Thursday 21st September 2023

Dan Lockheart (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute, voice), Alex Hitchcock (tenor saxophone), Torin Davies (guitar), Josh Vadiveloo (bass), Jonno Gaze (drums)

This gig was in association with the 2023 Jazz Central Mentoring Scheme, led by Jazz Midlands and Arnie Somogyi.The scheme supported five recent graduates from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, selected by a panel including Somogyi and various Jazz Midlands promoters, to develop a project under the mentorship of an established jazz musician. The selected participants were as follows, listed with the title of their project and their assigned mentor.

Shiv Singh – ‘Loophole’ with mentor Soweto Kinch  

Lucy Mellenfield – ‘Songs of the Understory’ with mentor Neil Yates

James Owston – ‘Songs from An Imaginary Childhood’ with mentor Trish Clowes

Liam Brennan – ‘Collidescope’ with mentor Laura Jurd

Dan Lockheart – ‘Roots to Leaves’ with Alex Hitchcock

All five participants performed their projects as a band, including their allocated mentor, throughout the weekend of 8-10 September at 1000 Trades in Birmingham. Each project was then performed once again at various Jazz Midlands clubs throughout the West Midlands. This gig was Dan Lockheart’s performance of ‘Roots to Leaves’ at The Marr’s Bar in Worcester.

“This was colourful, intelligent and imaginative music that was well performed by an excellent band.” – Ian Mann