Next jam is on Monday 15th December at 8pm

Next jam is on Monday 15th December at 8pm.

Mark Pringle Trio - Wookey Hole Club - Saturday October 11th - 8 p.m.

Mark Pringle Trio, Wookey Hole Club, Saturday October 11^th, 8 p.m.

Rising young jazz piano star Mark Pringle from Wells is putting on a show for his home crowd at the Wookey Hole Club on Saturday, October 11^th. Described in the national press as “stupendously talented,” Mark was a regular at the Wells Jazz Collective’s monthly sessions before gaining a place on the highly rated jazz course at Birmingham Conservatoire.

There he met the other two members of his current trio who will be joining him at the Wookey Hole Club. Both have recent experience of supporting star players - bassist James Banner backing Wynton Marsalis and Wayne Shorter and drummer Euan Palmer playing with Julian Siegel and Lluis Mather.

Growing up in Wells playing in local music groups, Mark went on to study with renowned Frome-based pianist John Law, with whom he recorded a piano duo album and undertook a national tour. More recent studies have taken him beyond the UK to the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris.  

 Promoted by the Wells Jazz Collective, the Wookey Hole Club concert will feature Mark’s original compositions and other work. It starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are priced at £5 each.  To reserve in advance please call Paul Cannon of the Wells Jazz Collective on 01749 674913 or email milton.bluesman@hotmail.com  

Creative Music Workshops - Sept/Nov with local jazz legend John Law

Jazz in the Barn - 3rd August

Jazz in the Barn

The Bishop's Barn - Wells

Sunday 3rd August

3pm
Players and singers from the Wells Jazz Collective will be performing in the Bishop's Barn in Wells on Sunday afternoon. Some of the same artists put on a show to great acclaim and a capacity audience last summer.

"We were booked to play on the bandstand in the park," recalls organiser Paul Cannon, "but moved into the barn because of rain. We all thought it was a great venue with a fine acoustic and decided we would like to perform there again even if it's sunny outside!"

"This year's event is something of a variety performance with a range of singers and instrumentalists doing two or three numbers each in differing groupings."

Wells Jazz Collective promotes and nurtures jazz talent in and around the city. In its monthly sessions a professional trio backs aspiring singers and players.

"Performing with first rate musicians in front of a live audience is invaluable experience," said sax player Paul. "It has helped many jazz performers of all ages gain skill and confidence."

Jazz in the barn is at the Bishop's Barn in Wells, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. this Sunday, August 3rd. Admission is free. Further info:milton.bluesman@hotmail.com   
     

Wookey Hole Club host the WJC jam session on Monday 17th March

Jazz Jam Session - NEWS - The venue has changed

The new venue for the sessions looks like it will be the Wookey Hole Club (some of you may already know it, but those who don’t go to http://www.wookeyholeclub.co.uk/) - a venue that already has a reputation for music.  

It is still the 3rd Monday of every month

The jam session will be on Monday 17 March starting at an earlier time of 7.30 and finishing at 10pm

Relocating is not without its issues, but we want to see it as a positive opportunity to refresh the sessions. 

After hosting the Jam Session for many years Café Piano have decided to stop playing host to the monthly sessions.  We owe them a big thank you for providing such a great environment for the jam sessions.

Bring your instruments, voices, friends and parts...

see you there 

John Law - Boink! - Top Class Jazz in Somerset - Wells Little Theatre Sat 22nd Feb

Virtuoso jazz pianist John Law is bringing his exciting new project to Wells on Saturday, February 22^nd, featuring music, words and stunning, projected images. It’s a big change for John who’s best known locally for leading a highly creative jazz trio. Described by the Times as “one of this country’s most imaginative young pianists”, it’s perhaps no surprise his spirit of innovation has risen to this arresting level.

His new approach features spontaneous group interaction between keyboards, soprano sax, bass clarinet, guitar and drums. The performance grows out of pre-composed electronic music scores and is set before a screen showing live, interactive visuals specially created for this UK-wide tour.

The players, including the guy on visuals, are collectively known as Boink! They’ve picked up outstanding reviews, like this one from a performance last month in Bath:

“The vibe – in between episodes of ambient washes of synths and meditative phrases from saxes – is rolling grooves with a rocky edge ... and frequently beautiful melody... Mesmerising visuals flowed across a screen behind the band.”

Boink! are at the Little Theatre in Wells on Saturday, February 22^nd, from 7.30 p.m. Tickets are £10/£7 conc. on the door. Reservations – milton.bluesman@hotmail.com    

Play Jazz Weekend 2014

An excellent weekend of jazz workshops held at the Wiltshire Music Centre 

(Not run by WJC by the way) 

Play Jazz Weekend  -   Bookings now open!       

Improvise, groove and perform!

Structured workshops in small groups led by experienced pro jazz musicians and teachers

Tutors: Nikki Iles - piano, James Chadwick - guitar, Craig Crofton - saxophone, Andy Hague - trumpet/drums and we are delighted to announce a vocal group for the first time - Brigitte Beraha

SATURDAY 24^th – SUNDAY 25^th May 2014 (Bank holiday weekend) at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon

Great price - £118 (£88 for full time students)

Early-bird discount - £108 for bookings by 3rd March

Bass players & drummers - £55

For further information go to www.playjazzweekend.co.uk or contact Wiltshire Music Centre on

Tel: 01225 860100  Email: info@playjazzweekend.co.uk

Jazz Jam Session at Cafe Piano in Wells 20th January

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

Why not come along to the first WJC jam session of 2014.

Monday 20th January 2014
8.00pm start (10.30pm finish)
Cafe Piano
Wells
Somerset

Bring your instrument or come along and listen. The Cafe is a great place to hang out and listen to music. Our excellent rhythm section will be in residence as usual. All players and singers are welcome. Please bring charts if you have a particular song you would like to play.