Episode 13 A Conversation with trumpet player, band leader and music producer Louis Dowdeswell ahead of his appearance with his big band at the Wigan International Jazz Festival (Sunday 10th July at 8.30pm) www.wiganjazzfest.co.uk www.justaddtickets.co.uk 

This conversation took place as Louis was preparing to fly out to Budapest with fellow trumpeter and good friend Ryan Quigley to perform a Tribute to Maynard Ferguson with the  

Budapest Jazz Orchestra.

With over 15 million views online for his critically acclaimed Big Band, the pioneering trumpet player and producer Louis Dowdeswell is leading a resurgent interest in the genre.

YouTube’s most famous big band, the Louis Dowdeswell Big Band, performing original arrangements specially written for the band by Callum Au.

The conversation gives mention to Louis’ friendship and musical partnership with trombonist composer and arranger Callum Au.

It also provides information on the use of air and playing in the high register as well as discussion on Yamaha instruments that he endorses.

Louis plays on a Yamaha Commercial Trumpet YTR-6335RC, the Yamaha Custom Z YFH-6310Z flugelhorn and used GR Mouthpieces

Excerpts in this Episode are:

• Beer Jersey Boogaloo (Dan Shout)
• “The Incredibles” Suite  
• Let it Go
• Circle of Life
• Bridge Over Troubled Water

www.louisdowdeswell.com

Episode 12 A Conversation with pianist and vocalist Wendy Kirkland

Pianist and singer Wendy Kirkland has been a mainstay of the UK Jazz scene since the late noughties, but it was her first album, Piano Divas, released in 2017 that began her ascent to wider recognition as a “Singing Pianist”, as dubbed by Jazz Journal.

During lockdown from March 2020, Wendy and guitarist/bassist husband Pat Sprakes entertained with a daily dose of Latin American music on Facebook which they entitled Latin Lockdowns. After 86 such performances they decided it was time to move on to other musical endeavours, but were amazed and pleased to receive daily messages from people who described the videos in such terms as “a ray of sunshine” in their lockdown situations.

Along with husband Pat Sparke (guitarist bass player Wendy runs Chesterfield Jazz Club

Artists featured on Wendy’s recordings are guitarist and bass player Pat Sprake, vibes player Roger Beaujolais and trombonist Dennis Rollins. 

“SHE’S A JAZZ PIANIST AND SHE’S A JAZZ SINGER, AND DOES BOTH WITH FEELING AND FLAIR.”★★★★ NIGEL JARRETT, JAZZ JOURNAL

“WOW. WOW! A CRACKER – AND BRILLIANTLY DELIVERED.” – LINLEY HAMILTON, BBC RADIO

“THE BEGINNING OF MUCH DESERVED RECOGNITION.” ALAN BARNES

Excerpts included in this Episode are:

• Beer Jersey Boogaloo (Dan Shout)
• Samba Chica
• Sandalia Dela 
• O Gato Molhado 
• Pools
• Playground

https://wendykirkland.com

Episode 11 is brought to you by the Music Continuum CIC and features a conversation with British saxophonist and band leader Simon Spillett ahead of a performance at the Wigan International Jazz Festival on Friday 8th July 2022 featuring his newly formed big band.

As one of the Festival headliners Simon’s big band will perform music from the repertoire of the great British saxophonist Tubby Hayes. As a world authority on the music of Tubby Hayes Simon & his big band will provide a rare opportunity to hear compositions and arrangements from this amazing body of work, including recently rediscovered arrangements of classics by UK jazz legend Tubby Hayes, Jimmy Deuchar, Harry South and Peter King, many of which haven’t been heard in public for over fifty-five years. Hard swing and infectious enthusiasm are the band’s calling cards, making their in-person appearances a powerful reminder of the core qualities of big band jazz

Launched to great acclaim in 2020, the Simon Spillett Big Band is jam-packed with A-List jazz talent, many of whom are respected bandleaders and soloists in their own right.The personnel is: 

Nathan Bray, Mark Armstrong, George Hogg, Freddie Gavita (Trumpets)
 Mark Nightingale, Ian Bateman, Andy Flaxman, Pete North (Trombones)
 Sammy Mayne, Pete Long, Rob Fowler, Karen Sharp, Alan Barnes (Saxes)
 Rob Barron (Piano) Alec Dankworth (Bass) Pete Cater (Drums)

Simon Spillett has recorded three albums, all of which have received highly favourable reviews in the jazz and mainstream press, his 2008 album Sienna Red winning Jazz Journal magazine's Album of the Year. Introducing Simon Spillett (Woodville Records, 2007, CD) with John Critchinson, Andrew Cleyndert and Martin Drew Sienna Red (Woodville Records, 2008, CD) with John Critchinson, Andrew Cleyndert and Spike WellsSquare One (Gearbox, 2013, vinyl) with John Critchinson, Alec Dankworth and Clark Tracey

The following tracks are used in this Episode:

Beer Jersey Boogaloo (Dan Shout)                                                                                    
Two Seconds to Midnight (Alan Baylock) Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra.                           
Take Your Partners for the Blues…Tubby Hayes. 
A Time for Love…Rob Barron.                                                               
Room 608 Tubby Hayes.                   
The Second Streamer Tubby Hayes
Off the Wagon Tubby Hayes. 

