The event, from the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) in association with PPL and Jazzwise, featured two outstanding live performances; the first from Glasgow-based band Brass Jaw and the second by the 2010 Yamaha Jazz Scholars, who were also attending for the official presentation of the Parliamentary Jazz Scholarships.
Launched three years ago the Parliamentary Jazz Scholarships are awarded to outstanding young jazz musicians with each being awarded £1,000 plus inclusion on the Yamaha New Jazz Sessions CD to be cover-mounted on the December /January issue of Jazzwise later this year, as well as gigs to be scheduled at leading London jazz clubs including the 606 club and the new Hideaway club that opened earlier this year in Streatham.
The winners were announced by Jazz FM’s Helen Mayhew. They were: Andrew Linham, saxophone, Leeds College of Music; Chris Gilligan, piano, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; David Hamblett, drums, Royal Academy of Music; Dougie Freeman, piano, Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Lluis Mather, saxophone, Birmingham Conservatoire; and Peter Randall, double bass, Trinity College of Music London. The jazz scholars performed a number of songs including ‘You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To’ and original composition ‘Etched Dreams.’
Working without a traditional rhythm section, Brass Jaw are a 4 piece brass-only band that took the guests by surprise with their energy, diversity, pin-sharp timing and – given the lack of amplification – volume! Brass Jaw are Allon Beauvoisin (baritone sax), Ryan Quigley (trumpet), Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor sax) and Paul Towndrow (alto sax).
The evening was hosted by Michael Connarty, MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk and co-chair of APPJAG and speeches were also made by Dominic McGonigal, Director of Government Relations at PPL, Mike Ketley, Senior Director of Yamaha Music UK and Bill Martin, Music Education Manager of Yamaha Music Europe.
Dominic McGonigal stated, “Once again we heard the extraordinary talent of the young musicians now entering the profession and joining what is such a rich musical scene. We have had a long association with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group as their main sponsor and they have done a great job in bringing politicians face to face with the music. We are pleased now to be working with Yamaha to encourage and support young artists as they launch their careers and create the music of the future."