New location: from March 2010: WHELLEY EX-SERVICEMEN'S CLUB, VAUXHALL RD, WIGAN, WN1 3LU
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New location: from March 2010: WHELLEY EX-SERVICEMEN'S CLUB, VAUXHALL RD, WIGAN, WN1 3LU
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FINAL LOWTON CONCERT: BBQ + WYJO (FEB 28TH)
On February 28th we welcomed the talented young BBQ (Brownfield-Byrne Quintet), supported by WYJO for our final Jazz Club session at Lowton Civic Hall. It is with regret that we leave Lowton, where we have established a thriving base since our 'exile' from Wigan, but the need to plan for the future made it impossible to remain at a venue which the authority intends to close in the near future. It was wonderful to see such a huge turnout, and both BBQ and our own WYJO put on a wonderful show. More photos from the event can be viewed by clicking here, or by navigating via the photos menu.
Our first regular concert at Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club, is on March 28th, and we are delighted to welcome the Doncaster Jazz Orchestra, directed by John Ellis. On April 25th, we welcome Swingshift Big band with their special guest Simon Spillett, playing the big band music of Tubby Hayes. On May 30th, Steve Parry's Big Band From Hell will guarantee high quality exciting big band jazz. On June 27th, our final session of the 2009-10 season, we present our own senior band, Wigan Jazz Club Big Band, with a programme entitled "Blues, Ballads and Bossa Nova". Details of all these concerts can be found on our What's On page, with web links where available.
CRYPTIC PUZZLE - WHAT'S THE ALBUM? Once again, you are invited to solve our cryptic puzzle. We want you to try and identify the title of a classic Jazz album. As usual there will be a crossword-style clue, and as an extra visual clue there will be a 'jigsaw piece' of the cover art. There are no prizes, but please send in your solution (album title and artist please) by email to wigan.jazz@virgin.net, and I'll let you know if you are correct. The answer will be given here next week. OK, here we go... Clue: A musical gift, but not on Mother's Day! (4,
3, 2, 6) Good luck!
LAST WEEK'S SOLUTION: Clue: Cheesy octet mixes bran for maritime show (7, 2, 3, 3)
(An anagram of cheesy, octet and bran)
GRAMMY WINNERS AND NOMINEES
TV and press coverage of the recent Grammy Awards concentrated on pop artists, but of course Grammy's are awarded in many musical categories, notably Jazz. This link takes you to a full list of Jazz Grammy winners and nominees (and from there to other categories).
WHAT'S NEW MAGAZINE FROM SANDY BROWN JAZZ We are happy to draw your attention to "What's New", the free monthly internet jazz magazine from the Sandy Brown Jazz website. To check it out, you can click on the link below: http://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/whatsnew.html
JANUARY JAZZ CLUB AT LOWTON: BRASS JAW + WYJO
For our penultimate Jazz Club session at Lowton Civic Hall today (31st), we welcomed the critically acclaimed Brass Jaw - a virtuoso quartet comprised of three saxes and a trumpet. They proved to be innovative, entertaining and original, bringing something different to our Sunday sessions. They were ably supported by the continually improving Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. The finale of the afternoon was when Brass Jaw combined with WYJO to display the fruits of their intensive rehearsal earlier in the day. Photos from this event are now online - click here to see them or use the photos menu to access our complete picture archive.
