INSIDE THIS BOOKLET p3 p4 p5 p6
Introduction Something is starting to happen Aubrey Logan, Fiona Ross Kat Browning, Helena Summerfield p7 Teena Lyle, Alex Clarke p8 Helen Pillinger, Maja Bugge p9 Sonia Mellor, Shirley Tetteh
p10 Ellen Lewis, Nikki Iles p11 Wendy Kirkland, Olivia Moore p12 Suzanne Fonseca, Jilly Jarman, Jemma Freese p13 Alison James, Kim Macari, Sunna Gunnlaugs p14 Practise Tips p15 10 things to remember, jazz reportoire
Jazz Camp for Girls 2019 has been made possible with funding from Ronnie Scotts Charitable Foundation and Arts Council England.
Partners: Sheffield Music Hub, Rotherham Music Service, Blue Jam Arts, Trafford Music Service, Lancashire Music Service, University of Huddersfield (supported by Marsden Jazz Festival and Musica Kirklees).
Jazz North is a registered charity and the sector support agency for jazz in the north of England. jazznorth.org Cover: Imogen Iles reacting to her dad playing jazz ( See Nikki Iles p10)
© Per Ole Hagen Hedvig Mollestad and Ellen Brekkenv, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, Norway
THE WORLD OF JAZZ HAS ALWAYS BEEN MALE DOMINATED BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE EXCITING TIME TO BE A YOUNG, FEMALE JAZZ MUSICIAN! We hope that you enjoy your Jazz Camp for Girls experience. We want you to leave feeling inspired and empowered, ready to continue on your journey into the world of improvisation. This handbook contains ‘snapshot’ biographies of 21 jazz musicians that we hope you will enjoy reading. Explore their websites, look them up on YouTube and Spotify, download their music, buy their CDs, go and hear them playing live in concert. These amazing women are all out there playing jazz music and best of all, they want you to do it too! Enjoy your day, make friends and make music! Helena Summerfield Project leader Jazz North
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New Conception of Jazz Norway
Something is starting to happen... Jazz Danmark’s
2018 Berklee College of Music,
Jazz Camp for Girls is now in its sixth
Boston, USA launches an Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice to celebrate the contributions that women have made to the history of jazz. They have a playlist that asks: What would jazz sound like in a culture without patriarchy?
year and takes place in 16 cities over one week in February. We’ve been inspired by our friends in Denmark to start our own UK camps and this is the first year. 2017 UK’s PRS (Performing Rights Society) Foundation leads the Keychange initiative to encourage
2018 Europe Jazz Network (EJN)
Members of EJN overwhelmingly support the adoption of a new manifesto on Gender Balance in Jazz and Creative Music.
music festivals to sign up to a ’50:50 gender balance pledge’ by 2022. Several jazz festivals including the Cheltenham, Manchester and London jazz festivals have made this pledge to show that they are serious in their commitment to gender equality in addition to offering showcasing opportunities for female talent.
In the UK Issie Barrett’s Interchange Dectet is an exciting new band comprising innovative award-winning composers and improvisers.
Find links at jazznorth.org/jazz-camp-for-girls-2019/resources Password: JCFG2019
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JAZZ CAMP ROLE MODELS
We invited musicians from the international jazz scene to tell us why they liked jazz, what advice they could pass on, and who were their role models. They also gave us a ‘throw back’ image from when they were your age.
Aubrey Logan aubreylogan.com
“I enjoy the structure of a chord progression, a backbeat, and a rhythmic pattern. But I also enjoy the freedom within that structure. Improvising over jazz and contemporary music gives me both!” “Take every bit of instruction you get, and go practice with it further. Take it home with you and keep at it.” My role models: Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Diane Schuur. And also many of my peers of today! Bria Skonberg, Natalie Cressman, Teri Lyne Carrinton.
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Fiona Ross fionaross.co.uk
“Jazz gives me the freedom to be who I am and not be bound by anything. It is an amazing environment to be in and around.”
“Be yourself and love every minute of it.” My role models: Hiromi, Dee
Dee Bridgewater, Esperanza Spalding, Billie Holiday, Maxine Gordon.
