JAZZ ENSEMBLES 2011/12

We believe that the best way to develop improvising skills is by exploring and absorbing essential jazz repertoire in a practical playing situation. Hence our Jazz School UK Ensembles - tutored playing groups that meet monthly at the Shoefactory at Rushden.

These are small groups (generally 5-9 in number) comprising rhythm section and front line, working through a set of tunes and standards that have been decided in advance. Each group has a body of core music chosen by us, and also a longer library list from which students may pick additional tunes.

The groups run all day (10.30am-1pm then 2-4.30pm), except for Frodo 2 (10.30am-1pm). Attendance for a half day - either morning or afternnon - is also possible, depending on numbers and places, and is an option in the signup forms (these can be found in the registration section below and in the online calendar on the main page).

Ensemble details, together with the meeting dates, tune lists and required playing levels can be found in the information for each group on this page. The tunes for each date appear in the event detail on the calendar on the main page, and also in this tune list PDF. Head over to the Jazz School UK video channel for some essential background viewing.

The main tutor for the Ensembles is Nick Weldon, one of the foremost jazz players and teachers in the UK. He plays piano and double bass, is an acclaimed accompanist, and currently also teaches at Trinity College Of Music and at the Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama. He is joined by visiting tutors during the year.

Frodo/Frodo 2

Playing Level

Players joining this beginners/improvers ensemble should have fairly good instrumental ability and, whatever their jazz playing experience, should have some listening history!

Core Tunes

Autumn Leaves Lady Be Good Fly me to the moon I Got Rhythm Perdido Honeysuckle Rose Black Orpheus Las Vegas Tango C Jam Blues
Bags Groove

Jazz Skills

‣ a set of simple jazz tunes and standards ‣ the technique of swing at medium tempo ‣ some simple Latin time feels ‣ dominant-tonic harmony, in major and minor keys ‣ chord construction and chord-scale relationships ‣ the meaning and use of modes ‣ how to lock in with the drums ‣ a first approach to melodic playing ‣ how to play and practise safely ‣ how to transcribe ‣ essential piano and guitar voicings ‣ blues playing in C F Bb and G ‣ major scales of C F G Bb and Eb ‣ harmonic minor scales of A D E G and C

Dates

FRODO 2011 Oct 2 Nov 6 Dec 4 2012 January 29 February 26 March 25 May 6 June 17

FRODO 2 (morning only) 2011 November 19 December 17 2012 January 7 February 11 March 10 April 21 May 12 June 16

Library

TUNES WE MAY USE - LET US KNOW YOUR FAVOURITES!

Autumn Leaves Bags Groove Black Orpheus Blues In The Closet C Jam Blues Fly Me To The Moon Honeysuckle Rose I Got Rhythm Lady Be Good Las Vegas Tango Moritat (Mack The Knife) Perdido Sonnymoon for Two Spacemen St. James's Infirmary Summertime The Hustlers Watermelon Man

Gollum

Players joining this improvers/intermediate ensemble will have good instrumental ability and should already have a good grasp of the concepts and skills outlined in Ensemble Frodo. They will probably have some gig experience and the ability to solo for a chorus over some tunes they know by heart.

Core Tunes

What Is This Thing Called Love? St. Thomas Sweet Georgia Bright Freddie Freeloader I Can't Get Started Fungi Mama So What On the Sunny Side Of The Street Milestones It Could Happen To You Now's The Time Undecided The Hustlers Little Sunflower Ain't Misbehavin' All The Things You Are Take The A Train Corcovado Blue Bossa

Jazz Skills

‣ a set of more challenging jazz tunes and standards ‣ the technique of swing at different tempos ‣ how to create different time feels ‣ the basics of altered harmony ‣ how to use melodic minor scales ‣ how to create and shape longer solos ‣ how to describe harmony while improvising ‣ how to feel three and two at the same time, and really start to swing! ‣ how to create flow in the quaver line‣ how to use guide tones ‣ major scales of C F G Bb Eb D Ab E and Db ‣ harmonic minor scales of A D E G C F and Bb ‣ melodic minor scales of A D G Eb C F and Bb ‣ basic diminished harmony

Dates

gollum 2011 October 9 November 13 2012 January 8 February 5 March 4 April 1 May 13 June 24

Library

TUNES WE MAY USE - LET US KNOW YOUR FAVOURITES!

