Oxford University Jazz Society
Encyclopedia
The Oxford University Jazz Society, also known as JazzSoc, is the focus of jazz
music at the University of Oxford
, England
. Formerly known as the Oxford University Jazz Club, the society now provides the main arena for student players to interact musically, whilst also encouraging a non-student contingent. It is a main point of contact for jazz band hire in Oxford
, sourcing ensembles of all sizes and styles for all functions.
In the 1960s, there were two sections of the jazz club at the University: the main Oxford University Jazz Club, which met at the Carfax
Assembly Rooms and had dancing, and the "modern section of the Jazz Club which met in sit down venues elsewhere.
The columnist and bass player Miles Kington
, then a trombonist, was the musical organiser of the modern Jazz Club at the beginning of the 1960s.
In 1963, the OU Jazz Club started the Big Night, initiated by Marcus Wigan on the Committee, and hired the entire Johnny Dankworth Big Band for what was a huge financial risk, but in the end turned out to be a successful event. The controlled capacity of the Carfax Assembly Rooms was strictly observed, and counters were allocated to check people in and out of the dance and performance hall itself during the evening to maintain these numbers. To the great chagrin of the organisers, with a huge profit in a queue extending well back through Carfax, the University Proctors came in and stopped any more tickets being sold... nevertheless, the night was a financial success and became an annual institution overnight for as long as the OU Jazz Club continued.
In the 1970s, the OU Jazz Club organized weekly gigs in the first floor of the former Roebuck public house in Market Street
, central Oxford
, presenting well-known British jazz musicians such as Lol Coxhill
, Harry Beckett
, Alan Skidmore
, Don Rendell
, Art Themen
, Kenny Wheeler
and Barbara Thompson
as well as Oxford-based jazz bands including Pat Crumly's 'Edge' and the Oxcentrics
.
After a period of inactivity in the 1980s, in 1994, the modern Jazz Club was reformed as the Jazz Society and is now colloquially known as "JazzSoc". Between 1994 and 1997 it hosted a weekly jam session at Po Na Na on St Giles'
; from 1997 to 2004 the session was at the Wheatsheaf pub on the High Street
, where the jam session regularly attracted an audience of up to 100 students.
In 2004, JazzSoc returned to its original home at the Roebuck, known until 2006 as the 'Market Tavern' (after then it was transformed into a 'Wagamama' restaurant). From 2006 until 2008, JazzSoc took place at the 'Blue Bar' in the cellar of the Cock and Camel pub on George Street
. This has also since transformed into restaurant, and is now owned by Jamie Oliver
. In 2008, the society moved the weekly jam sessions to 'Thirst Lodge'.
As of October 2009, the jam runs every Tuesday night at Bar Copa.
In addition, JazzSoc presents a 'spectacular' once a term, featuring an internationally renowned jazz act, playing either with their own band or with a local rhythm section. Past spectaculars have featured Nigel Hitchcock
, Soweto Kinch
, Julian Arguelles
, and Jim Mullen
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Formerly known as the Oxford University Jazz Club, the society now provides the main arena for student players to interact musically, whilst also encouraging a non-student contingent. It is a main point of contact for jazz band hire in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, sourcing ensembles of all sizes and styles for all functions.
History
In 1951 Oxford University Jazz Club held meetings in St Michael's Hall every Saturday at 8pm. This consisted of two sessions of live Jazz presented by the Club's musicians, a record interlude, and often a recital by a guest soloist. In 1953 the club started to hold its meetings on alternative Fridays in the Green Room of the Kemp Restaurant where the Club's resident band would perform.In the 1960s, there were two sections of the jazz club at the University: the main Oxford University Jazz Club, which met at the Carfax
Carfax
Carfax may refer to: about car history.* Carfax , a website with vehicle history information* Carfax 250, a motor race* Carfax, Oxford, England* The centre of Horsham, West Sussex, England...
Assembly Rooms and had dancing, and the "modern section of the Jazz Club which met in sit down venues elsewhere.
The columnist and bass player Miles Kington
Miles Kington
Miles Beresford Kington was a British journalist, musician and broadcaster.-Early life :...
, then a trombonist, was the musical organiser of the modern Jazz Club at the beginning of the 1960s.
In 1963, the OU Jazz Club started the Big Night, initiated by Marcus Wigan on the Committee, and hired the entire Johnny Dankworth Big Band for what was a huge financial risk, but in the end turned out to be a successful event. The controlled capacity of the Carfax Assembly Rooms was strictly observed, and counters were allocated to check people in and out of the dance and performance hall itself during the evening to maintain these numbers. To the great chagrin of the organisers, with a huge profit in a queue extending well back through Carfax, the University Proctors came in and stopped any more tickets being sold... nevertheless, the night was a financial success and became an annual institution overnight for as long as the OU Jazz Club continued.
