Jazz Workshops

 

The Monday Night Jam Session and Jazz Workshop

The Jazz workshops at Hideaway are designed for those who want to take their playing or singing to the next level, with the help of a professional trio.

The trio’s regular members include pianist Adam Dyer (who has worked with Gregory Porter, Bill Laurance (Snarky Puppy) and Dan Bergland (E.S.T), Eirik Hegdal (Dingobats)), drummer Flavio Li Vigni (Fellow of the RSA who has worked with Greg Hutchinson (Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr), Ameen Saleem (Roy Hargrove), Dave Kikoski (Grammy winner with the Mingus Big Band)) and bassist Jakub Cywinski (Trio Yoga, Julian Costello, David Beebee and Power of the Horns).

Workshop start time 7.30pm (£10 per session)
Jam Session start time 9pm (free entry)

The weeks alternate between workshops for instrumentalists and workshops for singers.

Jam Session: There is an opening set of 2 or 3 tunes from the house band before the stage is opened up to other performers – anyone is welcome to come and play or sing. Drum kit, piano and PA provided.

Please scroll down past this schedule for more details on Workshop structure and content!

16th December - Workshop for Instrumentalists

LADYBIRD (2-5s in different keys)

KEY:C

REAL BOOK: REAL BOOK 1, NEW REAL BOOK 1

Monday 23rd & 30th December THE CLUB IS CLOSED

6th Jan: Singers Workshop
13th Jan: Milestones (New) - Key F (first chord Gm7)
20th Jan: Singers Workshop
27th Jan: Straight No Chaser - Key F
3rd Jan: Singers Workshop
10th Feb: Agua De Beber - Key A minor
17th Feb: Singers Workshop
24th Feb: This I Dig of You - Key Bb
2nd March: Singers Workshop
9th March: If I were a Bell - Key F
16th March: Singers Workshop
23rd March: Maiden Voyage - First chord D7sus
30th March: Singers Workshop
6th April: Someday My Prince Will Come - Key Bb
13th April: Singers Workshop
 

Workshop for Jazz Singers and Songwriters

Bring a song that you have been working on, maybe a jazz or bossa nova standard or possibly even your own composition. If the song is less well known then please ensure that you bring 3 copies of the lead sheet (the melody and chords), so the band can work from that. If you can’t get hold of a lead sheet in the correct key, don’t worry, the band can transpose.

We will play through the song with your vocals and we can suggest:

  • the best key for your voice
  • how to count in, direct and end the performance
  • possible improvements regarding phrasing/ diction/ intonation
  • modifications to your own tune, if necessary/ applicable.

Then we will give you another chance to perform the song with any modifications made.

Depending on the number of singers at any one workshop we may have more or less time to go into detail about interpretation. You will have at least two attempts to perform with the professional trio, and if the performance is of a sufficient standard, you will be invited to perform it at the later jam session, in front of many up and coming and established musicians on London’s jazz scene.

Workshop for Jazz Instrumentalists

Each fortnight there will be a jazz standard chosen in advance, and for the purpose of a particular technical challenge. For example the tune Woody ’n’ You as a vehicle for practising minor 2-5-1s. If you have time, prepare in advance by learning or memorising the melody. There will be lead sheets provided on the day, however.

During the workshop we will spend some time working on the melody, and you will be given the responsibility (if you want it!) to suggest intros/ endings and the tempo or time feel. The theme of each evening will be a particular technical challenge, often regarding the improvisation, and suggestions will be made about how to approach those challenges (scales you can use, guide tones lines, licks and motifs to develop etc.)

You don’t have to turn up to every session, as each is self-contained. However, to benefit fully, regular sessions help you become familiar with the idiom and some of the technical language used and you will start to see links between the skills needed for playing various tunes.

Stick around afterwards for the jam session, where you will have the opportunity to listen to and maybe play with some of the best players on the London jazz scene.

The Band - Regular Members

Adam Dyer - Jazz Piano

Adam started playing jazz in his teens, and this hobby became a passion whilst at university studying Physics. Deciding against a scientific career Adam went on to study jazz at the Guildhall School of Music. A further two years in Scandinavia followed, where he played with many well known players on the Scandinavian Jazz scene, such as Dan Berglund (bass player for E.S.T.), Eirik Hegdal and many others. A chance encounter resulted in his playing with Gregory Porter at the Stockholm Jazz Festival. Returning to London, Adam took up a role in Morley College, where he works as a band leader, arranger and composer. At Morley College, Adam has worked with Bill Laurence (of Snarky Puppy) to create arrangements of Bill’s music for Big Band.

 

 

Flavio Li Vigni - Jazz Drums

Inspired by an encounter with drummer Elvin Jones, Flavio decided to pursue a career in music and moved to Holland to study at The Prince Claus Conservatory where he received his degree in 2006. In 2008 Flavio relocated to London where he obtained a Master Degree in Jazz Performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Leverhulme Trust Scholarship. Flavio has played and recorded, among others, with Greg Hutchinson (Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr) Ameen Saleem (Roy Hargrove), Orchestra Macchina di Suoni featuring Dave Kikoski, Freddy Bryant and David Berkmann. As an educator, Flavio has worked with the Jazz at Lincoln Centre educational team, the Blues and Roots Ensemble and has given workshops in the UK, Italy, China, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania and Albania. Since March 2013 Flavio has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Jakub Cywinski - Double Bass

Jakub is a classically trained Double Bassist, who studied at the Royal College of Music and works in both the classical and jazz worlds. He plays with various London orchestras and with jazz musicians in London and Poland, including Trio Yoga, Julian Costello, David Beebee and Power of the Horns.