November brings a strong jazz vibe to the Wiltshire Music Centre as it puts on a weekend of jazz-related workshops and concerts to celebrate 20 years of working with jazz educator and trumpet player Mike Daniels.
Mike Daniels – the music director of Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO) and director of the community choir – has been leading the jazz programmes at Wiltshire Music Centre for 20 years and the big Jazz Weekend from 22–24 November is designed to mark the anniversary.
WYJO started in 2002 when Mike was working as brass tutor, and he took on the music director role in 2004. Mike reminisces about some of the musical highlights over those 20 years. “Trombonist Mark Nightingale was one of my first proper guest solo artists playing with WYJO in the Wiltshire Music Centre and at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival in Dinton. Nikki Iles was our first full post-lockdown guest with superbly crafted pieces for jazz orchestra – and she is bringing her own band to play in November. I’ve always loved working with long-term friend and supporter of WYJO, Jason Rebello along with Tim Garland and Claire Martin and this shows the breadth of the internationally regarded jazz fraternity we’ve welcomed as guests. We also commissioned Mike Mower, who wrote the now notoriously fiendish Wiltshire Suite, which we took to the National Festival in Birmingham. The last concert to take place in March 2020, the week before lockdown, with the stunning group Empirical was particularly special for obvious reasons, creating vast amounts of energy. Our two projects with saxophonist Jason Yarde were also unforgettable as his seemingly endless creative energy brought exemplary performances from our players.”
THE BIG JAZZ WEEKEND PROGRAMME
FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ
Friday 22 November, 7pm
Join Jazz Factory, Bradford on Avon’s established workshop group, for an evening of relaxed jazz in the Wiltshire Music Centre foyer. Invited guests, including sax player Iain Ballamy and pianist Gareth Williams, and alumni will make the evening extra special as the foyer transforms into the town’s very own jazz club, complete with bar and tasty snacks.
£7/£5 U18s + students
RHYTHM SECTION WORKSHOP WITH NIKKI ILES
Saturday 23 November, 10am
This workshop is an amazing chance for pianists, drummers and bass and guitar players to learn from renowned band leader and pianist Nikki Iles. Come along if you’re aged 12+ and can play your instrument with confidence. (U18s must be accompanied by an adult.) £12
WMC RISING STAGE
Saturday 23 November, 5.30pm–7pm
Here’s your chance to see the stars of the future from WMC’s jazz academy and Youth Jazz Orchestra in the foyer bar before the Nikki Iles evening concert. Grab a drink and some delicious bowl food from the Fat Fowl Kitchens, while musicians and alumni from WMC jazz programme blow you away. Free
NIKKI ILES JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Saturday 23 November, 7pm
Award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles is widely admired as a musician of imagination and subtlety. Fresh from her year as artist in residence with the NDR Bigband in Hamburg, Nikki brings a dynamic combination of all-star performers to the WMC stage in her jazz orchestra. Her rich and varied repertoire marks her out as a distinctive voice in British jazz. £24/£13 U18s + students
JAZZ JAM & LATE BAR
Saturday 23 November, 8.30pm – late
The evening’s not over yet! Stay for another drink at the bar and help celebrate jazz educator and trumpet player Mike Daniels’ 20 year association with Wiltshire Music Centre. Expect more music, laughs and special guests. Free
JAZZ VOCAL WORKSHOP
Sunday 24 November, 12pm
Sing on stage accompanied by a full chorus and jazz orchestra. Learn a beautiful jazz song with vocal composer and educator, Pete Churchill, and take part in the amazing finale concert in the afternoon. Confident singers aged 12+. (Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult singer.) £5
BIG JAZZ WEEKEND FINALE
Sunday 24 November, 3pm
Come and experience the thriving local jazz scene with this inspirational final concert of the Big Jazz Weekend. It brings together the community choir, the WMC Chorus, with the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by composer, educator and choral director Pete Churchill, to perform his roof-raising and joyful pieces for choir and big band. £16/£8 U18s and students
Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1DZ; wiltshiremusic.org.uk