Watford Jazz Junction Chris Newstead

This week we're talking with creative musical supremo Alice Zawadzki - an astonishing singer, violinist and composer.
We explore her journey into music via the influences of New Orleans and music colleges, her approach to creativity and reflections on the natural world, and her unbridled and broad appetite for music in all its forms and types.
Obviously, there's an extra special quiz, additions to the fantasy house band, and some cracking musical recommendations.
Alice's album recommendations included:
Faint by Taylor Deupree (2012) on Norman Records
JS Bach: ThreeOrOne by Fred Thomas, Aisha Orazbayeva & Lucy Railton (2021) on ECM
El Hal/The Feeling by Electric Jalaba (2021) on Strut Records
Support the show & buy us a coffee!
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Links
Keep up to date with Alice here: www.alicezmusic.com
Keep up to date with the Watford Jazz Junction here (and to buy tickets for our festival 19-22 May 2022): www.watfordjazzjunction.com
Credits
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded March 2022.

This week we're talking with Mark Armstrong - trumpeter, composer, arranger and artistic director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
We discover all sorts from tales, from dusty old trumpet shops in to dodgy student band names, from fabulous young NYJO musicians to awesome players in the world's greatest bands - it's a musical big band treat!
Mark's album recommendations included:
Cookin' and Relaxin' (double disc) by Miles Davis (1958) on Prestige
Coming About by Maria Schneider (1996) on Enja
Plugged In and Live by Earth, Wind & Fire (1996) on Pyramid
Support the show!
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Next episode
And just a reminder that our next episode won't come out now until March 2022. Plenty of time to catch-up with the back catalogue... :-)
Links
Keep up to date with NYJO here.
Keep up with Mark here.
Credits
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded February 2022.

This week we're joined by the super talented and very interesting Alex Webb - pianist, composer, arranger and serial collaborator.
We chat about his fabulous new album British Standard Time featuring Jo Harrop, Carroll Thompson, Luca Manning and Tony Momrelle, reflect on the jazz scene in the UK in some depth and explore all the motivations behind continuing to write and create.
It's a beaut!
Alex's album recommendations, include:
Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder (1976) released on Tamla
Miles Ahead by Miles Davis (1957) released on Columbia
The Audience with Betty Carter (1980) released on Betcar; Verve
Support the show!
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Links
Keep up to date with Alex via his website here.
Credits
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded January 2022.

This week we're in conversation with Jess Gillam MBE, presenter of the This Classical Life Podcast as well as being a hugely talented saxophonist and awesome performer.
We chat about all sorts including her musical pathways into professional life, her influences, and her reflections on the importance of music for mental wellbeing.
Oh, and we discuss the critical issues of Marmite or marmalade, greatest Abba songs, and cope with the jaw dropping revelation of which instrument Jess would drop from a symphony orchestra...
Jess's album recommendations include:
Blackstar by David Bowie (2016) released on Columbia/Sony.
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971) released on Tamla
Dummy by Portishead (1994) released on Go! Beat
Support
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Links
For more information about Jess check out: https://www.jessgillamsax.co.uk/
And listen to her This Classical Life podcast via BBC Sounds or click here.
Credits
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded December 2021.

This week we're joined by Tara Minton and Ed Babar to find out more about their new album, 'Two for the Road'.
We chat about all sorts including Tara's musical journey from Australia to the UK, the influence of early education on Ed, and learn why Lithuania and The Netherlands are go to jazz countries!
Their album recommendations include:
Blue by Joni Mitchell (1971) released on Reprise
The Clown by Charles Mingus (1957) released on Atlantic
Music for Large & Small Ensembles by Kenny Wheeler (1990) released on ECM
Support
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Links
For more information about Tara and Ed's work, including to buy their album, check out Tara's website at: http://taraminton.com/
Credits
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded December 2021.

We launch 2022 and Series 9 of the WJJ Podcast in conversation with UK saxophonist Dave O'Higgins.
We talk about his journey into music, the influences on route, and the people he's played with and those he continues to create with, having come through the jazz scene of the 1980s playing alongside Mark Nightingale and Gerard Presencer to forming new partnerships today with Rob Luft and leading his own Quartet.
Dave's album recommendations include:
Go! by Dexter Gordon (1962) released on Blue Note
Blue Train by John Coltrane (1958) released on Blue Note
Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin (1971) released on Atlantic
Support
You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead
Presenter: Chris Newstead
Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.
Recorded December 2021.