Aberdeen saxophonist Matthew Kilner is excited to host the first post-lockdown Jazz Jam session later this month.
“It’ll be one of the first jazz jams in Aberdeen in years – since Covid anyway,” said Matthew.
The first part of the event – which takes place on Saturday January 29 at Spin Records – will see Matthew Kilner Quartet perform from 8pm to 9pm.
The saxophonist will be joined by pianist Neil Birse, drummer Richard Glassby, and double bass player Pete Lowitt.
“From 9pm onwards, we’re asking for people to come along, bring their instruments and play jazz with each other,” said Matthew.
“It’s not something that Aberdeen currently has so I’m hoping that it’ll bring the jazz community together to play some music now that’s it possible.”
Hopes to create monthly jazz night
Matthew would love to see more than 30 musicians take part.
He said: “If we can get anything over 30 people, that would be really great. I think 25 would be the minimum to be able to create a great night.
“So far, there’s been about 40-50 people interested in the event.”
Having organised jazz jams in the past, Matthew hopes the event will become popular with the Aberdeen jazz scene.
“I really hope this will become a recurring event. I put on jams in the past in The Blue Lamp, and some used to happen in other pubs around Aberdeen.”
Matthew, who studied Community Music at Aberdeen University, went on to study Jazz Performance (Saxophone) at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in Birmingham where he participated in many similar jazz nights.
He said: “I studied in Birmingham and there’s always jazz going on and there were a lot of jams in Birmingham and Glasgow too, but because Aberdeen is smaller, it’s difficult to guarantee a turn out sometimes. But I’m hoping if this night gets a lot of interest, it will turn into a monthly thing.
“We definitely have enough jazz players in Aberdeen, it’s just a thing of getting people out of the house during Covid.”
Spin Records is perfect venue for jazz
When deciding where to host the upcoming jazz jam, Matthew wanted to pick a “cool central venue”.
He said: “Spin Records (on Littlejohn Street) is central, they do a lot of great events and contribute to the Aberdeen music scene.
“Most – if not all of the jazz things in Aberdeen – are at The Blue Lamp. And I love The Blue Lamp – it’s like a second home to me – but I’d like to try to put jazz somewhere else as well, diversify it a wee bit and spread it out.
“Spin Records is a great venue and it looks cool as well.”
Matthew, who is part of Aberdeen-based band Hamlet and used to play with Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra, performed in a few other bands “who need a tenor sax player”.
Matthew, who is a full-time musician, said: “I do a lot of functions and events, and jazz gigs and I also teach jazz and saxophone.
“During Covid, I was doing my Masters. And as much as it was extremely disruptive, I felt quite lucky to be in a security of education. I was also teaching online. In terms of gigs, the music scene was hit really hard.
“But I’m hoping that after Tuesday’s announcement that gigs are allowed again, it’ll start to improve.”