Lincolnshire Youth Jazz and Rock Academy

JARA Members 2010/11 Information Pages These pages contain Dates, Clips and Repertoire Links

 

Academy Sponsors

The Academy

Over 6 rehearsal days the academy will again form 4 ensembles - a jazz orchestra, a funk/fusion group, a rhythm and blues group and a contemporary rock group. The programme includes visiting artists and music industry professionals to enhance the work of our talented and committed music service staff. The programme will conclude with a showcase concert at Skegness Embassy Centre. If you want a sneak preview there will be an informal concert in Boston on Saturday 9th January 2010 featuring our fabulous guest artists working with the Academy.

To find out more about joining the academy contact Lee Hextall Tel:01205 313227 Mobile: 07795 528781 or Email:

lee.hextall@lincolnshire.gov.uk

 

This year Lincolnshire Music Service was delighted to again win one of the National Music Council awards for outstanding contributions to Jazz.

SHOWCASE CONCERT 2010
Skegness Embassy Theatre - Saturday 27th March 7.30pm

www.embassytheatre.co.uk

Some clips from the awesome Showcase 09

Some Tracks from the Live Showcase 2007

 

 

Academy Staff

Lee Hextall—Academy leader

Lee Hextall is an area manager for Lincolnshire music service. After graduating he began working in primary education in south London and then as a volunteer teacher in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Lee moved to Boston in 1991. He is the director of Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra who recently received one of Boston Borough Councils outstanding community service awards.

Steve Pitts– Rhythm and Blues leader

Steve has been a guitar and bass tutor for Lincolnshire music service since 1999. Steve is a very busy local musician he plays in several function bands with styles including Rock, Soul, Blues and even a Celtic Rock group. He is in great demand as a teacher and session player.

Ben Howman– Contemporary Rock leader

Ben grew up in Lincolnshire playing guitar for Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra. During his degree he returned to be a peer mentor for the jazz and rock academy. After graduation Ben successfully applied to work as a guitar tutor for Lincolnshire music service. He has proved to be a popular teacher in great demand locally.

Vanessa Hobart –Voice leader

Vanessa is Director of Music at Boston's Haven High Technology College. She is a graduate of Manchester University and in her first years of teaching won the national teaching award for the most outstanding new teacher in the north west. Vanessa grew up in Lincolnshire and returned four years ago to work in Boston. The academy must extend its thanks to Headteacher Adrian Reed and the Haven High Technology College for entirely supporting Vanessa's contribution to the academy.

Matt Lond - Sax Leader

Matt has been a Peripatetic Woodwind Teacher for Lincolnshire Music Service since 2001.He studied the saxophone at Leeds College of Music where he focused on Jazz and Performance. He is Musical Director of South Lincolnshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (SLYJO) and saxophone tutor for the County Symphonic Windband. He is also a founder member of Equinox Saxophone Ensemble in Nottingham.

Edward Hemsley - Funk Fusion Leader

Edward is fresh to the Lincolnshire Music Service this year and brings with him seventeen years of musical experience and five years of secondary-school teaching experience. He has a varied musical history ranging from big bands, jazz combos, an originals duo, musicals and even a performance with the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra. He’s now actively gigging with his function band ‘Flip-Side-Down’ and working as a drum, bass and guitar tutor.

John Owen - Percussion Leader

John is a qualified music teacher and experienced musician with 15 years playing experience. Accomplished in many styles and genres, including Ska/Reggae, Punk, Rock, Big band and small jazz groups, with a keen interest in music composition and music production. John has toured extensively around UK and Europe, playing both trumpet and percussion as a musician in HM Armed Forces.

 

 

Guest Artists

Simon Bates -Saxophone

Professor of Saxophone for the Royal Marines, Simon Bates is known and respected for his stylistic versatility and instrumental prowess. He is in great demand on the London session scene and has appeared live and recorded with a wide variety of bands and musicians including Elvis Costello, Jamie Cullum, Shane MacGowan, Lulu, Rick Wakeman, D:Ream, Chaka Khan, Emma Bunton, Seal, The Zappatistas and Peter Erskine. He has performed around the world in a wide variety of settings from the Q.E.2. and Eiffel Tower to Ronnie Scott's and the Albert Hall. Currently he is Musical Director for Rick Astley and Bette Midler.

Dave Swift -Bass

Dave Swift has been the bassist for Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra for the last 16 years. During this time he has played with hundreds of the world’s biggest names in music including Al Jarreau, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Paul Weller, BB King and hundreds of others. Dave has also gigged across the globe with Jools as well as performing on his hugely popular ‘Later…with Jools Holland’ TV show to millions of viewers on BBC2, as well as recording several multi-platinum selling albums and DVDs with Holland and his band.

Dave Ital - Guitar

Dave Ital over the years has played and recorded with Craig David,Sugababes,Lewis Taylor,Liberty X,Tom Jones,MPeople ,Bryan Ferry,Rick Astley,Michal Urbaniak,Jason Rebello,LL.Cool J,Redman,Anita Baker,Banarama(Musical director)Jocelyn Brown,Mica Paris,Beverly Knight,Gary Barlow,Dina Carroll,Urban Species,Tom Robinson,Candi Staton,Lulu,Bobby Womack,Desree,Kele Le Roc,Another Level,Reggae Legends Lee Scratch Perry,Desmond Dekker,Brit funkers Incognito,Light of the World,Mirage,Smooth jazz stars Peter White,Dave Koz+Steve Cole,and up and coming Brit R+B artists Taio Cruz and Nathan. Currently he is finishing work on his 1st solo album,plus a collaboration with Orefo Orakwue under the name Greenheart.

Mary Pearce - Voice

Mary Pearce is one of London’s busiest vocalists she regularly performs live as both lead and backing vocalist throughout the UK and extensively in cities throughout the world. Since 1992 she has worked with artists such as Lionel Richie, Grace Jones, Courtney Pine, Boy George, Donna Summer, The Streets, Spice Girls, Hugh Masekela, Beverley Knight, Gabrielle and Chaka Khan. In 1994 she made her debut on the West End Stage in "The Original Blues Brothers". In 2004 the release of underground smash "Young Hearts" with Kujay Da Da resulted in a show stopping performance at the 2004 House Music Awards.

Lex Cameron - Keyboard/Voice

Lex Cameron is a talented musician in great demand not just as a singer and keyboard player but also musical director. He was MD for the Sugababes and last September got the job as Anastacia's MD (musical director/keyboard player) which included a European tour and appearences on TV shows like Graham Norton Paul O'Grady and Divas. He has worked with Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Barry White and recently toured with Billy Ocean sharing the stage with artists like Macy Grey and Al Jarreau

Mark Allis - Drums

Possibly the most varied CV in the band, Mark has played with artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra to Harry Hill, Mel C to Shirley Bassey and Donny Osmond to Alice Cooper. Most recently he has beaten the drums with Clare Martin, Jamelia and Charlotte Church.

 Showcase Concert 08

 

Artists Interviews

Part 1

 Part 2

 

 

 

 

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