www.mikehall.co.uk
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more about Mike
AWARDS:
  • 1987 Wavendon Allmusic Award (organised by John Dankworth and aimed at crossing the divide between straight music and jazz)
  • 1993 Sema Improvisation Prize (won during study period at RNCM)

    My favourite tenor players include:
    Tony Coe, Bob Mintzer, Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Griffin, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Brecker, Bob Berg, Tommy Smith

    Musicians with whom I have had the privilege to play:
    Bob Mintzer, Don Rendell, Tony Coe, Martin Hathaway, Dave Edge, Steve Waterman, Ed Jones, Gerard Presencer, Pete Churchill, Jim Tomlinson, Red Rodney, Bobby Shew, Nikki Iles, Steve Berry, Peter Fairclough, Michael Garrick, Dave Green, Digby Fairweather, Peter King, Alan Skidmore, Steve Brown, Matt Wates, Matt Miles, Jeff Clyne, Trevor Tompkins, Bob Brookmeyer, Mark Nightingale, Guy Barker, Julian Arguelles, Jamie Talbot, Alec Dankworth, Jacqui Dankworth, John Dankworth, Anita Wardell, Tina May, Lee Gibson, Gareth Huw-Davis, Stan Barker, Jimmy Hastings, Alan Jackson, Dave Hassell, Pete Long, Dan Whieldon, Jo Palin, Pete Glennon, Dave Lynane, Allan Ganley, Lee Gibson, Andy Scott, Nick Smart, Barnaby Dickenson, Rob Buckland, Simone Rebello, Paul Kilvington, Dave Turner, Paul Hartley, Nigel Cretney, Julian Joseph, Mark Mondesir, Pete Long, Matthew Herbert, Pete Wraight, Andy Woods, Colin Skinner, Jay Craig, Alan Barnes, Pete Turner, Phil Lee, Andy Sheppard, Pat Crumbley, Matt Skelton, Jeremy Brown, Victor Mendoza, Roy Powell, Jim Muirhead, John Wilson, Eryl Roberts, Jim Collins, Dennis Freedman, Steve Chadwick, Wayne Shorter, John Pattituci, Brian Blade, Danilo Perez.

    Biography
    Mike Hall is a jazz saxophonist and educator. He began his musical career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra which led to work with composer/pianist Michael Garrick with whom he toured Malaysia and made several recordings and broadcasts. More recent work has included a week at Ronnie Scott’s Club with the Echoes of Ellington Orchestra, a gala concert at the World Saxophone Congress in Slovenia and subsequent UK tour with Andy Scott’s Sax Assault and a series of dates with his own quartet. He regularly freelances with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Halle Orchestras. In May he staged a concert for his group Crystal (featuring cello, bass clarinet and vibraphone) followed by a set for jazz quartet and the RNCM string orchestra.

    As well as maintaining a busy performing schedule Mike heads Jazz Studies at the RNCM where he is tutor in saxophone, teaches jazz improvisation, theory, history and directs the RNCM Big Band and Jazz Collective. He is also a composer and consultant for the ABRSM and director of Canford and Normandy Jazz Summer Schools.

    Favourite bits
  • 1976 student on Wavendon Allmusic course
  • 1981 first gig with NYJO
  • 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 Ben Crossland!)
  • 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 'Tales of the Sun God' by Apollo Saxophone Quartet
  • 1993 post graduate course at RNCM to study classical saxophone
  • 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'
  • 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