Wisdom and tips from professional musicians at Band on the Wall.
Take your playing to the next level! Explore the videos below featuring artists from around the world and get tips on everything from piano technique, to trumpet phrases, and jazz bass…
Robert Mitchell: Piano Advice and Soundcheck Chat
Ahead of his ‘Black Notes from the Deep’ performance with Courtney Pine and Omar at Band on the Wall, we caught up with bassist Vidal Montgomery to discuss his technique, and to get some tips for new musicians.
Thumbnail photo: R Kaby
Vidal Montgomery: Bass Advice and Soundcheck Chat
Ahead of his ‘Black Notes from the Deep’ performance with Courtney Pine and Omar at Band on the Wall, we caught up with bassist Vidal Montgomery to discuss his technique, and to get some tips for new musicians.
Robert Fordjour: Drumming Advice and Soundcheck Chat
Ahead of his ‘Black Notes from the Deep’ performance with Courtney Pine and Omar at Band on the Wall, we caught up with drummer Robert Fordjour to discuss his technique, and to get some tips for new musicians.
Omar: Soundcheck Chat
Ahead of his ‘Black Notes from the Deep’ performance with Courtney Pine at Band on the Wall, we caught up with neo-soul vocalist Omar Lye-Fook to discuss his singing methods and get some tips for new musicians.
Courtney Pine: Soundcheck Chat
Ahead of his ‘Black Notes from the Deep’ performance with Omar, we caught up with jazz saxophone legend Courtney Pine to discuss playing tea unique and get some tips for new musicians.
We Face Forward: Contemporary Art and Music from West Africa
Band on the Wall presented a series of films about African music concerts which took place in Manchester from June to September, called We Face Forward, including AfroCubism. AfroCubism was a project which was first conceived in 1996. The plan was to bring Cuban musicians and their Malian counterparts together to record in Havana and explore their shared musical history. But the Malians didn’t make it to Cuba and so an exclusively Cuban album was recorded instead and so began the legend that became the multi-million selling Buena Vista Social Club.
Hackney Colliery Band’s Steve Pretty on Trumpet Phrases
Steve Pretty of Hackney Colliery Band talks us through one of his favourite trumpet phrases, its possible derivation from jazz influences and its use within his soloing with Hackney Colliery Band.
Egypt 80 Musical Director Dele Sosimi Live and In Conversation
Since his early discovery as a 16-year old keyboardist by world-famous Fela Kuti, who brought him into his band Egypt 80, Dele Sosimi rose to prominence as musical director of the 30 piece band during the 80s and 90s. Whilst at the helm he hatched a plan for a new more aggressive sound, featuring shorter songs and tighter arrangements with Fela’s son Femi Kuti. The result was the band Positive Force, with whom he toured globally for a decade, honing his craft and exploring all the richness of this amazing music.
Sam Sharp’s Tech Rundown (Introducing Live)
Sam Sharp, aka. Lossy is a producer and saxophonist with Introducing Live, who came to Band on the Wall to play DJ Shadow’s seminal album Endtroducing, in its entirety, completely live. Sam walked us through his tech setup, which enables to him to manipulate the sound of his saxophone.
Rob Mitchell (Abstract Orchestra) discusses the Akai MPC-1000
Rob Mitchell, leader of the Abstract Orchestra, discusses how he uses Akai’s MPC 1000 on the road to bring their arrangements of J Dilla to life.
Nick Semrad (Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles) Demonstrates Aftertouch
Nick Semrad, who plays keyboards and synths with the Cory Henry-led Funk Apostles, shows us how he programmes the Dave Smith Prophet 08 for optimal use of its filter cutoff and aftertouch effects and explains how this has developed with the music.
Spiritual Jazz Inspiration with Nat Birchall
Saxophonist, composer and band leader Nat Birchall sits down to discuss five outstanding records from his collection that have influenced his directions in music and rank among his all-time favourites. In the interview, he talks us through the music of John Coltrane and Clifford Jordan, Count Ossie and Prince Buster, all pioneers in their respective fields who followed singular visions of music outcomes. Though differing in sound and style, the records share a similarity in their spiritual nature, something identifiable in Birchall’s music.
Martin Taylor Demonstrates Counterpoint Finger-Style Guitar
Guitarist Martin Taylor has been playing professionally for forty five years and is regarded as one of the finest, jazz-rooted guitarists around. He was influenced by Django Reinhardt and played with Stephane Grappelli on his way to establishing his own, unique guitar style, which developed the established chord-melody styles into a more fluid and expressive playing style.
Here, Martin explains how he made those developments and how he teaches his students, step by step, to achieve the same results.
Magnus Öström on Drum Delay
Drummer and composer Magnus Öström discusses how to play the drums and how to introduce new sounds to the instrument.
Chris Morrissey on Jazz Bass Improvisation
Chris Morrissey of the Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet discusses his approach to playing upright bass with the quartet, including his improvisational tendencies and the influence of players like Larry Grenadier and Ron Carter on his playing style.