GMF TUSCANY JAZZ WORKSHOP 2025
PROGRAMME AUGUST 14 - 20
A COURSE FOR ALL VOCALISTS & INSTRUMENTALISTS ALIKE
A COURSE FOR JAZZ VOCALISTS
THE ART OF ACCOMPANIMENT
THE ART OF SOLOING
THE ART OF ENSEMBLE PLAYING
RHYTHM & PULSE WORKSHOPS
ENSEMBLES
JAM SESSIONS
SAMBA
CHOIR
CHI KUNG & TAI CHI
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TEAM
This year we are honoured and privileged to have with us again a team of outstanding artists who are, by turns, world class performing artists and devoted teachers, or musical guides. Each and every member of the team, by their presence, brings something absolutely unique to this event, and they work, both singularly and together with the students, to form a single learning community.
SCOTT HAMILTON - SAXOPHONE
EDDIE HENDERSON - TRUMPET
MICHAEL BUCKLEY - SAXOPHONES AND FLUTE
ELEANOR BEGLEY - VOCALS
BRUCE BARTH - PIANO
CHARLIE MOON - VOCALS & GUITAR
MATYAS GAYER - PIANO
ROZ MACDONALD - BASS
FRANCESCO PETRENI - PERCUSSION & DRUMS
STEPHEN KEOGH - DRUMS & PULSE
- CHI KUNG & TAI CHI - MASTER LUCIANO VIDA (subject to confirmation)
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News and special mentions:
Eddie Henderson
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson is true legend, and one of the greats of jazz history. Born in 1940 in New York, he received his first trumpet lesson from Louis Armstrong at the age of nine. He came to fame in the 1970s, in Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi sextet. Later on he worked with Pharoah Sanders, Norman Connors and joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers three times. He also played in the groups of Elvin Jones, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Max Roach, Jackie McClean, Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Joe Henderson and a long list of others, as well as leading his own projects and releasing excellent solo work. Eddie will lead a concert and give a masterclasses part of the week.
Michael Buckley
We’re welcome the fantastic Michael Buckley. Michael is currently regarded as the most important and influential musician on the Irish jazz scene. He started playing professionally at the age of six when critics hailed him as a child prodigy. Born in Dublin city in 1971 Michael first came to prominence on an International level when, aged 10, he played flute with the legendary saxophonist George Coleman in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Though largely self-taught, his obvious talent has been developed by his father Dick Buckley, and such legends as Milt Hinton. Buckley has found his own unique voice playing on saxophone as well as flute.
He has toured extensively with many of the great names in Jazz, and other musical genres, including with the Mingus Big Band, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Edward Simon, Peter King, Badal Roy, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz and Joey Baron.
During the last 15 years he has become one of the most important producers of his generation, with countless albums from jazz to traditional (Irish) to hip hop. Michael has made numerous television appearances, regularly works on film and television scores and has collaborated on recordings with Donovan, the Cranberrys, The Coors, Jerry Lee Louis, Johnny Mattis, as well as playing and touring regularly with Glen Hansard.
Eleonor Begley
Eleonor (Nel) Begley is an immensely talented vocalist, composer and educator. Nel is a London-based jazz singer and songwriter, recognized for her captivating performances that have taken her across the UK and around the world.
A scholarship graduate of both Leeds Conservatoire and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has contributed her talents to a variety of projects, including her work as a vocalist and composer for "Rafe's Dilemma," as well as performances with The London Vocal Project and The After Hours. In addition to her performing career, Nel is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians through teaching on courses run by Global Music Foundation, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and NYJC.
Scott Hamilton
Saxophone and Jazz legend Scott Hamilton, one of the enduring masters of improvisation on the Great American Songbook, joins us for the week as a performing artist and to impart his wisdom at selected classes and sessions.
Bruce Barth
And one of the greatest pianists in Jazz today Bruce Barth; who is not only one of the leading jazz musicians and composers of his generation, but also a sought after producer and a supreme vocal accompanist. Tony Bennet, with whom Bruce worked for a couple of years, regarded him as one of his favourite pianists.
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Timetable
(some changes are possible during the week)
August 14
Arrival Day
16.00 - 18.00 register at Albergo Il Castello music room
21.30 welcome concert
23.00 jam session
August 15 & 16
09.00 - 09.50 tai chi and chi gong 12 & 13 August
10.00 - 10.30 pulse / listening/ concentration/ silence | Cellar Castello
10.30 - 11.45 vocal & instrumental classes | see location for your instrument (available from registration)
12.15 - 13.15 samba & choir | Limonaia
13.15 - lunch break | lunch deal at Bar Boccaccio
14.30 - 15.30 - The Art of the Piano Trio with Bruce Barth - a session for the piano students - Cellar Castello
16.00 - 17.00 Combo/Ensemble Session - Cellar Castello
17.30 - 18.15 Singers Corner - Castello Bar
18.15 - 19.00 Jazz Aperitif - Castello Bar
August 19
Morning timetable the same as above.
After lunch there will be the final rehearsals for students concert in the evening.
August 20
11.00 - 13.00 Eddie Henderson talk and Workshop
21.00 (time to be confirmed) Final Concert - Eddie Henderson
August 21
Departure day
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The Programme
Morning Sessions and Workshops
We begin each day by coming together to participate in a unique sequence of activities which collectively stimulate self-awareness and enhance creativity.
These sessions will feature a different combination of activities every day: expect regular workshops on pulse, rhythm, vocal/body/breathing, movement and connection.
Chi kung & Tai Chi - with Lucian Vida (to be confirmed)
Chi Kung is an a introspective work based on the consciousness of oneself using simple, though not necessarily easy, exercises. The person listens to the body connecting physically with the earth and the sky and finding ones place between them as part of nature. This kind of work allows one to connect all different parts of the body as one and feel new sensations of fullness.
Tai Chi Form is used to make the body strong in various ways; through understanding the principles of relaxation and connection, spiral movement, expansion/contraction, movement on one point, exertion of force, and much more...This type of training, when applied to a musician's relationship to his/her instrument, can bring tremendous physical and mental an ease, composure and command to the act of performance.
Pulse Training - by Stephen Keogh
Pulse lies at the heart of music, and developing one's own inner pulse is the goal of these sessions. The work fosters concentration and awareness – of the pulse, of silence, of the other members of the group. This workshop is hugely beneficial to musicians of every kind.
Samba Training - with Francesco Petreni
A group workshop in which we train and learn the various different calls and rhythms, under the guidance of master percussionist Francesco Petreni. We will learn some of the traditional songs and rhythms as performed at the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo as well as from other areas of Brazil.
Vocal and Body
The workshop explores the use of energy and the voice, and fine tuning body and mind coordination within a musical context. Using song material from all around the world we work at enhancing the quality of our listening skills and the sounds we produce.
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Instrumental Class
These sessions are led by a tutor for students to work to improve and develop their
instrumental technique; dexterity, fluidity, speed, as well as sound and projection.
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Afternoon Sessions
The Art of Piano Trio
A session for the piano students, guided by Bruce Barth, looking specifically at the piano trio setting. Other instrumentalists and vocalists on the course are welcome to attend as observers if they wish.
Ensemble
Guided by one of the tutors students learn and prepare pieces for public performance. The art of blending and playing as one is the focus of this session. Group composition can also an important part of these sessions.
Evenings
17.30 Singers Corner
18.15 jazz aperitif
21.30 concert in the garden of Il Castello or other venue in Certaldo
23.00 on some of the days a short concert will followed by jam session at Il Castello in the Cellar
23.30 jam session each night