Here in April - Andrea Vicari.

About Cambridge Jazz Cooperative

Cambridge Jazz Cooperative is a non profit making organisation. We run a weekly jazz workshop that takes place on Saturday morning from 11:00 to 1:30 at the 'Man On The Moon', Norfolk Street, Cambridge.

Most workshops are led by a paid tutor, always an experienced jazz musician. We have had some of the UK's leading names as tutors.

Some workshops are led by Jazz Cooperative members. These can be good fun, and offer an opportunity for members to try out arrangements, experience band-leading or just choose their favourite jazz standards.

We occasionally hold other events, such as a concert, masterclass or special tutorial session. It is also possible that members may wish to arrange personal lessons with a visiting tutor.

Members receive a quarterly newsletter giving details of the tutor programme and other news or articles, plus contact information for members. The programme is also published on this website.

Alan Barnes leading a workshop

As we don't know who will turn up, the line-up at a session is unpredictable. Usually we get a good band, with drums, bass, piano, guitar, several saxes, a trumpet a singer and maybe a trombone or clarinet. The content of the session is determined by the tutor, and over the season we will play a range of different styles of jazz, including swing, be-bop, modern, funk and so on. One week we could be playing Duke Ellington tunes, and the next, Miles Davis or John Coltrane. We also see a variety of teaching styles. The emphasis tends to be on group playing, rather than instrumental technique.

There is a range of levels of musicianship amongst the members. Some play regularly in public, others are less experienced, but all are welcome. You don't have to be a member to turn up and play at one of our workshops: try it out a few times and if you like it, become a member.

Musicians have to bring their own instruments and amplifiers, as the Man On The Moon doesn't have a piano or P.A.