GAZ HUGHES - Take Five No: 70
Can you tell us about your new album?
My new album is called “The Gaz Hughes Sextet Plays Art Blakey, and features Alan Barnes – Alto/Baritone Saxophones, Bruce Adams – Trumpet, Dean Masser – Tenor Saxophone, Andrzej Baranek – Piano, Ed Harrison – Double Bass, amd myself on drums.
With it being the 100 year anniversary of Art Blakey’s birth I thought it would be perfect timing to put together a project celebrating the music of one of my all time hero’s. We recorded the album at Low Four ‘the old Granada studios’ in Manchester. Everything was done in just a couple of takes and there is very little in terms of editing and digital trickery. I chose to record it like this because the thing I love about Jazz Messengers albums is that you can hear such a human quality to the music. I feel that this quality gets lost if there’s any messing about with editing and making everything sound polished. The guys in the band were so easy to work with as they turned up and gave 110% on the session.
The album is my first project as a band leader and I’m really delighted with how it’s turned out. The feedback I’ve had from promoters and critics has been amazing and I hadn’t really expected it to take off like it has. I also have a 32 date UK tour to promote the album with. The tour started on the 19th February and the band is really excited to get out there making some great music together. The album is available through my website: www.gazhughesmusic.com, and the Jazz Views Shop.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
This year I’m recording another two albums as a band leader. This includes a live album of the 2020 tour and also a new project with a smaller group playing original music but still in the bebop / hard bop vein. I’m looking to tour this in 2021 and am now starting to get the ball rolling. I’m hoping long term to be touring every year with a project of my own as well as continuing to work with other musicians on their projects as well. I also want to be playing outside of the UK within the next few years and am starting to research the Jazz scene and festivals around Europe to see what’s out there.
My new album is called “The Gaz Hughes Sextet Plays Art Blakey, and features Alan Barnes – Alto/Baritone Saxophones, Bruce Adams – Trumpet, Dean Masser – Tenor Saxophone, Andrzej Baranek – Piano, Ed Harrison – Double Bass, amd myself on drums.
With it being the 100 year anniversary of Art Blakey’s birth I thought it would be perfect timing to put together a project celebrating the music of one of my all time hero’s. We recorded the album at Low Four ‘the old Granada studios’ in Manchester. Everything was done in just a couple of takes and there is very little in terms of editing and digital trickery. I chose to record it like this because the thing I love about Jazz Messengers albums is that you can hear such a human quality to the music. I feel that this quality gets lost if there’s any messing about with editing and making everything sound polished. The guys in the band were so easy to work with as they turned up and gave 110% on the session.
The album is my first project as a band leader and I’m really delighted with how it’s turned out. The feedback I’ve had from promoters and critics has been amazing and I hadn’t really expected it to take off like it has. I also have a 32 date UK tour to promote the album with. The tour started on the 19th February and the band is really excited to get out there making some great music together. The album is available through my website: www.gazhughesmusic.com, and the Jazz Views Shop.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
This year I’m recording another two albums as a band leader. This includes a live album of the 2020 tour and also a new project with a smaller group playing original music but still in the bebop / hard bop vein. I’m looking to tour this in 2021 and am now starting to get the ball rolling. I’m hoping long term to be touring every year with a project of my own as well as continuing to work with other musicians on their projects as well. I also want to be playing outside of the UK within the next few years and am starting to research the Jazz scene and festivals around Europe to see what’s out there.
Click on the album cover to read our review
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
At the moment I’m preparing for the Art Blakey tour so I’m fully immersed in his music. I’ve stopped buying CD’s or downloads over the last year or so because I’ve really got the Vinyl bug and am buying at least one a week. The last one I bought was Art Blakey live album – Concert at club Saint Germain. I’m not just an Art Blakey nut though, I have a huge taste in music and listen to lots of different things.
What is your all-time favourite album and why?
That depends on what mood I’m in. My record collection is huge and when I’m not preparing for a tour I listen to such a wide variety of music. I used to spend ages just listening to one album and obsessively learning it inside out. I don’t know why, maybe looking back at it now, I was listening so hard trying to understand why everyone was doing what they were doing. I’ve done that for lots of albums and there’s quite a few that I can sing every solo and line to for the whole album.
I also listen to music for different reasons and just to relax to. I also have a few guilty pleasures but I’m not brave enough to admit them!!
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
I saw a great Jonathan Kreisberg gig last year at NQ Jazz. The venue is in the cellar of the Whiskey Jar in Manchester, it’s like a intimate New York Jazz club. Johnathan and his band were absolutely stunning, it’s probably the best gig I’ve ever been to. There was such an amazing energy in the room, I came away really inspired form the gig. Next time he’s playing over here I’m cancelling everything to go and see him again!
At the moment I’m preparing for the Art Blakey tour so I’m fully immersed in his music. I’ve stopped buying CD’s or downloads over the last year or so because I’ve really got the Vinyl bug and am buying at least one a week. The last one I bought was Art Blakey live album – Concert at club Saint Germain. I’m not just an Art Blakey nut though, I have a huge taste in music and listen to lots of different things.
What is your all-time favourite album and why?
That depends on what mood I’m in. My record collection is huge and when I’m not preparing for a tour I listen to such a wide variety of music. I used to spend ages just listening to one album and obsessively learning it inside out. I don’t know why, maybe looking back at it now, I was listening so hard trying to understand why everyone was doing what they were doing. I’ve done that for lots of albums and there’s quite a few that I can sing every solo and line to for the whole album.
I also listen to music for different reasons and just to relax to. I also have a few guilty pleasures but I’m not brave enough to admit them!!
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
I saw a great Jonathan Kreisberg gig last year at NQ Jazz. The venue is in the cellar of the Whiskey Jar in Manchester, it’s like a intimate New York Jazz club. Johnathan and his band were absolutely stunning, it’s probably the best gig I’ve ever been to. There was such an amazing energy in the room, I came away really inspired form the gig. Next time he’s playing over here I’m cancelling everything to go and see him again!
