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Jazz Studies

Chetham’s team of specialist Jazz teachers provides an exciting and diverse programme which accommodates both first study Jazz Students as well as serving to broaden the skills and experience of many more of our non-specialist players.
 
All our students have the opportunity to attend improvisation sessions with Steve Berry (Bass). These sessions cater for all levels of ability and all instruments, and encourage individuals to extend their skills via small ensembles which are often given opportunities to perform in and out of school. Les Chisnall (Piano) and Iain Dixon (Saxophone) also provide more specialist classes in areas such as jazz theory, jazz harmony and aural and transcription.
 
All trumpet, trombone, saxophone, string bass and percussion players participate in either the renowned Chetham’s Big Band or the Chetham’s Jazz Orchestra. In 2005 the Big Band claimed the junior section of the BBC Radio 2 Big Band of the Year Competition in its final year and for the third time, having also won it in 1996 and 2000. The Bands have also  provided Chetham's students with the opportunity to work with such eminent jazz soloists as Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, John Escreet, Bobby Shew, Mark Nightingale, Jiggs Wigham, Frank Mantooth, Pete King, Bob Mintzer, Jim Hart, Paul Clarvis, Alan Barnes, Jean Toussaint and Rex Richardson. John Dankworth and his Quartet have performed in a concert at Chetham’s alongside the Big Band.
 
We have a close link with the celebrated jazz trio Acoustic Triangle, who have visited the school in a series of workshops and concerts on several occasions. This group features Tim Garland, Malcolm Creese and Chetham’s ex-student Gwilym Simcock. Gwilym, a student at Chetham’s for eight years, is a multi awarding winning jazz pianist, and was the first BBC Radio 3 New Generation Jazz Artist. Students of the jazz programme are regularly offered scholarships to study on all the leading jazz courses at Conservatoires such as the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music, Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music.
 
There are also frequent opportunities for students to see major artists in local venues – recently these have included Allen Vizzutti at The Cinnamon Club, Altrincham and Mark Nightingale at The Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall. The re-opening of Manchester jazz venue ‘Band on the Wall’ in September 2009 has now provided our students with a very local resource for hearing some of the finest jazz musicians in the world on their doorstep, and has also provided us with a marvellous local venue for some of our own concerts.