles Quintet (Mingus Band)
Liz Tilletson Trio
Jamie Taylor - Java
Kevin James
Linley Weir
Sally Fairfax
Ninon Foiret - Argentinian Landscape Project
Naadia Sheriff
Saffron Beagley.
CUK Big Band 9 (including Julian Joseph and Mike Gibbs)

Barkley McKay biography

About the project

Demo in a Day is a project run by Jazz Yorkshire, in partnership with Leeds Media Centre, offering a free day in the studio for 10 different projects for jazz musicians based in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Recording will be at the Leeds Media Centre recording studio in Leeds.
The scheme is open to all jazz musicians regardless of age and style of jazz. It might be you're an established musician wanting to try a new project or collaboration or perhaps a younger group wanting to record your first demo. The common theme would be that a demo would be used to help trying to get gigs.

Musicians/Projects awarded a place in the scheme are:
If Destroyed Still True
The Kevin Holbrough Quartet
Matthew Anderson
Shame and Guilt (John Marley)
Rob Lavers Ensemble
The UK Mingus Collective (Colin Byrne)
Poachers Pocket (Anna Stott)
The Desmond Morris conspiracy (Chris Moore)
The Ruby Wood Quintet
Jamil Sheriff