Other performers at the Wigan International Jazz Festival include Claire Martin & Dave Newton, Camille Thurman with Darrell Green Quartet, Louis Dowdeswell Big Band, Mike Vax, SK2 Jazz Orchestra, Anchormen Jazz Orchestra, Durham University Big Band, Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, Really Awful Orchestra, Wigan Youth Training Jazz Orchestra. 

The venue for all the Festival concerts is:

THE VILLAGE ON THE GREEN Woods Road Aspull Wigan WN21PJ
 A newly refurbished venue that will provide an intimate jazz club feel.
 • The main venue seats up to 300 people and has excellent, comfortable facilities.
 • Two well stocked bars with food available.
 • Free parking and excellent disabled access.

Full details of the Festival are available on www.wiganjazzfest.co.uk Tickets are available from www.justaddtickets.co.uk

A conversation with trumpet player Mike Vax (lead with the Stan Kenton Orchestra 1970-72) ahead of his performances at the Wigan International Jazz Festival 7th- 10th July 2022.

His performances in Wigan will be with Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra on the afternoon of Saturday 9th July and with SK2 Jazz Orchestra directed by Dave Tyas on the afternoon of Sunday 10th July SK2 are a band based in North West UK and dedicated to the performance of the music of Stan Kenton. (To hear more on SK2 listen to Episode 2 of his podcast)

It’s FIFTY years since Mike played lead trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra when they toured the UK and recorded a full length TV feature in London and from which an album was produced. The personnel, although not listed on the album, included in the trumpet section Jay Saunders, Mike Vax, Dennis Noday, Ray Brown and Joe Marcinkiewicz.  

Mike is director of the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra who have been together for 32 years and performed 23 national tours in the USA. 

Mike is an endorsee for the Warburton Company and plays an instrument designed and built by Terry Warburton..he named it the VAXINATOR. 

Get your tickets now for the Wigan International Jazz Festival at www.justaddtickets.co.uk and come meet and chat with Mike Vax

 The following tracks appear in this Episode

• Beer Jersey Boogaloo Dan Shout
• A Little Minor Booze Willie Maiden
• Chiapos Hank Levy Stan Kenton Orchestra 
• Speak Low Mike Vax Big Band 
• Intermission Riff Ray Wetzel 
• Malaga Bill Holman Stan Kenton Orchestra 
• Eager Beaver Mike Vax Big Band with Stan Kenton Alumni 

Episode 10 also contains details of the Wigan International Jazz Festival 

see www.wiganjazzfest.co.uk www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk www.musiccontinuum.co.uk and www.justaddtickets.co.uk 

A conversation with UK born guitarist Nick Kellie now resident in LA California. 

Nick’s success in the music business stems not only from his many hours of dedicated practice but also from his absolute determination to get busy and stay busy. At every opportunity he met and chatted with musicians, asking advice, exchanging contact details and leaving his business cards, all of which resulted in him moving first to London and then to New York, North Dakota, Nashville and Los Angeles. 

Originally from Wigan Lancashire UK, a former member of Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra and student at Standish Community High School.

Recipient of the John Dankworth Award for the Most Promising Young Musician in the BBC Big Band Competition 

Winner of the Young Hank Marvin of the Year Award  

Author of ‘Progressive Blues Guitar’…Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitar published by Hal Leonard Check out on You Tube https://youtu.be/4q7dsXheX7I

Excerpts from the following tracks appear in this episode

Beer Jersey Boogaloo - Dan Shout

30 Hour Journey -  Nick Kellie

Open Fields -  Nick Kellie 

Four Brothers -  Manhattan Transfer 

Gioia - Frank Gambale 

For A Brother -  Nick Kellie

BBC Count Bubba’s Revenge composed by Gordon Goodwin 

Anatolia -  Nick Kellie

Forward Motion - Camille Thurman 

Episode 9 also contains details of the Wigan International Jazz Festival 

see www.wiganjazzfest.co.uk www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk www.musiccontinuum.co.uk and www.justaddtickets.co.uk 

One of Southern Africa’s busiest and most respected  saxophonists & composers Dan Shout discusses his career and his life in music  

Here you go! The REALLY AWFUL ORCHESTRA…A MAJOR SUCCESS STORY. A conversation with musical director Chris Perry and several of its players! 

Episode 6 features a conversation with vocalist, bassist & band leader Nicola Farnon ahead of her concert at Sunday Jazz in Wigan. During the conversation Nicola gives valuable advice & ideas for those looking to advance their skills as a jazz vocalist.