One of the most anticipated workshops at this year’s Festival is the Soweto Kinch with Resolution 88 jazz, funk and hip-hop Workshop. The workshop is intended both for professional musicians and beginners of all ages who are interested in jazz, funk, hip-hop improvisation and composition. During the workshop, MC Soweto Kinch will explain how to improvise confidently and how to avoid being constrained by convention. [Music Recital Room, Anglia Ruskin University, 27 November. Tickets: £15/£12]
Soweto Kinch (pictured) is a tour de force of the contemporary British jazz and hip hop scenes, with a list of accolades and awards including a Mercury Prize nomination, two UMA Awards and two MOBO awards for Best Jazz Act. Resolution 88 is a hard-hitting, Fender Rhodes driven raw funk quintet led by Tom O'Grady (Suitcase Rhodes, Clavinet, Nord Stage 2, Solina, Moogs) playing original funk music in the vein of Herbie Hancock and more recent innovators such as Kaidi Tatham (Bugz In the Attic).
Alongside big names like Soweto Kinch is the Grammy award-winning Bill Laurance (Snarky Puppy). He will be providing a workshop, the Bill Laurance project masterclass, with his UK all-star line-up for all ages with Grade 4+. They will be covering their approach to composition, harmony and improvisation. [Music Recital Room, Anglia Ruskin University, 26 November, 10.30am-1pm. Tickets: £15/£12]
There are several vocal workshops and master classes during which participants will learn about the unique qualities of their own voice and how to personalise a song. In theVocal Masterclass with Anita Wardell and Robin Phillips Trio – suitable for both vocalists and instrumentalists – Anita Wardell and Robin Phillips will share many of their top tips and tricks learned over years of professional jazz performances. The workshop will look specifically at how jazz singers can become part of an ensemble, enabling them to feel like part of the band, rather than a separate entity. Participants will learn key factors in leading a jazz ensemble and how to participate in the group’s performance alongside the instrumentalists. [Gonville Hotel, 20 November, 2-5pm. Tickets: £25 and includes afternoon tea].
Anita Wardell received the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best of Jazz category in 2006 and a British Jazz award for Best Vocalist in 2013. This, coupled with the release of The Road has propelled Anita into the major artist arena. She has guested on many local and international recordings. Anita Wardell's singing is dynamic, exciting and breathtaking. She is noted for her mesmerizing and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos. Anita is a musician who uses the voice as her instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion.
Andi Hopgood's Rhythm & Groove Vocal & Jazz Choir Workshop is for everyone who loves to sing. The workshop is for those who might sing in a conventional choir and want to broaden their horizons. There is no sheet music as everything will be learned by ear. The workshop will include exercises on rhythm, time, different grooves and feels, such as gospel, reggae and swing; circle singing to work on aural skills; and learning songs in harmony by ear. [St Matthews’s Primary School, 27 November, 1pm-3pm. Tickets: £12/£8]
Andi Hopgood sings with The London Vocal Project one of the UK's leading contemporary vocal ensembles, specialising in jazz and groove music, alongside jazz composer and educator Pete Churchill. She is also musical director of The Cambridge Jazz Festival Choir, Suffolk Soul Singers and Suffolk soul singers youth.
Swing maybe more the thing for some who fancy shaking their tail feathers like it is 1939 during the Learn to swing dance! event with the Cambridge Lindy Hoppers. Swing is the umbrella name for various dances: the Charleston, the Balboa, Solo Jazz as well as the core staple of swing the Lindy Hop (aka the Jitterbug). Lindy Hop is a fun and expressive dance that originated in the 1920’s & 30’s. It can be danced at a variety of tempos and energies, making it suitable for people of all ages and walks of life. Dancers will be able to show what they have learnt at a later event with live music from big band Harmony in Harlem. [St Columba’s Church Hall, 19 November, 2pm-3.30pm. Tickets: £5/£3 / free for Harmony in Harlem ticket holders]
Other workshops taking place during the Festival include:
- Internationally renowned guitarist, Jim Mullen will be giving a jazz workshop Jazz Workshop – Meadows Community Centre, 19 November, 11am - 1:30pm. Tickets: £15 / £12
- Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Josh Kemp presents a workshop on big band playing, including the premiere of a new piece specially commissioned for the occasion. St Matthew's Primary School. 19 November 19, 11am - 1:30pm. Tickets £12 / £8
- Demystifying Jazz with Nikki Iles Karen Sharp will focus on aural skills through improvisation. Millers. 20 November, 10.30am - 1pm. Tickets: £15 / £12
- Latin Jazz Workshop with Shanti Paul Jayasinha. A fantastic opportunity to learn how to approach some of the huge variety of Latin styles and rhythms on trumpet and flugelhorn player. St Matthew's Primary School. 20 November, 10:30am - 1pm. Tickets: £12 / £8
- Discover Percussion Workshop. Led by local percussionist, educator and founder of local jazz and world music band, Iroko, Jane Hollingworth. This is suitable for everyone who wants to discover percussion by helping to rec-create a Cuban Carnival. St Michael's Primary School. 26 November, 2:00 - 3:30pm. Tickets: £5/ £3
- Ben Creighton Griffiths' Harp Workshop. Ben will be drawing on his experience as both a classical and jazz musician – offering harpists to come and perform pieces from either genre in a relaxed atmosphere. This will be followed by an informal talk about his progression from classical to jazz music and then a whole class ‘Introduction to Improvisation’ jam session. Clare College. 26 November 26, 2-5pm. FREE. In association with Clare Jazz, Clare College, University of Cambridge.
- Sara Mitra and Magic Box present: A Magical Musical StoryBox. A newly devised music/theatre piece that engages children in a wonderful world of make-believe, song, percussion and physical movement. Showcasing the sounds of instruments from the world of jazz, A Magical Musical Storybox weaves improvisation, traditional song styles and the children’s compositions of musician Sara Mitra around the storytelling gifts of Lottie Allen. Unitarian Church. 27 November 27, 1.30-2.30pm, 3-4pm. £12 for participating child with accompanying adult. £5 for extra accompanying adult. £3 for extra non-participating child.
Speaking about the range of workshops at this year’s Cambridge Jazz Festival, Co-founder and Director Roslin Russell said: “This year, the Festival offers an eclectic programme of workshops for singers, musicians or anyone who wants to have a go – from the fun of learning to swing dance and vocal jazz, either in a band or choir, to big band, jazz funk, hip hop, and Latin. We look forward to welcoming everyone, whether beginner or professional.”
Further information about the Festival can be found here: www.cambridgejazzfestival.org.uk
You can also follow the Cambridge Jazz Festival for updates on Facebook and twitter
www.facebook.com/cambridgejazzfestivaluk/ Twitter: @CamJazzFest #CJF2016
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