Feature: Forthcoming Roundhouse jazz workshop

Published: 09 September 2010
by ANGELA COBBINAH

ONLY a year ago they were a motley group of youngsters of varying musical abilities who had met up for the first time at a jazz workshop in Camden. Most were still at secondary school.

Now they call themselves Jazzphonica, and under the guidance of emerging jazz pianist Leon Michener they have performed at some of London’s leading music venues and festivals. 

At last month’s Canary Wharf Jazz Festival they shared the bill with soul diva Ruby Turner, veteran US saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and acclaimed Mancunian trumpeter Matthew Halsall. 

“The experience of performing at top venues was incredible,” enthuses 15-year-old lead guitarist Daniel McCarthy, who goes to Haverstock School in Chalk Farm. 

The all-day workshop took place every Sunday at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, one of several creative youth projects rolled out by its charitable arm. The only requirement was that you could play an instrument, grade irrelevant, and had an interest in jazz. 

“I didn’t audition anyone,” explains Michener. “They just turned up with their instruments. 

“I figured those who found they couldn’t cope would eventually drop out. But even though some found it difficult in the beginning they stayed with it and developed their talents.” 

Michener has made quite a name for himself on the professional jazz circuit with his avant garde improvisation, and is eager to offer young people the kind of open creative space that he himself thrives on. 

“I jumped at the chance to direct the group as I believe that jazz is an essential music to study if one wants to learn the art of improvisation,” he says.

“There is a general feeling among many jazz musicians that the music does not generally get taught correctly and young people are not exposed to it as much as they should be. We try and give it the educational profile it deserves.”

To this end, some of Britain’s leading jazz musicians have  taken part in workshops to share their skills. 

A year on, says Michener, “there is a strong family spirit present – members learn how to be part of a group rather than just soloists.”

During their gigs, Michener appears to throw caution to the wind by randomly picking on one of the band to lead an improvised piece from scratch “just to keep them on their toes”. But he knows the group’s abilities and their impromptu performance is impressively tight.

Jazzphonica’s quick-fire originality came into its own when they collaborated with the Roundhouse Poetry Collective, another weekly workshop, this one directed by the beat poet Polar Bear.

In Generation Mixtape, held at the Vortex and the Whitechapel Gallery, the band provided the mood music for two evenings of bittersweet performance poetry about London life. The result was a beautiful fusion of spoken word and jazz.

“You never know what to expect when you get on the stage – it is challenging but fun at the same time,” smiles 14-year-old Isaac Kwasi, one of Jazzphonica’s two pianists.

For Michener, who believes every schoolchild should be offered free instrumental tuition in whatever instrument they choose, the workshop first and foremost performs an important social function.  

“One of music’s greatest assets,” he says, “is its ability to bring young people together.”

What better than to come together and play live music?

• Leon Michener is appearing in Twisted Lounge as part of the Kings Place Festival, York Way, King’s Cross, on Saturday

• This year’s Roundhouse jazz workshop begins next month; for more details contact Roundhouse Studios on 0207 428 8477