Jazz Smugglers Master Workshop

Jazz Smugglers Master Workshop
Click on photo for Jazz Smugglers website

Friday 30 August 2013

THE NEW WORKSHOP STARTS WITH YOU



I'm just in the process of planning the new workshop. We have two new people coming in on the 15th. (Our workshop family party is on the 8th, don't forget.)

We are going to work on doing jazz things which you can't do on your own, you have to be playing in a group. That is the purpose of a workshop after all.

FOR YOU YOURSELF TO THINK ABOUT.
However, before we get to that I think it is important that each person makes up your own mind about what you want to improve personally, or try out for yourself.

We already know of one or two of us who want to improve our reading. Once I know that then we can help by getting you to play along with the good readers when they play the tune. By sending you the tune in advance, you can at least look at it. No soloing, just reading, do it slowly the first few times, then end up fast. Does not take long.

I know that Vic is getting to grips with a new bass toy, er, instrument.

For myself as an example, I want to :

xx Create little patterns in the solo and displace them. Most of my jazz heroes do something similar in their solos.
xx I want to play more question and answer with the chords and the right hand
xx I want to follow the shape of the tune more, and find the strong notes of the tune in the solos
xx Yup, improve reading

If you'd like to tell me what it is you want to work on yourself, then I might be able to build something into the sessions for you.

WELCOME
Welcome to new workshoppers Paul Lyons, alto/tenor and to Steve Gower, alto, ten plus pno and bass!
You'll be pleased to know that we have no rock stars, big heads or people who want to tell other people how they should play. Makes for a more comfortable life.

John


The Jazz Smugglers bands in Sussex

The Jazz Smugglers workshop, Bosham, Sussex



The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try out you would be welcome that evening, but let me know in advance.

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide informtion about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS SUSSEX BAND 

and LIKE our workshop page as well.
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS WORKSHOP BOSHAM

In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.


Wednesday 28 August 2013

WHEN I NEXT HAVE A GOOD IDEA, SHOOT ME


We had to go to a 40th party near Monmouth. I had this good idea. "Why don't we spend a few days on the Gower peninsula?"
"Where's that?" she said.
"No idea but it sounds good"
"Good idea" she said. She needed a gun.

The Gower peninsula is quite nice if you are walkers, many routes to follow. We are not walkers.
The Gower peninsula is nice for children, with lovely beaches at the foot of cliffs. We are not children. We cannot climb down cliffs either.

"Why don't we go to Tenby to-morrow, it looks nice from Google images?"

Google images lie. Tenby is a walled town for pedestrians only. Everyone in South Wales was there that day. We cannot walk....etc

Dire, the whole thing. Plus I got this stinking cold.....now Gillian has got it.....











CELEBRATE THIS LOVELY WONDERFUL SUMMER WE HAVE JUST HAD. AND THANK OUR LOVELY NEIGHBOURS FOR PUTTING UP WITH US ON SUNDAY EVENINGS.

OPEN HOUSE TIME FOR THE WORKSHOP FAMILIES AT CREEK END.
SEPTEMBER 8TH, from 4.30 onwards.


We can get you and the family on the water if conditions are right, you can swan around Chichester Harbour.


You and the family can swim in the indoor pool whatever the weather. Bring a towel and cossi. Good for youngsters.


From 6.00 the workshop folks will play for you all some of the tunes we did last year. We'll play in the garden. Just for an hour - -finish at 7.00. If it is wet, we will do it indoors in the lounge..


WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO
Bring your spouse and family, but let us know how many grown up and how many youngsters under 12 will be coming please. If an under 12 swims, then a responsible adult needs to be there please.

FOOD.
The kitchens of Marks and Spencer Food to Order are working overtime for us.

DRINK
The vineyards and cellars of Marks and Spencer will produce their finest for us. If they run out, then the vineyards and cellars of Aldi will produce their finest.

PLAYERS
Lets play some of these songs - we did them last year. Andrew, Maria, you coming? Hope so.
Mike you are very welcome.

SONG LIST AND ORDER
Watermelon Man F
Green dolphin Street  C
It Could Happen to you
I remember April G
Sunny in Am then Bm
A beautiful friendship C
Wave C  jobim
Lullaby of Birdland Ab,
Dindi
Yardbird Suite/Rosetta
Here's that rainy day F
Close to you C

Please let me know yes/no if you can come. Ta.