Kat Browning teajam.live/blog
“I enjoy being able to express myself as an individual; being able to improvise is like having a second voice.”
Helena Summerfield hsqsax.org.uk
“Barbara Thompson was my role model when growing up. My mum took me to hear her band Paraphernalia when I was 12 years old. I was completely blown away by this amazing female saxophonist. I also loved the fact that she played jazz on the recorder.”
“Play as much as you can, listen even more than that and surround yourself with people and musicians who also listen to you.” “You and what you do are always enough, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise; your ideas are your voice your voice is always worth hearing!”
“I love the element of the unknown when playing jazz and improvised music as no two performances of one piece will sound exactly the same.”
My role models: Ella Fitzgerald,
Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, Rickie Lee Jones, Kathy Dyson.
“Instrumentalists and vocalists alike can learn a lot from artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday - their phrasing and subtle inflections, as well as their strength and presence on stage in such a male-dominated industry.” Alex Clarke 6
Alex Clarke alexclarkejazz.co.uk
Teena Lyle (google Teena Lyle + Van Morrison)
“Jazz allows me to express myself musically in my most authentic and deep form.”
“Don’t try to copy anyone else. Be inspired by others but your own fingerprint is unique to you! Create the sound YOU alone want to produce.” My role models: Ella, Annie
Whitehead, Michele Drees, Tina May, Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Norma Winstone.
Enjoy every note!
“I love being able to express my personal creative voice whilst bouncing off the ideas of the other musicians to create the most cohesive music possible. Most importantly, I enjoy myself whilst I’m doing it!” “People can get so absorbed in the technicalities of playing, that they forget to listen to what’s going on around them and to play from their heart. If everyone on stage is having a great time together, not only does the audience enjoy watching the performance more, but the music itself benefits from this group connection and energy.”
“Never feel concerned or intimidated by the fact that you’re currently in the minority. When you’re playing with others, the music always come first; not the gender.” “Absorb as much as you can from other musicians - regardless of their gender throw all your effort into developing your playing, and ultimately you will be one of the successful women who other jazz musicians can look up to.” 7
Helen Pillinger
Maja Bugge
“It is fun to do, there is no wrong or right way to play things. I can break the rules and I enjoy creating new music with good friends.”
“Jazz and improvisation gives me a freedom that I can’t seem to find anywhere else. I have met so many creative wonderful musicians through my work with jazz and it has challenged me but also given me the possibility to explore my instrument in new ways.”
majabugge.com
hsqsax.org.uk
“Just keep improvising!” My role models: Geri Allen, Nikki Iles, Ella Fitzgerald, Tori freestone, Carla Bley, Laura Jurd, Nina Simone, Mary Lou Williams.
“Leave all ideas of what is right and wrong behind. Explore your instrument and tell yourself you are the boss, you can make the decisions. Have fun!”
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“I am from Norway and my big role model was the singing teacher who also did a lot of improvisation. Also singers like Nina Simone and Radka Toneff.”
Shirley Tetteh nerijamusic.com
“You’ll never get bored studying jazz. There’s always something to learn and somewhere to go - even if you managed to ‘learn everything’, the onus would perhaps be on you to discover something new.”
Sonia Mellor rotherhammusic.co.uk “I like being able to put my trumpet ‘voice’ to music and to interact with others.” “Go for it! Never be afraid to try something new. That’s the way to grow.” My role models: Kathy Stobart, Sheila E, Carla Bley, Barbara Thompson, Kiku Collins.
“Connect to your love of playing over the fear of improvising. People often say things like ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’, and I think that works for some, but for plenty it doesn’t - if that doesn’t work for you, then I would say connect to the feeling you get when you play, and your desire to express yourself.” “Courage I think can also come from a desire to connect, be that through your instrument or anything else.” A lot of my peers are my role models! People like Sheila Maurice-Grey, Nubya Garcia, Cassie Kinoshi... basically most of ‘Nerija’ and a lot of the ‘SEED Ensemble’. 9
Nikki Iles
Ellen Lewis
nikkiiles.co.uk
thesessionsofmarch.com/AGBEKO.asp
“I couldn’t find an early photo of me, so here is my daughter and her reaction to her dad playing jazz piano
“I love playing jazz because it's challenging, fun and freeing.”