A Foggy Day All Blues Barbados Beautiful Love Birks Works Blue Bossa Blue Monk Blue Seven Blue Silage Bye Bye Blackbird Cantaloupe Island Crazy Rhythm Days Of Wine And Roses Don't Get Around Much Any More Doxy Exactly Like You Freddie Freeloader Fungi Mama Gentle Rain Georgia Green Dolphin Street Hackensack Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby? Jumpin 'At The Woodside Just Friends Just You Just Me Lady Bird Lester Leaps In Little Miss Laurie Little Sunflower Lover Man Lullaby Of Birdland Mercy Mercy Moanin' Mood Indigo Moten Swing My Funny Valentine My Romance Now's The Time Nutty On The Sunny Side Of The Street Once I Loved Pennies From Heaven Quiet Nights Red Top Satin Doll Softly As In A Morning Sunrise Song For My Father Sonora So What Sweet Georgia Bright
Sweet Sue Just You Take The A Train Tenor Madness There Is No Greater Love There Will Never Be Another You Undecided Watch What Happens
What Is This Thing Called Love?

Bilbo/Bilbo 2

Players joining this intermediate/intermediate plus ensemble will have very good instrumental ability and a firm grasp of the concepts and skills outlined in Ensemble Gollum. They will be confident improvisers able to cope with the demands of a small ensemble gig.

Core Tunes

Scrapple From The Apple Sandu Desafinado If I Should Lose You Blue Monk Oleo I'm Old Fashioned Wave Like Someone In Love Billie's Bounce Beatrice Invitation Nica's Dream Silver's Serenade Things Ain't What They Used To Be Snapper Bernie's Tune Stars Fell On Alabama Triste Stella By Starlight

Jazz Skills

In these ensembles we will delve further into specific areas of jazz improvisation as well as extending our existing knowledge through a wider range of key and tempo. We will learn or use: ‣ a set of jazz tunes and standards ‣ how to reharmonise jazz tunes and standards ‣ how to create dialogue within the band ‣ how to use diminished and whole tone scales ‣ altered harmony ‣ tritone substitution ‣ non-resolving dominants ‣ extended use of guidetones ‣ performance technique ‣ extended use of three over two ‣ wider range of feels ‣ recognition of harmonic patterns ‣ all major, harmonic and melodicminor, diminished and whole tone scales

Dates

bilbo 2011 October 23 November 20 2012 January 15 February 12 March 11 April 22 May 27 July 1

bilbo 2 2011 October 22 December 3 2012 January 21 February 18 March 17 April 14 May 19 June 9 July 7

Library

TUNES WE MAY USE - LET US KNOW YOUR FAVOURITES!

