Thursday, 7 May 2009

ISSUE 2 IS OUT NOW!!

Howdy everyone!

YJS Issue 2 is out NOW! There are a lot of exciting articles inside, including afterthoughts about the Kenny Wheeler gig, a feature interview with Rob Lavers, articles about the 'Al Wood experience', exciting information about the upcoming Spring Festival of New Music and NCEM Jazz Weekend, as well as a very interesting article from Dave Smyth about the authenticity of Jamie Cullum's music, which may spark some lively debate!

Included inside this edition is a feedback form, which has been designed to ensure that YJS is staying 'on the ball', so to speak; i.e. that it is producing information that YOU, the jazz community, actually want to read about.

Having this sort of 'hard fact' information will also be really useful in business contexts, so by completing the form, you will providing a valuable contribution towards the future growth and development of YJS, so if you love the jazz, please take the time to fill it out.

Be sure to let us know what you think!

Monday, 20 April 2009

Avishai Cohen w/ Bohuslan Big Band

This is an hour-long video of the Avishai Cohen trio with the Bohuslan Big Band. It's a great quality video/audio (BBC iPlayer type stuff) and only available til the 30th so make sure you watch it.

http://svtplay.se/v/1499678/veckans_konsert/avishai_cohen_och_bohuslan_big_band

YOUR YJS!

Hey everyone!

Goodness, how time flies - I can't believe it's been a few weeks now since the last post!

YJS is committed to making sure it represents the jazz community, SO to make this blog more of an empowering experience, I'm inviting people who have contributed to the magazine (either issue 1, or issue 2, which is currently in process, yay!!!!), so that they have the opportunity to post jazz-related things up as well.

Hope everyone has had a lovely Easter!

Much jazzy love,
Anna

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Al Wood at the Black Swan

The York Jazz Jam proudly presents multi-instrumentalist Al Wood as its special guest for March. These nights always prove very popular, so it is highly advisable to arrive early in order to get a seat, because the room isn't that big.

Music starts 8:45pm and finishes about 11:15pm. The first set will feature Al with the Black Swan houseband, and subsequent sets will move into the jazz jam, so be sure to bring along your instrument! There will be a small charge on the door, but this goes towards paying Al's fee AND you get a free raffle ticket to boot, so it's worth a try! Will tonight be my turn to win? I wonder!

I'm hopefully going to be able to interview Al at some point during the evening, so wish me luck!

Anna

Monday, 23 March 2009

York Jazz Scene on Jazz Yorkshire

Want to see something funny?

My face is currently emblazoned across the Jazz Yorkshire website! (It certainly surprised my Mum and Dad when I instructed them to take a look)!

http://www.jazzyorkshire.org/

Nigel Slee has kindly put an item about YJS, quoting from my editorial greeting, and has put a link to the magazine on issuu. Very sporting of him, I say. No seriously, Nigel has been a great help over the past days, and is providing valuable technical know-how which I lack; he's also been providing lots of advice and suggestions regarding advertising, future sustainability of the magazine, and ideas for what to do with the various online mediums that YJS has been gradually tapping in to.

He's also suggested that I send a copy of YJS to the editor of Jazzwise; am currently in the midst of typing a letter to him - wish me luck!!

YJS Facebook Group

Do you use Facebook?

Type 'York Jazz Scene' into the Search box, and join the group! There is also a link to the issuu site on there, and I will do regular updates as much as I can!

Help to spread the word about YJS!

Saturday, 21 March 2009

Read YJS ONLINE!!!

Fantastic news, everyone!

There is now an easier way to read YJS online; the Media Fire host was causing problems for some people, but the wonderful Nigel Slee at Jazz Yorkshire has discovered a Danish website that allows PDF files to be read as magazines online; it's called issuu, and as of today, York Jazz Scene has an account and has been uploaded onto there!

Honestly, folks, the website looks so professional, and means that reading the magazine has now been made a much easier process for you all!

What do you think of the issuu site? Let me know!

Anna



Tuesday, 10 March 2009

YJS on MySpace

Hurrah!