Improvising is a team effort, creative, spontaneous,fun and sometimes dangerous - in a good way!!!!
“Persevere, be creative and LISTEN to as much music as you can - this is just as important as practice! :)”
Jazz camp is a great opportunity to meet other young players to create music that’s about you and your fellow team mates!”
My role models: Sarah Vaughan, Ella
Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Nubya Garcia, Esperanza Spalding, Alice Coltrane, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Nai Palm, Lil Hardin, Bessie Smith. Shirley Horn, Gretchen Parlato, Dorothy Ashby.
“Don’t wait until you think you understand jazz before you dive in.”
“Respect tradition but don’t be afraid to break the rules!”
My role models: Gerri Allen, Norma
Winstone, Joanne Brackeen, Shirley Horn, Maria Schneider, Christine Jenson, Carla Bley, Maria Pia De Vito, Mary Lou Williams.
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Wendy Kirkland
Olivia Moore
wendykirkland.com
www.oliviolin.com
“Connecting with other musicians but still having freedom to be yourself within the music you play together.”
“It is challenging, interactive and fun! It’s never the same twice.” “Never give up, keep trying, don’t let others’ prejudices and ignorance put you off!”
“Follow your heart and give yourself the space to grow.”
My role models: Shirley Horn, Eliane
My role models: Alice Zawadzki and
Elias, Blossom Dearie, Patrice Rushen, Nikki Iles.
Naadia Sheriff naadiasheriff.com
Shirley Smart.
“Playing jazz is expressive, collaborative and fun.”
“Practise hard. Take every opportunity to play. Don’t worry if you feel shy, give it a go and remember not to take yourself too seriously. Support one another and listen listen listen. Make friends, have a laugh and take away a list of people you want to check out and listen to.” My role models: Nikki Iles, Geri Allen, Julie Walkington. 11
Jilly Jarman jillyjarman.co.uk
“I’m a composer and my favourite thing to do is write instant music with people who inspire me.” “There will be things you can do that you take for granted that might have nothing to do with playing music, like saying the alphabet backwards quickly, catching a ball with either hand or making up jokes - bring all your talents into your music - you will be amazed at how useful some skills can be when making up music with other people.”
Suzanne Fonseca jazznorthwest.co.uk/fons.htm
“I enjoy playing improvised jazz because every performance is different depending on who you are playing with, what mood you are in, the ambience of where you are playing.”
My role model: Nina Simone
“Don’t be scared to have a go. Playing rubbish with confidence is more convincing than playing the right notes timidly!”
Jemma Freese jfrisco.com
“I get to play my emotions; I get to create sounds I never would have tried to or knew existed; I get to play songs differently each time and improvising is full of surprises.”
My role models: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Rosemary Cloony, Diana Krall.
“I thought I wasn’t ‘good’ enough to play jazz, but it’s not about how ‘good’ you are it’s about how much you give to the song when you play and it’s about how passionate you are about the music.”
“You don’t have to fill every bar with notes - gaps are good.”
“Improvising doesn’t have to be complicated or crazy, it just has to come from yourself.”
My role models: Nina Simone, Gretchen Parlato.
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Alison James alison-james.com
“Freedom to explore musical harmony and go with the flow.” “Be yourself - no one else can be.” My role models: Ella F, Carole
Kidd, Diane Schuur, Diana Karl, Nina Simone, Billie H, Madeleine Peyroux, Carmen McRae, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin.
Kim Macari
Sunna Gunnlaugs
“I believe in improvisation as a tool for empowerment and creative expression.”
“Playing music brings me joy and makes me feel good kind of like a good meditation. I also enjoy interacting positively with other people.”
kimmacari.wordpress.com
sunnagunnlaugs.com
“Surround yourselves with brilliant people, immerse yourself in art as broadly as you can - all genres of music, literature, visual art, theatre.”
