
A Q&A with Quincy Jones: "You guys are first
class man. There's something going on in the water"
Under the inspirational leadership of Paula Gardiner, who was
recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Award for education,
the department offers diverse performance opportunities combined
with professional training relating to the contemporary jazz
industry.
Performance platforms include the hugely popular student-led
Jazz Time sessions every Friday evening, attracting a large and
loyal public audience. The regular slot offers students with
hands-on experience in planning and presenting live performances to
a highly diverse audience from seasoned aficionados to casual music
lovers.
Following the success of Jazz Time, the College has been working
in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales to take our students
and leading international artists on tour to arts venues across
Wales, each term. The summer term culminates in a jazz festival at
the College and both the festival and tour offer students a
platform to showcase their work to new audiences and gain valuable
professional experience. The 2017 festival sees Tina May and Jacqui
Dankworth & Charlie Wood headline. Previous headliners include
Quercus, Jean Toussaint’s Roots and Herbs, Vento Em Maderia, Get
the Blessing, John Taylor and Darius Brubeck Quartet. The
department also regularly performs at jazz festivals across the UK,
including
London Jazz.
Individual tuition is offered on bass, drums, flute, guitar,
piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, voice and other instruments by
agreement. Group classes focus on the rehearsal of material from a
variety of genres under the jazz umbrella, including standard,
contemporary and world repertoire.
The aim is to equip students with skills across many styles
within the jazz idiom and enable them to develop a mature
understanding of jazz language, processes and repertoire whilst
developing skills in composing, arranging, band leadership,
self-promotion and events management.
Head of Jazz Studies
Paula Gardiner
Saxophone
Iain Ballamy
Alex Merritt
Geoff Simkins
Voice
Brigitte Beraha
Nia Lynn
Tina May
Trumpet
Gethin Liddington
Steve Waterman
Neil Yates
Trombone
Mark Bassey
Gareth Roberts
Guitar
Jeremy Franks
Richard Jones
Tom Ollendorff
Piano
Paul Jones
Richard Roberts
Huw Warren
Nick Weldon
Electric/Double Bass
Paula Gardiner
Dudley Phillips
Nick Weldon
Yuri Goloubev
Drums
Elliot Bennett
Martin France
James Maddren
Mark O’Connor
Joshua Blackmore
Harp
Amanda Whiting
Visiting Artist
Dave Stapleton
2017 Jazz Festival
Tina May
Jacqui Dankworth & Charlie Wood