info and links...





Gigs for 2024


9 October 2030-2230
w Mark Chandler (trumpet)
Head of Steam, Huddersfield

28 October 2030-2300
Mike Hall Trio w Andy Hulme and Ben Wiltshire
Streetbridge Inn, Failsworth

1 November 2000-2230
with Jenni Malloi Trio
Lairgate, Beverley, Yorkshire

3 November 1200 and 1515
giving 2 jazz workshops at RNCM Sax Day
RNCM Manchester

17 November 1500-1730
Duo w Andrzej Baranak
Saison, West Didsbury

24 November 1300-1530
Jack Yerkess Big Band
Wigan Jazz Club
Shelley ex-servicemens Club

24 November 2000-2300
Mike Hall quartet feat Richard Wetherall
The Carlton Club
Carlton Road, Whalley Range, Mcr

6 December
Manchester Jazz Orchestra
Blackpool

9 December 2030-2300
w Robin Dewhurst Trio
Streetbridge Inn, Failsworth

22 December 2000-2200
Mike Hall quartet feat Andrzej Baranek, Ed Harrison and Gaz Hughes
The Moor Club
35 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport



Gigs for 2025


23 January 2000-2200
w Andrzej Baranak trio
Alsager Country and Golf Club

25 January 2000
Darren Lloyd Quintet
Bollington Arts Centre

11 March 2030
Mike Hall's BOPLICITY
Morley Green
Wilmslow

8 April 1900-2100
Mike Hall's BOPLICITY
Carrington Lane Church
Ashton-on-Mersey




My recent article in the CASS (Clarinet and Saxophone Society UK) magazine



Two Jazz Saxophone Etudes


click here for resources page


Mike Hall Quartet: "Legends of the Tenor Saxophone"
Quartet set highlighting some of the key exponents of the tenor saxophone

Mike Hall/ Andy Hulme duo
Acoustic, virtuosic and energetic... Bossas, Ballads and Bebop!

Boplicity
Octet (5 horns + rhythms) playing music including:
  • West Coast style 'cool' jazz
  • Rearrangement of Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
  • Libertango, Spain(Corea) etc

  • The Messengers
    Quintet featuring Steve Waterman

    The Felonious Monks
    12 piece ensemble playing original material commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival in 2013 (studio CD available)
    click here for more information and to buy CD

    Crystal
    7 piece ensemble playing my original compositions soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, cello, paino, bass, percussion, vibraphone

    Quadratus
    Mike Hall Quartet plus string quartet

    Mike Hall's Boplicity...

    Boplicity in concert...

    in duo with Dan Whieldon...

    clip from Felonious Monks...

    with Sax Assault...


    For 25 years I had the privilege to teach the subjects that I am most passionate about; jazz, big band and improvisation.
    In particular, I was musical and artistic director of the RNCM big band, a major college ensemble.


    Guests with the RNCM Big Band since I began directing

  • Gerard Presencer (Oct 1999)
  • Nigel Hitchcock (Mar 2000)

  • John Dankworth (Nov 2000)
  • Ed Thigpen (Dec 2000)
  • Tim Garland (May 2001)

  • Dave O’Higgins (Nov 2001)
  • Digby Fairweather (Dec 2001)
  • Steve Waterman (Feb 2002)
  • Stan Tracy (Mar 2002)
  • Lee Gibson (May 2002)
  • Alan Ganley (Jun 2002)

  • Bob Mintzer (Nov 2002)
  • Don Lusher (Dec 2002)
  • Paul Newton (Feb 2003)
  • Tina May (May 2003)
  • John Wilson (Jun 2003)

  • Jiggs Whiggam (Nov 2003)
  • Ken Peplowski (Dec 2003)
  • Birger Sulsbruck (Feb 2004)
  • Julian Joseph (May 2004)
  • John Dankworth (July 2004)

  • Dave O Higgins and Julian Arguelles (Nov 2004)
  • John Wilson (Dec 2004)
  • John Warren with Steve Waterman (Jan 2005)
  • Anita Wardell (May 2005)
  • Andy Sheppard (July 2005)

  • Bob Mintzer (Nov 2005)
  • Pete Long (Ellington Night) (Dec 2005)
  • Matthew Herbert and Pete Wraight (Feb 2006)
  • Stan Sulzmann (May 2006)
  • Victor Mendoza (MD: Clark Rundell) (July 2006)

  • Tim Garland (Nov2006)
  • Digby Fairweather (Dec 2006)
  • Dennis Rollins (Jan 2007)
  • Jacqui Dankworth (May 2007)
  • Alex Wilson (July 2007)

  • Huw Warren (Oct 2007)
  • Ellington Sacred Music with Tina May (Dec 2007)
  • Mark Nightingale (Jan 2008)
  • Gerard Presencer (May 2008)
  • Colin Towns (July 2008)

  • Chris Potter (Nov 2008)
  • Quincy Jones night with Pete Long (Dec 2008)
  • Birger Sulsbruck (Jan 2009)
  • Norma Winstone (March 2009)
  • John Dankworth (June 2009)

  • Nikki Iles (Nov 2009)
  • Count Basie night with Alan Barnes (Dec 2009)
  • Steely Dan night with Mike Walker (Jan 2010)
  • Jiggs Whigham (March 2010)
  • Alex Wilson (June 2010)