A Child Is Born A Night In Tunisia A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square A Portrait Of Jenny All Of You All The Things You Are Alone Together Anthropology Beatrice Bernie's Tune Billie's Bounce Blues For Wood Bluesette Body And Soul Born To Be Blue But Not For Me Caravan Cherokee Come Rain Or Come Shine Cottontail Cry Me A River Darn That Dream Desafinado Dig Don't Blame Me East Of The Sun Easy Living Easy To Love Embraceable You Emily Everything Happens To Me Everything I Love Falling In Love With Love Five Hundred Miles High Four Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You Get Out Of Town Gingerbread Boy Girl From Ipanema God Bless The Child God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Gone With The Wind Good Bait Good Morning Heartache Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Groove Yard Groovin' High Harlem Nocturne Have You Met Miss Jones? Here's That Rainy Day Hi-Fly How About You? How Insensitive I Can't Get Started I Concentrate On You I Could Write A Book I Cover The Waterfront I Didn't Know What Time It Was I Fall In Love Too Easily I Get A Kick Out Of You I Got It Bad I Hear A Rhapsody I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart I Love You I Mean You I Remember Clifford I Remember You I Should Care I Thought About You I'll Be Seeing You I'll Remember April I'm Getting Sentimental Over You I'm Old Fashioned I'm Through With Love I've Got The World On A String I've Got You Under My Skin If I Should Lose You If I Were A Bell If You Could See Me Now Ill Wind Imagination Impressions In A Mellow Tone In A Sentimental Mood In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning In Walked Bud In Your Own Sweet Way Indian Summer Indiana Isn't It Romantic It Could Happen To You It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing It Had To Be You It's Only A Paper Moon It's You Or No-One Jitterbug Waltz Jordu Killer Joe Laura Like Someone In Love Line For Lyons Love For Sale Lullaby Of The Leaves Maiden Voyage Makin' Whoopee May-Reh Mean To Me Meditation Menina Flor Midnight Waltz Misty Moonglow Moonlight In Vermont Mr PC My Little Suede Shoes My Ship No Moon At All Nostalgia In Times square Oleo On A Clear Day Once I Loved Once In A While One For Amos One For Daddy-O Our Love Is Here To Stay Out Of Nowhere Over The Rainbow Peace Pick Yourself Up Polka Dots And Moonbeams Poor Butterfly Recordame Rhythm-A-Ning Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers Samba De Orfeu Sandu Scrapple From The Apple Secret Love September In The Rain Sidewinder Silvers Serenade Sister Sadie Skylark Snapper Someday My Prince Will Come Speak Low Star Eyes Stars Fell On Alabama Stella By Starlight Stolen Moments Straight No Chaser Sugar Sunshower Sweet Georgia Brown Sweet Lorraine Take Five Taking A Chance On Love Tangerine Tea For Two Teach Me Tonight Tenderly That Old Feeling That's All The Boy Next Door The Lamp Is Low The Nearness Of You The Night Has a Thousand Eyes The Second Time Around The Shadow Of Your Smile The Theme The Touch Of Your Lips These Foolish Things They Can't Take That Away From Me Third Floor Richard This Can't Be Love Time After Time Topsy Tricotism Triste Unit Seven Up Jumped Spring Valse Hot Walkin' Wave Weaver Of Dreams West Coast Blues What Am I Here For? What's New? When I fall In Love When Sunny Gets Blue When Your Lover Has Gone Where Are You? Where Or When Whisper Not When Lights Are Low Willow Weep For Me Witch Hunt Witchcraft Without A Song Woody'n You Work Song Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams Yardbird Suite Yesterdays You Don't Know What Love Is You Stepped Out Of A Dream You Took Advantage Of Me You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To You've Changed

Gandalf

This intermediate plus/advanced course is aimed at players with a high level of instrumental ability and extensive improvising and performance experience who believe they can take their playing to a good professional and creative standard.

Core Tunes

Seven Steps To Heaven Donna Lee Invitation No Coincidence Evidence Seven Minds Everyone's Song But My Own Footprints Armando's Rhumba Very Early Tricotism Subconscious Lee Bebop Round Midnight Body and Soul A Monk's Dream Giant Steps Witch Hunt Infra Rae Dolphin Dance

Jazz Skills

In this ensemble we will be learning a set of more challenging forms. As well as the full range of skills and concepts explored in our other ensembles we will also learn or use: ‣ harmonic major scales ‣ maqam ‣ metric modulation ‣ axis theory ‣ side slipping ‣ pivot points ‣ advanced ensemble skills ‣ and much more!

Dates

gandalf 2011 October 30 November 27 2012 January 22 February 19 March 18 April 29 June 10 July 8

Library

TUNES WE MAY USE - LET US KNOW YOUR FAVOURITES!

