North Wales Jazz is looking forward to presenting the first of two concerts in its March programme that put the spotlight on the best of what young jazz has to offer, when Boplicity take centre stage at the Royal British Legion, Llay on Tuesday, March 3.
Steeped in the West Coast Jazz tradition, this five horn front line group - which includes guitar, bass and drums – was formed in autumn 2014 to perform some of the classic ensemble works of the cool jazz repertoire, including pieces from the Dave Pell Octet and early Miles Davis, as well as more recent numbers.
The band is hand picked from students at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and led by the head of jazz studies, tenor saxophonist Mike Hall.
A popular player on the North West jazz scene and with North Wales Jazz audiences, Mike Hall turned professional in 1993, beginning his musical career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. This led to work with composer and pianist Michael Garrick with whom he toured Malaysia and made several recordings and broadcasts.
More recently he has appeared at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club with the Echoes of Ellington Orchestra, performed a gala concert at the World Saxophone Congress in Slovenia, toured the UK with Andy Scott’s Sax Assault and continues to perform with his own quartet.
Mike regularly freelances with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Halle Orchestras, and now heads jazz studies at the Royal Northern College of Music where he teaches jazz improvisation, theory, history, and saxophone along with directing the RNCM Big Band and Jazz Collective out of which the eight-piece Boplicity was formed.
Along the way he has had the opportunity to work with some of the most respected names in jazz, including American musicians Bob Mintzer, Wayne Shorter, Bob Brookmeyer, Brian Blade and many more.
The performance starts at 8.30pm and admission is £6.50, concessions £5.50, school children £3. Further information is available from North Wales Jazz on 01745 812260 and at www.northwalesjazz.org.uk .
