JESS GILLAM , SAXOPHONIST
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE :
JESS GILLAM , SAXOPHONIST
JESS GILLAM IS A MUSICAL FORCE OF NATURE WHO HAS BEEN FORGING HER OWN ADVENTUROUS PATH SINCE SHE SHOT TO FAME BECOMING THE FIRST SAXOPHONIST TO REACH THE FINALS OF BBC YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR AND THE YOUNGEST EVER SOLOIST TO PERFORM AT LAST NIGHT OF THE BBC PROMS .
Ian Swatman , head of performance at St Edmund ’ s School , interviews Jess ahead of her concert for the opening night of St Edmund ’ s Festival on the Hill .
Jess , I see you ’ ve recently been in Antigua with the incredibly talented Kanneh- Mason family , did you have concerts while you were out there ?
© Robin Clewley
Yes , we had quite a few concerts . The Kanneh- Mason family work very closely with the ABYSO – Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra – so I was in Antigua with them doing some performing and coaching with the orchestra . It was an incredible trip and I have returned home feeling very inspired .
A great influence on you as a player has been the world-renowned saxophonist John Harle , our festival patron . Do you still get the opportunity to see him ?
Yes I do . John has been a huge inspiration to me since I was about 11 when I first heard one of his CDs . His uncompromising dedication to music has had a huge influence on me and I was very lucky to have the opportunity to study with him . I also love performing John ’ s music and we will be playing a brilliant piece of his – Briggflatts – in the concert in Canterbury .
Do you have a memory of the first time you heard the saxophone ?
I think the first time I heard the saxophone must have been when I first played it . In the constant state of exploration and excitement we experience in our youth , it ’ s not often that something entirely captures the imagination to the extent that you don ’ t want to do or try anything else ! I was lucky enough to have this experience at the age of just seven ; one of my most vivid memories is picking up a saxophone for the first time at the Barracudas Carnival Arts Centre in Barrow-in-Furness ( where my dad taught drums ). I was utterly enthralled and in love with the instrument . The intensity and directness of sound was absolutely magnetic and the instrument became associated with fun and joy .
A little birdie told me that you did once frequent the gigs of Jools Holland and take the opportunity to play to their esteemed sax section ?
Aha ! When I was about 14 , I went to see Jools Holland with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and I took my saxophone along with me to try and meet the band backstage . They were so kind and while they were eating their curry after the gig , they let me play to them ! The year after I went to play in the section for one tune when they visited Carlisle again and I ’ ll never forget it .
Your playing has such vibrancy and virtuosity while , most importantly in my opinion , remaining so musical ; which players would you say have particularly inspired you ?
So many ! I have already mentioned John Harle and the other person is Barbara Thompson who sadly passed away recently . She was one of the only female saxophonists I had as a role model growing up and has been a huge inspiration for me . I love Sidney Bechet and Donny MacCaslin too . I try and listen far and wide – I ’ m sat next to my CD collection as I write this and it ranges from Soweto Kinch to Amy Winehouse , Massive Attack , Aretha Franklin , Bjork and Marvin Gaye .
You ’ re from the beautiful market town of Ulverston in Cumbria which is famous for being the birthplace of another entertainer .
I think you are referring to Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame who was born in Ulverston in 1890 . He actually used to buy toffee from Gillam ’ s when he was staying with his nanna .
Do you have a real bucket-list venue that you ’ re hoping pops up on your schedule ?
This is a tough one … Until recently , I would have definitely said Carnegie Hall , but I had the honour of playing there last year . I would love to perform in some of the caves in the Lake District and I ’ d also be fascinated to hear the saxophone in St Paul ’ s !
See The Jess Gillam Ensemble live in Concert on 28 June at St Edmund ’ s Festival ; tickets available from www . ticketsource . co . uk / st-edmunds-festival .
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