John

The Jazz Smugglers bands in Sussex
The Jazz Smugglers workshop, Bosham, Sussex

The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try out you would be welcome on the following Sunday, but let me know in advance.

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide information about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS SUSSEX BAND

and LIKE our workshop page as well.
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS WORKSHOP BOSHAM

In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.

Tuesday 27 August 2013

2 FRONTLINE PLAYERS NEEDED FOR THE WORKSHOP


Remember this boys and girls? The recording a couple of weeks ago. 
We'll be starting again on Sep 8th. 
NOTE: 6.00 to 7.00 on SEP 8TH itsPARTY TIME AS WELL. TELL YOU LATER. 
Bring friends and family for the opening of the new workshop season.

We've lost Mike Wilson. So we have room for a couple of new front line players. If you are interested, or if you know someone who might be, then email me please. You can try us out on Sep 15th, or Sep 22nd if you like. We need folks who can read, though. Got a really good new season planned. We are going to play like the pro's. 

I think we are all sorry about Mike. His health is not too good. I've said he can come back any time he likes.

Be lucky. 
John
Ps. Practise.
Pps. Practise more.





The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try out you would be welcome that evening, but let me know in advance.

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide informtion about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 

and LIKE our workshop page as well.



In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.




Tuesday 20 August 2013

WE'VE ALWAYS SAID IT. LOOKS COUNT. AS OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MUSIC?


Jazz musicians will hate this, some will hate it a lot.

For an audience, how you look on stage is equally as important as how you play your music - in fact, this serious research study shows that it may even be more important.

If it were not so, then you would expect an audience to be listening with their eyes closed in order to appreciate the music more. But they are wide awake and watching. They look for the interactions between the musicians, the head nods, the chatting between the songs about how they are going to be played, the announcements, and in the case of Alan Barnes, the jokes.

WE ARE IN SHOW BUSINESS EVERYONE. 

This story was in The Times this morning. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences set up a study. The 900 strong sample were asked to identify the winners of prestigious music competitions. A third of the sample were given sound and video recordings. Another third, just sound recordings, the rest just video recordings alone.

People say that the sound is the most important thing in music. But they cannot pick the winners with the sound alone. When listening to the sound alone only 20% could pick the winners. Yet 47% could pick the winners through video-only. You may want to read that sentence again, a couple of times.

There are no really ugly people on stage as musicians. This is probably why.

So, 
1) When you play a beautiful bit, close your eyes. I've seen Nigel Thomas do this.
2) Interact with the others. You might even go so far as to applaud their solo, ever thought of that? Actually our own Andrew Batchelar will usually smile a lot when he hears someone play a nice passage.
3) Pay attention to your image on stage. 

John
PS Musicians will hate this. Some don't have much time for research anyway. Some don't have much time for their audience either. Look at the song list they choose, that will tell you. 




The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try out you would be welcome that evening, but let me know in advance.

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide informtion about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 

and LIKE our workshop page as well.


In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.

Sunday 18 August 2013

A TALK ABOUT JAZZ VOCALS WITH IMOGEN RYALL




Imogen Ryall at the Verdict in Brighton, with Rod Hart piano, Dave Trigwell drums, Mark Bassey trombone and it looks and sounds like Paul Whitten on bass. Notice how Mark drifts out of sight when the others are playing to give them the stage. But does Rod take an unexpected extra chorus of solo?. Dave Trigwell is a master at picking up lines from the soloists. He only does it once with Rod's solo, at 3.31 minutes. 


This girl does her own thing with a jazz song. She plays with it, she messes with the phrasing, moves the melody around, makes the song her own. You can't take your eyes off her either.


So many things about Imogen's style. The voice is exceptional.  She feels the lyrics. Technique is effortless.

Her jazz idiom is highly creative, she uses her voice in the same way as an instrumentalist. She has wonderful stage presence. Charming manner, approachable. She is truly nice. You can tell that by the number of people who come just for her gigs. She must have had a personal following about over 20 in the pub in Hove last week.

I asked her the same questions I ask instrumentalists.
"Rhythm, harmony, tune are all equally important really, but for me it was the rhythm I noticed first. When I was little I used to sing little rhythmic phrases. For jazz singers rhythm is so often underrated."

