Some of us think that this is where the really important stuff takes place. My experience, hearing Tony Oxley with Alan Skidmore, Gordon Beck and Ron Matthewson at the Barry Summer School in 1979, changed my life and made me determined to play jazz. Ever since I have been committed to Summer Schools as an experience of musical community where all kinds of musicians can develop together. If you are seriously interested in the music, do consider enrolling on a course.
There are many such summer schools, naturally I am biased…
Trinity Jazz Summer School
At Trinity College of Music in Greenwich - click here
Course Directors: Dave Wickins and Buster Birch
The Jazz Course has enjoyed a special place in the hearts of British jazz musicians and enthusiasts for over 30 years. Descended from the Barry and Glamorgan Summer Schools founded by Pat Evans, and developed by Tony Oxley and Gordon Beck (alumni of Cecil Taylor and Phil Woods amongst others), the Trinity Jazz Summer School caters for all ages and abilities, from the beginner to professional musician, music teachers through to students attending full-time jazz courses. A broad range of jazz styles is reflected and facilitated by a team which includes some of Britain’s finest jazz musicians, themselves highly experienced and innovative educators.
The tutor team in recent years has included: Chris Batchelor, Nick Smart, Bobby Wellins, Julian Siegel, Martin Speake, Julian Nicholas, Geoff Simkins, Stan Sulzmann, Lee Goodall, Malcolm Earle-Smith, John Paracelli, Dave Cliff, Pete Saberton, Nikki Iles, Liam Noble, Alison Rayner, Dudley Philips, Paula Gardiner, Steve Watts, Dave Hassell, Peter Churchill, Liane Carrol, Iain Mackenzie and Oren Marshall.
Mediterranean Jazz Summer School
Clive Fenner's idyllic course
in the South of France.
For twelve years, since Clive's first Jazz Summer School in France, musicians and singers with a wide range of abilities and experience have joined in learning new musical skills and making new friends. Now, there’s a choice of beautiful surroundings - the South of France or Cuba!
Tutors have included:
Geoff Gascoyne - bass
Liane Carroll - voice/piano
Simon Purcell - piano
Julian Siegel - saxophone
Sophie Bancroft - voice
Alan Barnes - saxophones
Arnie Somogyi - bass
Malcolm Edmonstone - piano
Chris Batchelor - trumpet
Ian Shaw - voice
Martin Speake - saxophone
Nikki Iles - piano
Nia Lynn - voice
Omar Puente - violin
Pete Churchill - voice/piano
Steve Berry
Kate Williams - piano
Rachel Brand - voice
Martin Hathaway - saxophone
Jean Toussaint - saxophone
Mark Lockheart - saxophone
Trudy Kerr - voice
Stan Sulzmann - saxophone