WYJO @ WHELLEY - REPORT AND PICTURES
Sunday January 17th saw a special Jazz Club session, a 'dry run' for our new home. As many will be aware, our present base at Lowton will be closed sometime in 2010, and after an exhaustive search for a new venue we have concluded that the Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club seems to provide an excellent alternative, with the added benefit of being back in Wigan. The concert featured Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra and the aim was to allow everyone to experience the new venue for our club. It was wonderful to see so many of our 'regulars' there, and the general impression seemed to be positive, especially with regard to the suitability of the room and the general feeling that it was likely to make a good 'home' . If you have any comments on the venue, especially if you were at the concert, please email them to wigan.jazz@virgin.net . Photos of the venue and performers are now online - click here to view them. Links to maps and directions to the venue are below, but for those who know Wigan, it is just up the hill from Tesco (the former Central Park), at 180 Vauxhall Road, Wigan, WN1 3LU. Our regular monthly sessions move to Whelley from March. Directions/map for Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club (as recommended by Google maps) from M6 Junction 25 (northbound) from M6 Junction 26 From M6 Junction 27 from M61 Junction 6 from M61 Junction 5 from Wigan North-Western Rail Station (on foot)
CHRISTMAS JAZZ CLUB - WYJO/WYBB/WSSB
Our Christmas Jazz Club, at Lowton Civic Hall on Tuesday 29th January, was the now-traditional family day out, a perfect antidote to snow, sales and seasonal telly. Once again all three of Wigan's Youth bands were featured - Wigan Schools Swing Band, Wigan Youth Big Band (both directed by Andy Morel) and Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (directed by Ian Darrington). The standard of musicianship was, as usual, excellent - and demonstrated once again that the next generation of young Wigan musicians will be ready to step up to the ranks of WYJO when the present members move on. Thanks to all the families who supported their children and made the occasion a great success. Pictures of all three bands are online - click here to see them.
NOVEMBER JAZZ CLUB: MAGIC HAT & W.Y.J.O.
Our November Jazz Club at Lowton featured two contrasting bands. Steve Chadwick's exciting Manchester-based five-piece, Magic Hat Ensemble, showed just why they have built up such a strong reputation on live appearances throughout the UK, with some dynamic virtuoso playing. Our own Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra made their first club appearance in their latest line-up, and it is clear that once again Ian has assembled a group of talented young players capable of carrying on the proud WYJO name. Pictures of both bands can be found here, or navigate via the photos menu to see pictures from all of our concerts in recent years.
OCTOBER JAZZ CLUB: BIG BAND THEORY
Summer time may have ended, autumn is definitely upon us, but our guests on Sunday October 25th, Big Band Theory, banished any seasonal blues with an outstanding performance. Led by Tez Smith, well-known for his work with High Brass, this fairly new addition to the north-west big band scene showed just why they made such an impression in their town centre performance during the Jazz Festival. Their superb ensemble playing and soloing was clearly appreciated by the sizeable audience at Lowton, and they will surely be back at the club before too long. Pictures from the event are now online - click here to see them, or navigate via the Photos menu.
SEPTEMBER JAZZ CLUB: STRATHCLYDE Y.J.O.
We kicked off our new season on Sunday 27th September with a welcome visit from the superb STRATHCLYDE YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA, directed by Stewart Forbes. Despite the traffic (and catering) problems caused by a mass gathering of scooter riders in the car park, the band and a large audience eventually found their way into the hall and SYJO provided an excellent afternoon's entertainment; Stewart led the band through a demanding and varied programme, allowing them to display a high standard of ensemble playing and some excellent soloing. Pictures from the show are now online - to see them click here - or navigate via the Photos link to see these and previous photos.
2008-09 PHOTO ARCHIVE All the photos from last season can now be accessed on one page. Click here to see them or use the Photos link to find all of the archived photos from previous years.
The Jazz Orchestra followed their successful appearance at the 2009 Jazz Festival with a tour of Ireland. Despite the weather, the tour was a huge success, both musically and socially. We look forward to hearing the details at future Jazz Clubs. A small WYJO group played at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, on behalf of Manchester Airport (major sponsor of the Jazz Festival). WYJO recorded a new CD in November, featuring the band that toured Ireland playing music featured on the tour. It should be available in time for the Jazz Festival in July 2010.
'BEST OF WYJO' (DOUBLE CD) OUT NOW
If you wish to receive our email updates, you can subscribe to our Emailing List by contacting wigan.jazz@virgin.net .
LINKS & CONTACTS Our Links & Contacts page has contact details for Wigan Jazz Club, WYJO, WJCBB and Wigan International Jazz Festival. In addition, there is now a growing list of links to local, national and international jazz-related websites, as well as online jazz radio stations. We welcome your suggestions for suitable links to add to the list - email them to wigan.jazz@virgin.net (Please note that we are not responsible for the content of external websites).
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Wigan Jazz Club is the home of
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CONCERT BY THE SEA by Errol Garner 
W.Y.J.O. GIGS
and