Here is a surprising thing to hear a jazz singer say, "I need to listen to the drums and the bass. The melody is always there anyway." At the gig the bass, keyboard and Imogen all interacted together with little phrases.

"When improvising over a chord sequence I rely almost entirely on my ear and obviously knowing the song and chords"

"I will sometimes try to sing 'outside' the harmony in the way an instrumentalist does but it takes some practise because as a singer you've always got to create the notes unlike an instrumentalist who has them at their finger tips and generally speaking, ones natural instinct is to resolve!"

"It's important to learn the vocabulary of jazz and over the years, I've listened to everything from Scott Joplin to Charlie Parker to Pat Metheny and everything in between! I've learned instrumental solos by ear and transcribed some which is also extremely useful."

"I always tell students (when asked!) to spend a good percentage of their practise time just listening to music, particularly the rhythm section. What's the bass doing? What's the rhythm pattern of the hi-hat? What's the piano player doing in his left hand?"

"Also when learning new songs, once I've learned the melody and lyrics, I'll listen to as many instrumental versions of it as I can so that I don't get stuck singing Ella's or Sarah's version for example (as brilliant as they are!) It's absolutely essential to explore one's own voice and style".  


John
Ps. Imogen is the leading jazz vocal tutor in the South. If you want to contact her then use
imogenryall@gmail.com


The Jazz Smugglers bands in Sussex
The Jazz Smugglers workshop, Bosham, Sussex


The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try out you would be welcome that evening, but let me know in advance.
This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide informtion about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS SUSSEX BAND 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazz-Smugglers-band/203722132977929?ref=hl
and LIKE our workshop page as well.
FACEBOOK JAZZ SMUGGLERS WORKSHOP BOSHAM
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JAZZ-Smugglers-workshop-to-help-your-Jazz-playing/275919089138712?ref=hl

In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.

Thursday 15 August 2013

TALKING ABOUT JAZZ WITH IAN PRICE


I listened to Ian Price play tenor and clarinet in the Nigel Thomas trio with Terry Seabrook last week.
He was stunningly brilliant. The whole trio was. They were all listening to each other and picking off ideas from each other. At one stage during Ian's solo, Nigel stopped his walking bass line to breaking the time with long notes on the bass. Terry immediately switched the piano chords to the same pattern. Just a few bars then they went back to their swing patterns. Lovely idea.

I listened to Ian Price backing Sarah Oschlag on her CD a couple of weeks ago. They were all stunningly brilliant. No, I mean it.

I asked Ian first to separate harmony, melody and rhythm in order of importance to him.

"They are equally important to me. When I first heard jazz, it was the rhythm that
attracted me - the swing, and in particular, the walking bass. Jazz harmony is a thing
which requires much study, and the ear becomes accustomed to the (sometimes
complex) sounds over time. Melody is your 'musical diction' - your words, phrases,
sentences, etc. The three things combined are what (hopefully) makes it sound like jazz!"

"I transcribe a lot, mostly aurally, although written transcription does wonders for your
reading.

Regarding playing 'outside', I use a number of devices. Sometimes I'll superimpose chord
changes on other changes - like Coltrane's 'Countdown' changes, for example, where the
key centre moves through three different keys, descending in major thirds, over a II-V-I.

Sometimes I'll use fourth patterns or sometimes I'll just use my ear."

He said that for him practise is the thing, listening, copying, selecting the bits of their solos he likes. That is really key. Wasn't it ever thus jazz players?

John



The workshop will be opening again on Sunday September 8th at 7.00. We can take one extra front line player, possibly. If you would like to try us out you would be welcome that evening, but let me know in advance.

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide information about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read please.

If you have a Facebook account can you LIKE our band page on Facebook please, 
and LIKE our workshop page as well?

In this blog We will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.


Tuesday 13 August 2013

Recording Maria next Sunday

Maria will be surprised I've got this photo. Hope she likes it. 

We are slowly getting back to normal in the workshop. It starts again on Sep 6th. New plans, new ideas. Had a preliminary recording session last Sunday with Maria, Geoff, Vic, Dave, and Bob. We also tested out a dozen newish songs to find the right keys for her.  It went well, Geoff put down some nice tracks so it is all go for next Sunday. Maria is going to do her version of "It could happen to you"

One of the things I really admire about Maria's voice is that you hear every word, clearly. At one stage she said she was a bit unhappy about one take. "I lost the feeling for the words then, I was thinking too much about other things" She really feels the lyrics, and that is a big thing. Not so many jazz singers do that.

