Jazz Articles about Gareth Lockrane

About Gareth Lockrane

Album Review

Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra: Glorious Assembly

Read "Glorious Assembly" reviewed by Mark McKergow

by Mark McKergow
June 6, 2026

The Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra is the creation of Emmy Award-winning film composer David Mitcham . After a career writing music for the screen, often with jazz undertones, Mitcham has chosen to expand his ambitions by directing a full-on extended big band playing new compositions on Glorious Assembly. The 20- piece group features some of the UK's top players, with additional specialists on flute, E-flat clarinet, bass and contrabass clarinet, and tuba. The palette is further expanded by performers doubling on ...

Album Review

Fini Bearman: Last Night of the World

Read "Last Night of the World" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
May 4, 2025

As professor of Jazz Voice and Songwriting at London's Guildhall School, Fini Bearman naturally incorporates songwriting exercises into her teaching. Over time, some of the songs born from these sessions evolved into fully realised pieces, several of which now appear on her fifth album, Last Night of The World. Bearman brings an impressive jazz pedigree to the project. A celebrated singer, composer, and instrumentalist, she has earned nominations for London Jazz Singer of the Year from the Global ...

Album Review

Asha Parkinson: Possession

Read "Possession" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
September 13, 2024

Possession, the debut album from Asha Parkinson, builds substantially on her previous 28-minute mini-album release. Parkinson composed and arranged the words and music, which as a theme explore the concept of possession. The innovative music has its roots in jazz with classical and Eastern Mediterranean influences. Parkinson displays considerable ambition, strong principles, cultural awareness and talent. Having graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2020, she plays in various ensembles, including the National Youth Jazz ...

Album Review

Strictly Smokin' Big Band: Strictly Smokin' & Friends

Read "Strictly Smokin' & Friends" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
May 22, 2024

They can be stuffy and old-fashioned. That is the view that many, especially the younger demographic, have about big bands. Making serious headway into changing those perceptions is Michael Lamb. He is the main composer, arranger and trumpeter for the Strictly Smokin' Big Band. He set up the band in 2003 and they have steadily developed to be the top big band in the North East of England and one of the most exciting in the UK. What ...

Album Review

Gareth Lockrane: Fistfight At The Barndance

Read "Fistfight At The Barndance" reviewed by Roger Farbey

by Roger Farbey
September 14, 2017

Gareth Lockrane started playing the flute at the age of ten and having played in various bands, he went on to study with Eddie Parker, Mark Lockheart and Hugh Fraser at the London's Royal Academy of Music from 1994 to 1998. Lockrane was a member of the UK's renowned National Youth Jazz Orchestra from 1995 to 2001 contributing compositions and arrangements to this legendary big band. He worked with the likes of the James Taylor Quartet, Anita Wardell, Gwilym Simcock, ...

Profile

Gareth Lockrane: Doing That Grooveyard Thing

by Duncan Heining
November 13, 2012

Few musicians have developed successful careers in jazz playing just flute. You might think of Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws and Bobbi Humphrey, but only Jeremy Steig, Paul Horn and James Newton spring immediately to mind as artists who have achieved credibility with both fans and critics in their work. We can now add 36 year-old British flautist Gareth Lockrane to that brief list.Lockrane hails from Stoke-on-Trent, in Britain's North Midlands. It's not a prepossessing kind of place. Justly ...