A Monk's Dream After You've Gone Afternoon In Paris Airegin Alice In Wonderland All God's Children Got Rhythm Ambleside Days Ana Maria Armando's Rhumba Aspire Beauty And The Beast Bebop Bitter Suite Black Alice Black Narcissus Blue Daniel Blue In Green Body And Soul Bolivia Broken Wing Buscar But Beautiful Ceora Chappaqua Cheesecake Chelsea Bridge Cookin' At The Continental Daahoud Dee's Song Dexterity Dig Dolphin Dance Donna Lee Dulcinea Eclypso El Gaucho Elm Epistrophy Everyone's Song But My Own Evidence Falling Grace Favela Fee-Fi-Fo- Fum Five Spot After Dark Foolish Door Footprints For Jan Forest Flower Fried Bananas Giant Steps Gnu Groovin' High Hard Eights Hot House Humble Bumble Jelly Blues I'll Be Seeing You I'm A Fool To Want You I've Never Been In Love Before Icarus Infra Rae Inner Urge Introduction To No Particular Song Invitation Iron Petal Isfahan It Might As Well Be Spring It's All Right With Me Jeannine Joshua Joy Spring Just One Of Those Things Katrina Ballerina Lazy Bird Leaving Kayak Kind Folk Lennie's Pennies Lester Left Town Little Red's Fantasy Lush Life Ma Belle Helene Mark Time Memories Of Tomorrow Milestones Minority Miold Man Moment's Notice Moonlight In Vermont Moontrane My Favourite Things My Foolish Heart My One And Only Love Naima Nardis Nefertiti Never Let Me Go Nica's Dream No Coincidence Now He Sings Now He Sobs Oblivion Oleo One Page Waltz Paradox Peri's Scope Piccadilly Lily Prelude To A Kiss Question And Answer Ralph's Piano Waltz Ramblin' Round Midnight Sail Away Salena St Seven Minds Seven Steps To Heaven Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Solar Song For Bilbao Sophisticated Lady Soul Eyes Speak Low Spike Spring Is Here Stablemates Stompin' At The Savoy Stray Subconscious Lee Sweet And Lovely Sweet Georgia Brown The Chess Players The Dolphin The Glide The Island The Little Fella The Masquerade Is Over The Peacocks The Song Is You The Way You Look Tonight Think Of One This I Dig Of You Turn Out The Stars Very Early Voyage Waltz For Debby Well You Needn't Winter Sweet Yes Or No

Pricing

The basic fee for the Ensembles is £60 per day (or £30 per half-day). We offer three payment options:

Scheme 1: Pay on the day (cash or cheque) as and when you attend. Suitable if you come occasionally or sporadically.

Scheme 2: Join the Shoefactory at Rushden (annual membership £36), and receive 20% reduction on all Jazz School courses and events. This brings the Ensemble fee down to £48 per day (£24 per half-day). Suitable if you are planning to sign up as a regular player, coming to most of the sessions, or to take some other Jazz School UK courses.

Scheme 3: (our best value offer). Join the Shoefactory, gaining 20% reduction, and pay your season fees up front for an extra 5% reduction on your Ensemble fees. This brings the Ensemble daily rate down to £45. In the unhappy event of your not being able to attend any of the sessions for which you had paid in advance, we would refund you for the missed session in full with at least two weeks notice, and at 50% with any less. Suitable for those planning to come to every session.

Q & A

Q I gig regularly, and am a confident soloist, but my theoretical knowledge is patchy. I think I'm a Bilbo, but I know I haven't nailed all the Gollum concepts yet. Which ensemble is right for me?
A As these are practical sessions, the most important consideration is your playing level. I would advise going for the Bilbo ensemble and enrolling in the Jazz Studies programme (121 and/or Theory) to get you up to speed.
Q I am a beginning improviser and I play entirely by ear. Do I have to read music to join an ensemble?
A We do more by ear than by music throughout the ensembles, so your aural skills will be useful. As you get the tunes to learn in advance of each session, fluent sight-reading, though very helpful, isn't essential. You will learn to read chord symbols in the Frodo ensemble, and can probably get through these early stages by ear alone. But reading skills will become more and more important as you move up through the ensembles, if only to make sense of the theoretical discussions on your instrument, so I would suggest taking a general music theory class somewhere as well as your jazz work with us.
Q I gig frequently at a good level and have been considering a college course. Is Jazz School UK any sort of alternative?
A In the words of Wayne Shorter, yes and no. You won't get all the networking, the big city buzz, or the degree certificate. But we do offer you the same progressive learning with the same teachers as you would get in the best colleges, but at a third of the cost.
Q What's with all the Lord of the Rings stuff?
A It was a choice between Dickens and Tolkien. Would you like to be in the Scrooge Ensemble?

Registration

new students Use the enquiry form to register interest, or get in touch by email or phone with any general questions or to check availability and suitability of places.

existing students If we have confirmed that there is a space in your chosen Ensemble, and you want to join as a regular player, use one of the forms below to register.

Thank you! We will contact you with further course details and to arrange payment. Once you join as a regular player, your place in the group is secure. We will expect you for every session unless you tell us otherwise. (Please give us as much notice as possible, as we will need to fill your place). If you want to register for one particular session only, rather than as a regular player, please use the form in the event detail of the calendar on the main page.