This song was made famous by a lady called Jo Stafford. This is her version of it in the late 40's. I remember Jo Stafford. All of us 13 year olds were in love with her. They don't sing like this any more. The song has a lot more life in it when Maria sings it. 





Sunday 4 August 2013

FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER 2013 JAZZ SMUGGLERS PRESS RESULTS


LESSONS LEARNED
Call it Festival of Chichester Jazz Concert?
Don't run mobile workshop nor the Jazz competion. Too much work, no return
Don't bother with Facebook without audience group. We added only 33 likes
Bring picnics and drinks to concerts
2 waves of advertising 3 weeks, final week
Only 9 bookings at door, after a lot of pressure in last week
Boosting F/b posts might work £2/day budget suggesting like page and free gigs.
Price it at £15 next year to allow for Vat on Ticket office sales.


THE FESTIVAL TO DO LIST
This is what you have to do to get the results. The to do list, xxxx completed
xxxx EMAIL locals and cold with DRAW OFFER June 2.
xxxx listings chi observer.
XXXX POSTER/SHOP CARD FOR WORKSHOPS
XXxx POSTER FOR JAZZ COMP 
XXXx POSTER FOR HILLIER ALL GIGS 
XXXX BUSINESS CARDS GARDENS ETC.
xxxx KINGA jasik licence july 13 Sat busk ordered ring her 01243 777100 Administrator, Community 
xxxx POSTERS FOR duncan.burgess@chichester.ac.uk and hugh mail him some posters for the workshops/jazz competition
xxxx milland start at 2 if poss june 22 on calendar to remind band
xxxx mail for jazz competition/mike birch
xxxx tickets and banners to hillier
xxxx poster graffham, complimentary ticket mailing graffham, facebook graffham and advertise
xxxx send band/workshop tickets 1 or 2
xxxx facebooks draws
XXXX jazz comp charts list and free tickets to band and to others
xxxx song list for workshops.
xxxx weekly wherecanwego entries Graffham done. jun 16
xxxx invite sanger etc to open workshops.
xxxx articles chi observer do one on last minute promotion if sales are slack/WORKSHOP/GRAFFHAM
xxxx facebook event page graffham
xxxx tony harrison  free ticket
xxxx GRAFFHAM WHERECAN WE GO nostalgia
xxxx duo page done
xxxx AA SIDLESHAM WORKSHOP email musicians
xxxx keyboard players got chris paxton
xxxx band to share facebook events
xxxx got izzy guitar
xxxx fix video filmaking
xxxx correct jazz co poster
xxxx posters for Hilliers gigs and street signs.
xxxx article for trio gig
xxxx door hsandlers at competition night
xxxx interview with phil hewitt.
xxxx facebook event posted
xxxx facebook advertising. 34 day limit four days
xxxx crtn to enthusiasts site for duo
xxxx milland details, colin recruited.
xxxx MIKE door at competition Nems too
xxxx jazzenthusiasts site. left hand mastr box add duo
xxxx 2nd DRAW for a FREE Festival of Chichester ticket on Friday 7th june at 21.00
xxxx THIS COMING SATURDAY poster for ticket office.
xxxx PROMOTE 1st hillier gig FOR £4 each premium listing 
XXXX price T shirts for busking
xxxx ten licence re-application
xxxx lyrics for songs workshops/jazz jam
xxxx Blue Monk, Autumn Leaves, Blue Moon, All the things you are Summertime, How High the Moon.
xxxx bass player busking
xxxx songs for workshops/jazz comp
xxxx Missing scripts
xxxx amanda referrence
xxxx mail songs to donnington
xxxx Trio Facebook event page. Poster to nigel
xxxx jackie video no go
xxxx bosham site trio done
xxxx wherecanwego entry trio done
xxxx donnington circulated
xxxx bognor circulated
xxxx jazz comp article sent
xxxx facebook festival trio page posted.
xxxx new time bognor advised band
xxxX facebook event page donnington
xxxx blog donnington
xxxx Facebook Festival donnignton 
xxxx email  competition and julian nicholas school
xxxx email to Terry's list.
xxxx website duo and amanda quote
xxxx facebook amanda quote
xxxx trio facebook and blog posting festival of chi
xxxx donnington last minute facebooked
xxxx busking licences ok Cty cncl/CDC/police/environment
xxx jazz competition facebook event/blog
xxxx email musicians list for jazz comp again with comp ticket 
xxxx sinatra article for phil.
xxxx donnington done
xxxx advised rachel soothill
xxxx last minute facebook soloist competition
xxxx change key Black coffee for polly
xxxx page SINATRA posted blog and three facebook pages
xxxx last min signs road hillier
xxxx print words for Fly me +hand out.
xxxx Friday ressults check
xxxx new jazz smugglers signature
xxxx facebook event and shared
xxxx lunch phil
xxxx post blog facebook thanks
xxxx youtube video post competition graham
xxxx email local and cold lists for sinatra gig