In the 1970s, the OU Jazz Club organized weekly gigs in the first floor of the former Roebuck public house in Market Street
Market Street, Oxford
Market Street runs east-west in central Oxford, England.The street lies north of the Covered Market, a historic roofed market with permanent stalls that is still very much active today, and north of Lincoln College's Lincoln House accommodation complex. To the west is the major pedestrianised...
, central Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, presenting well-known British jazz musicians such as Lol Coxhill
Lol Coxhill
Lowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
, Harry Beckett
Harry Beckett
Harold Winston "Harry" Beckett was a British trumpeter and flugelhorn player.-Biography:A resident in the UK since 1954, Harry Beckett had an international reputation. In 1961, he played with Charles Mingus in the film All Night Long. In the 1960s he worked and recorded within the band of bass...
, Alan Skidmore
Alan Skidmore
Alan Skidmore is a tenor saxophonist of jazz and blues music, son of the saxophonist Jimmy Skidmore.-As a sideman:...
, Don Rendell
Don Rendell
Donald Percy 'Don' Rendell is an English jazz musician and arranger, specialising on tenor saxophone, but also playing soprano saxophone, flute, and clarinet....
, Art Themen
Art Themen
Arthur Edward George 'Art' Themen is a British jazz saxophonist .Themen was born on 26 November 1939 in Manchester. In 1958 he began his medical studies at the University of Cambridge, going on in 1961 to complete his studies at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, qualifying in 1964...
, Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC is a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. since the 1950s....
and Barbara Thompson
Barbara Thompson
Barbara Gracey Thompson MBE is an English jazz saxophonist, flautist and composer. She studied clarinet, flute, piano and classical composition at the Royal College of Music, but the music of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane made her shift her interests to jazz and saxophone...
as well as Oxford-based jazz bands including Pat Crumly's 'Edge' and the Oxcentrics
Oxcentrics
The Oxcentrics were a Dixieland jazz band founded in 1975 at Oxford University. The band's name was derived from The Oxontrics, an original 1920s jazz band. Several members were from University College, where many of the rehearsals took place. They played at a number of Oxford Balls, for the...
.
After a period of inactivity in the 1980s, in 1994, the modern Jazz Club was reformed as the Jazz Society and is now colloquially known as "JazzSoc". Between 1994 and 1997 it hosted a weekly jam session at Po Na Na on St Giles'
St Giles', Oxford
St Giles is a wide street leading north from the centre of Oxford, England. At its northern end, the road divides into Woodstock Road to the left and Banbury Road to the right, both major roads through North Oxford. At the southern end, the road continues as Magdalen Street at the junction with...
; from 1997 to 2004 the session was at the Wheatsheaf pub on the High Street
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
, where the jam session regularly attracted an audience of up to 100 students.
In 2004, JazzSoc returned to its original home at the Roebuck, known until 2006 as the 'Market Tavern' (after then it was transformed into a 'Wagamama' restaurant). From 2006 until 2008, JazzSoc took place at the 'Blue Bar' in the cellar of the Cock and Camel pub on George Street
George Street, Oxford
George Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running east-west. Its eastern end meets Broad Street at a crossroads with Cornmarket Street to the south and Magdalen Street to the north...
. This has also since transformed into restaurant, and is now owned by Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
. In 2008, the society moved the weekly jam sessions to 'Thirst Lodge'.
As of October 2009, the jam runs every Tuesday night at Bar Copa.
Events
JazzSoc runs a weekly jam currently held on Tuesday nights from 8.30pm in the function room at Bar Copa on George Street, Oxford. The jam typically opens with a house band set featuring performances by up-and-coming jazz ensembles. The floor is then opened to everyone and anyone with a desire to jam.In addition, JazzSoc presents a 'spectacular' once a term, featuring an internationally renowned jazz act, playing either with their own band or with a local rhythm section. Past spectaculars have featured Nigel Hitchcock
Nigel Hitchcock
Nigel Hitchcock is an English jazz saxophonist.-Biography:Hichcock began to play alto sax at age 8. In 1982 he and his elder brother Clive joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. After one year Nigel took the lead alto chair for the next 5 years...
, Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch is a British jazz alto saxophonist and rapper.Born in London, England to a Barbadian father, who is a playwright, and British-Jamaican mother, who is an actress, Kinch began playing saxophone at the age of nine after learning clarinet at Allfarthing Primary School, Wandsworth, SW London...
, Julian Arguelles
Julian Argüelles
Julian Argüelles is a saxophonist. He is currently a member of the HR Big Band in Frankfurt am Main, Germany....
, and Jim Mullen
Jim Mullen
Jim Mullen is a Glasgow-born jazz guitarist with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum.-Biography:...
.