Five Countries Trio

 

Following and furthering the possibilities laid down on New Origins, the Five Countries Trio explores Celtic flavoured Jazz a little deeper with demon bodhran and percussion master Cormac Byrne and nylon-string acoustic guitar virtuoso Zsolt Bende. Look out for gigs later in 2010 after the album release.

 

 

N-Circle Jazz Orchestra: Surroundings

 

The new commision from Manchester Festival will premier at MJF in July 2010. We're hoping other jazz orchestras will have an interest in perfroming this unique 'Antiphonal' suite in future.

 

                     "Neil Yates : New Origins" - the band of the first solo album project.  Celtic influenced jazz exploring the possibilities the "Diddle-Knock" technique, developed by Yates to allow the interpretation of Celtic Piping techniques (the rhythmical rolls, turns and cranns) onto the trumpet and flugelhorn. Featuring the amazing musicianship of Les Chisnall (piano), Stuart McCallum (guitar), Gavin Barras (bass), Andy Hay (drums) and Martin O'Neill (bodhran) it became much more. With modal soundscapes and a wintery celtic flavour the music reflects the beautiful and awesome land/seascape of the North Wales coast where it was recorded in March 2005. Genuinely different but very listenable new music which captures something of our place and time. Look out for a tour coming your way in 2007.

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  Neil Yates: Tarnished Silver Band:  "Sketches of a Northern Town"  

                      

Tarnished Silver Band -a seven piece brass ensemble plus percussion. Commissioned by Manchester Jazz festival 2006 the suite "Sketches of a Northern Town" reflects the changing landscape of the industrial North from the scenes depicted by LS Lowry to present day life in and around the old mills and factories.

With influences taken from the collaborations of Gil Evans and Miles, and more than a nod to the huge brass band traditions still so strong in the North of England, the work involves musicians from these hitherto polar worlds of jazz and brass bands presenting rich evocative compositions and improvisation in an atmospheric textural setting.

The music is brought to life on screen behind the band in the projected visuals work of "VJ" Jo Hinchliffe.

THIS WORK PREMIERED 24 JULY 2006 at the Manchester Jazz Festival, in St Anne's Church, Manchester. Hopefully releasing an album on Carnyx Records in 2007. The project will also appear at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2007.

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