JAZZ SMUGGLERS AT THE FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER
· 3 big band concerts
· Maria with the trio
· 4 workshops
· Jazz competition

BIG BAND CONCERTS IN AID OF Guide Dogs for the Blind
Tickets sold 
ok Jun 15 Sat 21 Graffham big band playing GERSHWIN and friends £12 8.00  check should be 21 tickets
okJun 16 Sun Jazz workshop at Sidlesham in the Church Donation 7.30
ok Jun 22 Sat 41 NOSTALGIA songs at Hillier Garden Centre Bosham £10 7.30 Rose Festival
ok Jun 23 Sun Jazz workshop at Fishbourne Woolpack Free 8.00pm
Jun 28 Fri 26 Maria sings with the trio Hillier Bosham £5 7.30  JAZZ NOSTALGIA. Lovely songs of the 60’s with the Jazz Smugglers trio     
OKJun 30 Sun Jazz workshop Donnington village hall £5  8.00
ok Jul 5  Fri 3 Jazz Soloist of the year competition Hillier £4  7.30
ok Jul 13 Sat 20 35 Maria sings the songs that made SINATRA famous £10 7.30

Tickets from www.chichestertickets.co.uk available online    
Call or write Cloisters Shop, Cathedral Cloisters, PO19 1PX
or phone 01243 813595  
 get £4 premium listing back from band fund wherecanwego

3 TICKET DRAWS
xxxxxxxentries for 1st draw
/linda stratford/dick pratt/jax williscroft   WINNER 1ST DRAW
lucy phillips/steve north/dil davies/festival of chichester /sue jackson/mikw jackson/maureen flynn/carol moore
/shirley smith/mark berry  
/nicky smith/alice mj/Katherine Hogg <hoggkatherine@gmail.com> 
/jade quinnell/butler jen john /sue redshaw  WINNER 2nd DRAW
/steve christopher/maureen flynn/flic masters/HELEN fitch/maria wilson/jack cooper
tony harrison WINNER 3rd draw
LIKES for draw: (was 11 now 28 at may 18) steve/dave/mike/geoff/vic/bob/ linda stratford/dick pratt/jax williscroft/tony harrison/lucy phillips/festival of chichester/sue jackson/mikw jackson/maureen flynn/carol moore/shirley smith/new one/mark berry linda stratford/nicky smith/alice mj/Katherine Hogg <hoggkatherine@gmail.com> by email 22nd may/ jaxwilliscroftplus since may 31 jade quinnell/butler jen john / jun 4 tony harrison shared/tracey ann honey jun8. Winners Jackie williscroft 1/Sue Redshaw 2/

JAZZ COMPETITION
PLAYERS
(Colin and a pal. no)
Don Walker sax
(michael phillips not now)
polly meynell vocal
Lucy phillips vocal
Richard Craik tmp
clive willoughby vocal
Tony Dudley harmonica
IDEAS FOR NEXT YEARS FESTIVAL
Use websites yahoo/westsussex/wherecanwego etc.
Charge venues, venue sign.
Display outside ticket office; cafe
Commercial service for signs www.supersignsltd.co.uk 01243 532045
No dty enquiry for ticket office
Meeting amongst promoters re getting participants to do their own promotion properly. Helps all. 
Web piece too long/needs search by place and search by venue
It could have a Festival of Festivals section (eg chi coll food festival jazz festival) or Festival of Fetes.
Circul 27k readership probably 100,000 reach 50%
Our gigs. 24 41 27 35 tickets sold