  • John Taylor (Nov 2010)
  • Pete Long (Dec 2010)
  • Laurence Cottle (Feb 2011)
  • Gwilym Simcock (Apr 2011)
  • Guy Barker/Martin Taylor (July 2011)

  • Steve Waterman (Nov 2011)
  • Colin Towns (Dec 2011)
  • Steve Berry (Feb 2012)
  • Clare Teal (Mar 2012)
  • Bob Mintzer (July 2012)

  • Dave O'Higgins and Pete Wraight (Nov 2012)
  • Liane Carroll (Dec 2012)
  • Mark Bassey (Feb 2013)
  • Chris Garrick (Apr 2013)
  • Supertramp Night with John Helliwell (July 2013)

  • Julian Arguelles (Nov 2013)
  • Benny Goodman night with Pete Long (Dec 2013)
  • Tim Garland (Apr 2014)
  • Satie in Blue (guest arranger/director Gary Carpenter)(July 2014)

  • Julian Josepth (inc E=MC2 Basie set) (Oct 2014)
  • Northern Dance Orchestra Recreated (Dec 2014)
  • Mark Nightingale (Feb 2015)
  • Tina May and Nikki Iles (March 2015)
  • Colin Towns  Hamboug Suite and Orpheus  (July 2015)

  • Billy Strayhorn Tribute (Oct 2015)
  • Sinatra Night with Matt Ford (Dec 2015)
  • Ryan Quigley (Jan 2016)
  • Clark Tracey 'Alice in Jazzland' (March 2016)
  • Singers in Jazz (July 2016)
  • Malta Int Arts Fest: The Re-Write of Spring (July 2016)

  • Dave Hassell/Andy Scott (Nov 2016)
  • Tim Garland Commission Luca's Winter (Dec 2016)
  • Martin Taylor (Feb 2017)
  • The music of Fred Sturm (March 2017)
  • Laurence Cottle 'Tribute to Jaco' (July 2017)

  • A Hot Night in Paris (Nov 2017)
  • Alan Barnes' Christmas Carol (Dec 2017)
  • Steve Berry (Feb 2018)
  • Markus Stockhausen (March 2018)
  • Bart Van Lier (July 2018)

  • Eric Marienthal (Nov 2018)
  • China Tour (Nov 2018)
  • Pete Long (Benny Goodman)(Dec 2018)
  • Nathan Bray (Feb 2019)
  • Mike Hall's Farewell Concert w Amy Roberts, Russell Bennett, James Girling and John Helliwell (June 27 2019)




  • 1975 play Mozart Clarinet Concerto with Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra
  • 1976 student on Wavendon Allmusic course
  • 1979 graduate in Civil Engineering from Heriot-Watt Uni starting work with Wootton, Jeffries and Ptrs
  • 1981 first gig with NYJO (Isle of Wight)
  • 1984 special guest at Kendal Jazz Festival with Sue Kibbey and Tony Coe
  • 1985 first BBC broadcast with Michael Garrick Big Band
  • 1987 won Wavendon Allmusic Competiton (contestants included later colleague Ben Crosland!)
  • 1987 special guest in John and Cleo's Christmas Show
  • 1987 first Manchester Jazz Summer School as tutor
  • 1990 appeared as soloist at Cambridge Jazz Club
  • 1992 first performance of my saxophone quartet,'Tales of the Sun God' by Apollo Saxophone Quartet
  • 1993 attended one-year post graduate course at RNCM to study classical saxophone
  • 1993 became father of Lucy
  • 1994 guest in John Helliwell's 50th birthday concert
  • 1994 first year teaching at Canford Summer School
  • 1995 tour of Malaysia with Michael Garrick Big Band
  • 1996 first gigs and recordings with Andy Scott's 'Sax Assault'
  • 1997 two appearances as reviewer on BBC R4 arts programme 'Kaleidoscope'
  • 1999 first concert directing the RNCM big band
  • 2002 play with Julian Joseph and Halle Orchestra
  • 2003 gigs with with 'Crystal'
  • 2004 start duo concerts with Dan Whieldon
  • 2006 week at Ronnie Scotts with Pete Long's Echoes of Ellington
  • 2006 with 'Sax Assault' play support to Yellowjackets in Slovenia
  • 2007 my own 50th birthday concert featuring RNCM string orchestra conducted by Clark Rundell
  • 2008 member of RLPO in concert with Wayne Shorter feat his music
  • 2011 began teaching at Creative Vacances summer school in France (closed 2020)
  • 2013 compose and record music for Felonius Monks project
  • 2016 record on Andy Scott's CD Ruby And All Things Purple (inc my composition Sabretooth)
  • 2018 record Jazz Planets CD with Echoes of Ellington
  • 2019 step down from directing RNCM big band after 20 years (well over 100 concerts!)
  • 2020 record Supertramp hits with SuperBigTrampBand

  • Sherborne Summer School
    My jazz education summer retreat in the beautiful setting of Sherborne School
  • click here for details

  • AB Workshops
    Various workshops (jazz/classical/pop) run by mastermind Andy Blee. (I have taught here many times and may well do again!!)
  • click here for details

  • Steve Crow
    Simply the best saxophone repair man you will find anywhere!
  • click here for details

  • Jazz Advice
    Website offering very good practice lessons and suggestions, many of which are free
  • click here for details