12 May
directing the RNCM Jazz Collective
'Jazz from around the World'
1930
27 May
w Ed Harrison and Eryl Roberts
The Railway, Stockport
2100
28 May
w Robin Joiner Trio
Chomondley Castle, Cheshire
1200-1600
9 June
MHQ with the Sale Grammar School Swing Band
The Duke Ellington Project
Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
1930
8 July
w Echoes of Ellington
Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho
2000
13 July
w Supertramp Big Band
Storyhouse(?), Chester
2000
7 August
pre-dinner jazz
Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
1830
27 August
w Robin Joiner Trio
Cholmondley Castle, Cheshire
1200-1600
19 September
w Paul Smith Trio
Head of Steam, Huddersfield
1830
Mike Hall Quartet: "Legends of the Tenor Saxophone"
Quartet set highlighting some of the key exponents of the tenor saxophone
Mike Hall/ Dan Whieldon duo
Long established pairing! (CD available)
Boplicity
Octet mainly playing West Coast style 'cool' jazz
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)
Crystal
7 piece ensemble playing my original compositions
soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, cello, paino, bass, percussion, vibraphone
Quadratus
Mike Hall Quartet plus string quartet
Boplicity in concert...
in duo with Dan Whieldon...
clip from Felonious Monks...
with Sax Assault...
While I have the somewhat unflattering title of Co-ordinator of Jazz Studies I realise that I have the dream job!
At RNCM, rather than offer a full-time, specialist course in jazz we aim to make the opportunity to study jazz available to all students.
RNCM provides many opportunities for students to expand their skills
and knowledge of jazz styles and improvisation.
I run these classes...
RNCM big band
RNCM jazz collevtive
weekly class in improvisation
one-to-one jazz saxophone
small jazz ensemble coaching
In addition there are...
masterclasses by visiting musicians
specialist jazz-based instrumental tuition in percussion, double bass, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and piano
'generic' improvisation classes (part of Musicianship Classes)
Jazz Theory/History academic class (Geth Griffith)
weekly class in beginners improvisation (Carl Raven and Dan Whieldon)
Jazz Piano classes
Our team of jazz tutors includes:
Steve Berry
Dave Hassell
Steve Waterman
Eileen Guppy
Steve Waterman
Jiggs Whigham
Dan Whieldon
Tim Garland
Carl Raven
The skills learned in these classes not only equip students to tackle a wider range of work when they graduate but also enhance
their basic musicianship.
Students at the RNCM have such solid instrumental skills already that teaching improvisation is largely
about removing inhibitions and freeing the players to play what they hear.
Guests with the RNCM Big Band since Mike 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)
