Results for "Edinburgh"

Don Kelman

Alto Sax / Flute player and member of Public Information, an Edinburgh-based funky Modern Jazz outfit playing their own compositions with a mix of covers from the likes of Ornette Coleman, Metheny, Scofield, Monk and Miles.

Jamie Alexander Smith

Born: May 4, 1981

Jamie started playing classical piano at age 6. Such a rigid musical environment quickly frustrated him and he started experimenting with improvising and composing his own music. He played a concert of his own piano compositions in school aged 11, and found that challenging himself not to rely on someone else to write the music for him was exciting and satisfying. Improvising is a key element of Jamie’s 'musical conception'. Knowing exactly what you’re going to play when you go on stage or hit the recording studio is, for him, uninticing. Nothing can compare with the exhilaration of making music up on the spot. Over the years Jamie has played in a variety of ensembles, from rock bands and jazz and funk ensembles to brass bands and an orchestra or two

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

Active since: January 1, 1995

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) is considered by many to be one of the UK’s foremost contemporary big bands. Founder/Director and leading saxophonist Tommy Smith established the SNJO in 1995 with a crystal clear artistic vision and core values of versatility, discipline and expression.

Since its inception more than twenty years ago, many of the leading lights in world jazz have enthusiastically shared the stage with the SNJO. People like Gary Burton, Arild Andersen, Branford Marsalis, Joe Locke, Makoto Ozone, Mike Stern and Kurt Elling have all joined the orchestra to explore virtually every room in the house of jazz.

NeWt

The Music Of NeWt The music of NeWt is truly unique. Each member composes from his own perspective and draws from his own wealth of musical and personal influences. The common languages are those of jazz and improvisation, however, elements of rock, ambient/electronic and folk/world music are also prevalent in the sound. The extraordinary instrumentation of guitar, trombone and drums is one of a kind. Making NeWt sound like no other group in either the jazz or rock field. Graeme Stephen uses ambient guitar effects and loops to create swirling soundscapes and drones while Chris Greive plays the trombone both acoustically and through effects units incuding octave pedals which make the horn sound like an otherwordly electric bass

Gerald Brockie

Born: February 27, 1972

International guitarist and composer of note, Ged Brockie has built on a rising profile with the Scottish Guitar Quartet with this solo release. A prolific composer, this is a wonderful album which shows of his composing and guitar playing skills to the full. He has worked with Hollywood composer Hummie Mann as well as creating and delivering the Edinburgh International Jazz Course with fellow musician Rob Hall. You can find out more about Ged and his various projects at http://www.gedbrockieguitarist.com

Tommy Smith

Born: April 27, 1967

Smith grew up in the housing schemes and began his prolific career at 14 when his quartet won Best Band, and he received Best Musician Trophy at the 1981 Edinburgh Jazz Festival. A year later, he was invited to appear on the TV show 'Jazz at the Gateway' with Niels Henning Ørsted Petersen and Jon Christensen; toured with the European Youth Jazz Orchestra, and recorded his quintet for BBC Radio.

At 16, he released his first two albums, Giant Strides and Taking Off! and studied at Berklee with financial assistance from Sean Connery. He joined Gary Burton's quintet after a recommendation from Chick Corea at 18, toured worldwide, and recorded on ECM's album Whiz Kids.

Multiple Organism Jazz Orchestra

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing? We disagree... What about that funk, or that rock, or that strut, or that quirk, or that crunch, or just that bloody-well-coolness? This is the big band that's sacking the old school and doing things its own way. Formed in 2006 by Edinburgh saxophonists/composers Tom Pickles and Zack A. Moir, the band's debut album, 'Arguments (Waiting To Happen)' is out now on Stitch Records.

Tom Pickles

Born: July 17, 1984

A flute player first and foremost, Tom has dallied rather a lot in the saxophone of late. Also a bit of composing. A founding member of Horndog Brass Band and Thunkfish, plus member of The Katet, Orkestra del Sol and The Loveboat Big Band

Chris Greive

Born: January 26, 1969

Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1969, CHRIS GREIVE started playing music at the age of 11. Trumpet was his first choice because he preferred the look and sound of his dad's Louis Armstrong record to his Chris Barber album. But he was told to play trombone instead because his lips were too fat. Undaunted by this flagrant deception (Louis' lips were hardly slimline). Chris gained a Bmus degree, was a finalist in the Australian Jazz Brass Awards 1996 and has made a big impression since moving to Scotland. He has recorded with his own band, NeWt, as well as the Haftor Medboe Group, Salsa Celtica and Live Sciences

Free Nelson Mandoomjazz: The Organ Grinder

by Chris M. Slawecki
April 1, 2017

Search as far and wide as you like but you won't find any one band that sounds like Edinburgh, Scotland's Free Nelson Mandoomjazz. You CAN find about eight, though: Their sprawling, monstrous “doomjazz" combines harmonic and rhythmic streams from various free jazz and heavy metal schools, including and especially Black Sabbath, Albert Ayler, Electric Wizard, Sonny ...