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William Ellis
William Ellis opened the 2010 festival talks with a presentation of a recent photo-shoot in the world renowned Edward James sculpture garden in Las Pozas, Central Mexico to provide images for a new Andy Scott-Evaristo Aguilar-Dave Hassell trio recording. A fascinating colour slide show, in marked contrast to his more familiar black & white jazz portraiture and still-life work which were on display in William's exhibition at the festival.
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After the weekend, he headed off for shoots in New York and LA. His new show at his permenant UK gallery at The Cinammon Club in Altrincham opens later this month and he currently also has an exhibition at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre. His presence at this festival was, as always, an exciting complement to the jazz performances.
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"Harmless Old Duffers?"
Saturday's lunchtime talk surely dispelled that image. Five of the UK's top jazz promoters under the chairmanship of Dr Ian Darrington each opened up with an individual precis of their roles. Their collective experience of jazz club/festival promotion totted up to an impressive 60 years in the profession. The drive and energy of these and other similarly driven jazz entrepreneurs is central to the continuance of the music, the enjoyment of the fans and the creation of playing opportunities for jazz musicians. The 'nightmare scenario' stories proved hilarious and the qustion and answer session from the audience could have gone on much longer than the allotted hour.
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L-R: Mike Gordon (Scarborough Jazz Festival) Chris de Saram (Wakefield Jazz Club) Dr Ian Darrington (Wigan Intl Jazz Festival) Fred Lindop (Swanage Jazz Festival) Jerry Brown (Norwich Jazz Party)
Photo by Robert Burns.
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Keith Loxam
Producer of BBC Radio 3 'Jazz Line Up' was at the festival to record a couple of gigs [New Couriers and Iain Dixon/Mike Walker] and took the opportunity to take the Sunday lunchtime talk spot. His programme celebrates its 10th birthday this April. Keith took questions from festival organiser Geoff Matthews about his programme, music, hobbies (he's a keen Hammond organ enthusiast) and career with the BBC. His weekly Jazz Line Up was recently moved from an afternoon to a late evening slot but still has ' respectable listener figures'. Again time limited the audience Q&A's but there was an obvious yearning for more prime time jazz on the BBC as well as support from jazz festival promoters (there were many present) for coverage on 'Jazz Line Up'.
Photo by Robert Burns
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John Zehentner
Southport artist-in-residence at the festival John Zehentner could be seen at all the gigs pencil-sketching the performances. HIs exhibition of drawings, oils and acrylics occupied a prominent corner position in the Jazz Shop. These included the (sold) original 'Tide Out-Jazz In' surrealist painting selected for the 2010 programme and posters and portrait studies of some musicians there-present, as well as some none jazz related works which created much interest. Portrait of John at work taken at the event by Robert Burns.
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Paul Bentley ARPS
Paul's exhibition of black and white digital jazz photographs shot at SMJC's gigs and festivals dramatically occupied the whole wall space of the Osborne 3 Suite, a plain white walled, appropriately flourescently lit, low ceilinged room situated between the two main concert halls. Just about everybody there managed to view between gigs. Also on display were signed copies of his recently published limited addition book (see Peter Vacher review in Feb/March Jazz UK). Several copies were bought and immediately taken for autographing by some of the musicians featured who were playing at the festival! Some of his shots taken during the weekend appear alongside Ron Simpson's review [click on '10 Fest Review' ].
Portrait of Paul at the event by Robert Burns
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