New Northern: supporting the next generation at Scarborough Jazz
Amon Ra Collective from Leeds playing at Scarborough Jazz, February 2025
In our third New Northern feature we travel across to the east coast of Yorkshire and Scarborough Jazz to catch up with promoter Bob Walker. Bob explained how their New Northern bursary had been used to support fees for emerging artists presented through their long standing schemes Scarborough Jazz Introduces and New Jazz Generation.
“The first gig in October 204 featured the Jascha Bingham Trio, which was our first gig post the Scarborough Jazz Festival. It was a truly inspiring night from three great young players - Jascha is very much one to watch as he seems to be making quite an impression within the jazz world.
The second gig in February 2025 was very special in that we ran it on an alternative night to our regular club nights. This allowed us to reach out to a different audience. We were very pleased with the turnout, which was probably 40% Scarborough Jazz regulars and 60% of new faces, some primarily there to support band members they knew. It certainly generated a lot of interest in Scarborough Jazz, which we hope will lead to a boost, especially amongst the younger attendees, on our regular nights. Our New Jazz Generation and SJ Introduces schemes have already been successful along these lines.
“This is a band I expect to see at festivals sometime soon. They certainly deserve a bigger stage”
The gig featured three acts, all of whom brought something fresh and exciting to the table. Theo Kendall (A winner of a BBC Young Composer award) kicked off proceedings with his own songs featuring guitar (effected and looped) and vocals. A local Scarborough band nurtured on our NJG scheme The Hopeless Causes followed Theo with a set of improvised interpretations of Nick Drake songs. This trio of guitar, bass and drums proved a hit with the audience, who were fully engaged for the hour long set.
The night concluded with the mighty Amon Ra Collective from Leeds, who played a full 80 minute set of exploratory music influenced by jazz, funk, rock, Latin, soul, afrobeat and electronica. This was a truly engaging set presented with a maturity way beyond the age of the players. Trumpet player and leader Sam Ehret-Pickett was joined on the front line by an alto sax and a baritone sax, doubling bass clarinet and flute. They were backed up by a wonderfully tight rhythm section of piano, bass, guitar and drums (with occasional vocals from the guitarist). An extra element of interest was provided by samples/electronica - at times musically interactive and, at others, very much as ‘musique concrete’. This is a band I expect to see at festivals sometime soon. They certainly deserve a bigger stage”. Bob Walker