Rob Hall

Glasgow City Big Band, formed in 2011 and directed by Rob, will be playing a fundraiser gig on Fri 24 Feb to help provide a new roof for Busby Parish Church in south Glasgow. A wide ranging programme contrasts old and new material, including music by Russell Ferrante arranged for big band by saxophonist Bob Mintzer, alongside great arrangements of well established jazz standards.

For tickets speak to David Lamont 07920 847369

Devon based choral group eXe Singers have commissioned Rob to write a three movement cantata for their concert 'Eleven-Eleven-Eleven' to commemorate Remembrance Day 2011.

The premiere of The Vine and the Fig Tree will take place on the evening of 11 Nov in the atmospheric, large scale setting of All Saints Church in Kenton, Devon. Text for the cantata is being drawn from war poetry both old and new, including a brand new poem by 17 year old local schoolgirl Sarah Parfitt, and biblical text from the book of Micah which inspired the title. The Cantata will be scored for SATB Choir, solo soprano voice, piano, saxophone, double bass and tubular bells.

eXe Singers draws its members from around the area of the Exe estuary in south Devon. The chamber choir performs regularly with a diverse range of repertoire and embarks on collaborative projects.

Rob has been appointed as a 'dual' examiner (Classical & Jazz) with the ABRSM.

 He has been Jazz examining for the board since 2003 widely throughout the UK and has successfully completed the intensive training programme required to become a dual examiner in both genres. In early 2011 Rob also presented a course 'Introducing Improvisation' to music teachers in Scotland and England as part of the ABRSM professional development programme.

The duo of Rob Hall & Chick Lyall recently played a concert in the the amazing Palazzo Ducale in the historic town of Atina south of Rome, organised through Atina Jazz Festival.

The venue has a uniquely special acoustic (it was recently chosen by Mannfred Eicher for an ECM recording) and enjoys a beautiful setting in the heart of the town which sits high up on the side of a hill. The following night we also performed a short set at a festival in the nearby town of Casalvieri. Thanks to everyone at Atina Jazz for some memorable days.

Blithe Spirit, the third CD recording by Rob Hall & Chick Lyall, will be officially launched at the 2011 Edinburgh Jazz Festival on 27 July @The Hub, Edinburgh.

Juxtaposed alongside many new original pieces the duo interact with electronic backdrops and present two trilogies of acoustic improvisations, Triptychs. Chick makes his first contributions on harpsichord as well as producing the electronic soundscapes and Rob's sopranino sax features more heavily, counter-balanced by tenor and soprano saxes and clarinet (or parts of a clarinet in one improvisation).

The recording was made in January with engineer David Galbraith at his studio near Lochwinnoch, and original photography was provided for the artwork by Susheila Jamieson, whose images will form part of a collaboration with the duo at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival concert www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

Blithe Spirit will be available to buy through our website shortly www.robhallchicklyall.com  

"I'm looking forward to their third CD already" Robert Shore, Jazzwise

Originally commissioned by the Biggar Big Band the suite in 6 parts titled collectively as BORDERLAND was premiered in April 2010. Here it is being performed at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles by musicians from the Biggar band and from the recently formed Glasgow Big Band of which Rob is musical director. The programme will feature both ensembles and will include a wide range of music and arrangements for jazz orchestra.

10 Sept Eastgate Theatre, Peebles www.eastgatearts.com 

Edinburgh Jazz Festival has secured backing from the Scottish Jazz Expo scheme to promote Rob Hall & Chick Lyall both in Scotland and abroad.

The duo has been hand picked from the Scottish scene to play in the medieval town of Atina, Italy on 11 August 2011. They will play in the historic Palazzo Ducale on the Jazz Festival Stage at the annual Notte Bianco festival. The duo will also be presenting a special concert at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival on 27 July in a performance collaboration with visual artist Susheila Jamieson, whose artwork is featured on two CD releases of the duo.

More details www.edinburghjazzfestival.com  www.atinajazz.com www.robhallchicklyall.com

Rob is featured on a new CD 'The Impossible Song' by songwriter Roddy Woomble and he plays on the single from the album Roll Along, both out on 21 March 2011. Other contributors on the album include Phil Cunningham, Aidan O'Rourke, Chick Lyall and Michael Marra.

As Roddy explains, “The nature of An Tobar, being a working centre for the arts on the island including a gallery, café and performance space meant that there were always interesting people around and musicians coming to the venue to play concerts. We made the most of this. Gordon MacLean, An Tobar’s artistic director and the album’s engineer, would set up a few microphones after a performer’s sound check, or even after their gig, let them hear the song a few times and then record a contribution” 

As a result the album includes a magical mix of musical contributions from jazz pianist Chick Lyall, saxophonist Rob Hall, fiddler Aidian O’Rourke (Lau), accordion legend Phil Cunningham and famed Dundonian songwriter Michael Marra.

www.roddywoomble.com

Devon based choral group eXe Singers performed 'Pie Jesu' by Rob Hall on Thurs 7 April 2011 in the inspiring setting of St Thomas's Church, Mamhead near Exeter. They were joined by organ, cello, electric piano and saxophone on this performance. The work was originally written for Manchester University Chamber Choir & String Orchestra and was first performed in 1991. This concert also included works by Faure, Byrd, Bach, and Rutter.

To listen to Pie Jesu go to Works page and click on the title.

eXe Singers draws its members from around the area of the Exe estuary. The chamber choir performs regularly with a diverse range of repertoire and embarks on collaborative projects.

Borderland is a large scale work by Rob commissioned by the Biggar Big Band in 2009. It comprises 6 pieces or movements, some of which are ‘very challenging’, and is scored for full big band plus French Horn and Bass Clarinet. With Rob directing, and indeed shouting, the piece received its premiere performance in Biggar, Scotland on 30 April 2010 to a standing ovation from the audience. This totally threw the performers who all decided to sit down. There are plans for further performances in early 2011.

Rob would like to thank all involved for their hard work and initiative in bringing this project about, especially the band committee and their bassist James Gordon, all of whom deserve medals for bravery, orientation and diplomacy.