York Jazz Scene is now on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/yorkjazzscene

I've put a link to the magazine, gig listings, and will aim to gradually spread the word about YJS to as many people as possible. If you use MySpace, be sure to look us up and keep in touch!


Anna

Friday, 6 March 2009

YJS on Jazz in Yorkshire website

On Wednesday at the Black Swan, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Keith Jevons, a bassist who runs a number of jazz nights throughout this end of Yorkshire. We had a nice long chat, and he has been kind as to create a section specifically for York Jazz Scene!

http://jazzinyorkshire.co.uk/default.aspx

Keith endeavours to put as much information about jazz events going on in Yorkshire onto his website, but you need to let him know so he can tell others about it!

Thanks very much Keith, YJS appreciates the help!

Anna

Thursday, 5 March 2009

Tonight's the Night

This is it - tonight the University of York Jazz Orchestra perform with interntional jazz trumpet legend Kenny Wheeler!!

Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD. Starts 7:30pm. Make sure you don't miss it.

If you're reading this after the event, and you were there, what did you think?

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

YJS on VLE

This is only really relevant to students at the University of York, but YJS has been uploaded onto the Virtual Learning Environment http://vle.york.ac.uk/ (thanks to Jenny Doctor for doing this)!

The Head of Music, Jo Wainwright, has apparently sent a copy of the PDF file to every member of staff in the department, HOW EXCITING!! I wonder what they will think of it...Jo also says that he will bring YJS to the next finance meeting to see if any support can be provided for future issues of YJS *crosses fingers*

Monday, 2 March 2009

Issue 1 is OUT!!

Hello everyone!

Great news, after lots of hard work from everyone involved, the first issue is finally DONE and PRINTED!! You would not believe how deliriously happy I am - I have smiling all day, jumping up and down with excitement, and generally feeling like a proud Mum!

This would not have been possible without the assistance and support of everyone who made it possible, so special thanks to:


Becky Thumpston, a fellow-editor who provided valuable instruction in how to use Publisher.

The gentlemen of the Black Swan houseband: Paul Baxter, Dave Cook, James Lancaster and Chris Moore, for putting up with my general harrassment, and allowing themselves to be the first featured band of the magazine.

Matt, Gwen and Toby Postle, who have supported the idea from the word 'go', providing a range of fantastic material, additional editorial checks, proof reading, advice, and friendship which managed to keep me sane.

Zezo Olimpio, who undertook some major editing of his own in order to for his analysis to fit within my pre-set criteria, which he did so magnificently. A good friend and a much-respected teacher, I would thoroughly recommend getting lessons with him (see the poster on the penultimate page for his details).

Rob Lavers, a wonderful friend and musician, for submitting a lovely foreword for YJS, and doing so on quite short notice!

Amy Wray, for her fabulous logo design which brought my sketchy idea to life, and improved it beyond belief!

Becca Lattimer and Hannah Witcomb, for a fun and laughter-filled return to the interviewing process; you will both rock at the Kenny Wheeler gig!

Jonathan Eato, for allowing me to 'grill' him about what Jazz Orchestra is like from an MD's p.o.v.

Tony Priest, for his candid views, and assisting YJS to maintain its community focus, by considering the opinions of those who enjoy listening to jazz and attending gigs.

Vanessa McWilliam, Dave Morecroft and Amy Wray for being willing to share their thoughts about the preparations for the Kenny Wheeler performance.

Michael Brunsden and Aaron Carey, for producing brilliant photographs that have proved vital to the professional look of the publication.

Rosie Carlton-Willis for the Kenny Wheeler/John Taylor posters.

Finally, to my housemates Anna Dougherty, whose suggestion of a logo sparked off the initial ideas that, under the artistic wing of Amy Wray, produced the YJS logo as we now know it; and also Dave Morgan, whose tireless searching for programmes to help the magazine come together often proved successful, and are gratefully appreciated, and for sharing my high and low moments (which are unavoidable, because we happen to be 'neighbours' in our house)!


Much jazzy love,
Anna