“Be yourself, make mistakes because then you learn, go for it, make friends and have fun.”
My role models: Ingrid Jensen,
“I admire Allison Miller, Angelika Niescier and Julia Hülsmann of my contemporaries.
Laurie Frink, Maria Schneider, Nadja Noorhuis, Allison Miller, Geri Allen, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Anat Cohen, Nikki Iles, Aviva Endean, Maggie Nicola, Una McGlone, Dee Byrne, Cath Roberts, Amy Pearce, Martel Ollerenshaw, Jill Rodger.
I love Ella Fitzgerald, Hazel Scott was amazing and I really admire all the other women who have struggled to stay on the jazz scene in the past when women were not really that welcome there.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask people for help or guidance.” 13
Practise tips
Online Resources: jazznorth.org/jazz-camp-for-girls-2019/resources Password: JCFG2019
Remember progress comes in small steps - don’t expect to sound like Ella Fitzgerald or Shelia E straight away!
Listen
Listen to recordings of the music that you are learning - you will find almost everything online on YouTube or Spotify. This will help you to learn “how the music goes” in terms of rhythm and pitch. What do you think of the performer’s tone (sound) and their interpretation of the piece? Not sure where to start? Try the Jazz Camp Spotify playlist featuring many of the role model artists mentioned by our contributors.
Compose
Compose your own music either by making up your own melodies or try creating a chord sequence then compose a melody to fit over the top. Sing your ideas and then try them out on your instrument.
Technique
In the same way that an athlete warms up their body before a race, warm up your instrument at the start of your practise session with long notes, scales and arpeggios (sorry, they are really important!) then move on to your pieces. Studies in all styles are great for improving your technique.
Develop your aural skills
Find your voice
Not just in an ABRSM exam sense but try and learn to play a melody by ear (aurally). If you are learning a jazz standard try to play the chord sequence on the piano, if you can’t manage two hands then just play the bass line and sing the melody over the top. Listen to how 7th chords sound different e.g. a major 7th sounds ‘brighter’ than a minor 7th. Try learning to sing along with a solo from a musician that you admire.
Ask yourself what you like and don’t like about a certain performance, it will help you to find your own musical voice. In the same way, listen to yourself – are you producing a consistent tone? Do you like the sound that you are making? Is it too harsh, too mellow, is it suitable for the style of music that you are playing? Experiment with using more or less vibrato, exaggerate your dynamics and articulations. Think, would I like to listen to me?
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Ingrid Jensen
The other essential part of learning to play jazz is going to see it live! Watch how the performers interact with each other, listen to their use of rhythm and pitch when supporting each other and when soloing. How did the music make you you feel? Was there a tune you’d like to learn?
10 things to remember when improvising 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Relax Enjoy the creative experience Try starting with rhythmic and then move on to melodic improvisation Use repetition – if a riff sounds good, play it again! Experiment with using displacement – play the same riff but start it on a different beat Maintain a steady pulse – feel the music internally – use movement to internalise the ‘groove’ 7. Leave space – silence is a valid choice within a solo 8. Use varied rhythms – both ‘easy’ and ‘hard’ 9. Use a variety of articulations, dynamics and effects e.g. bends and slides to add interest to your solos
10. Don’t be afraid to experiment - remember “mistakes are cool” * Richard Michael, jazz educator
Good tunes for beginner improvisers C Jam Blues – Duke Ellington Blues By Five – Red Garland Mo’ Better Blues – Bill Lee Short Stop – Shorty Rogers Sonnymoon For Two – Sonny Rollins Ran Kan Kan Or Oye Como Va – Tito Puente Tequila – The Champs Old Joe Clarke – Traditional
Then move onto Footprints – Wayne Shorter Summertime – George Gershwin Cantaloupe Island – Herbie Hancock Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock Impressions – John Coltrane So What – Miles Davis Blue Moon – Richard Rodgers
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Advice from role model supporters from the international jazz scene.
BACK COVER
Thank you to our partners and funders for making this project possible.
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION