Music director, composer and jazz musician Jilly is a multi-instrumentalist who works with schools and youth and adult community groups on songwriting and performance projects. She uses improvisation as a way for the individual voice to be heard and celebrated within a cooperative group setting.

Founder and Creative Director of BlueJam Arts (bluejamarts.org) she enjoys collaborating with other artists and organisations. Currently she is establishing a network of Improv Choirs in England and Scotland, writing an online improvisation resource for teachers and devising gamelan, samba and jazz performances for the summer festivals..

Corona virus and lockdown

In between trying to work out how to keep BlueJam as a going concern, I am obsessively painting – this is my first abstract attempt

Compositions

Really need to get my compositions more easily available and accessible – I keep getting asked by people if they can use them, which is BRILLIANT!

So going to try to put aside some time to do it (ha ha!)

Anyway – most recently, the amazing classical singer Sarah Wallcook performed Bubbles and Burdens at a concert dinner in Sweden, BJYJE (BlueJam Youth Jazz Ensemble) is going to perform a Fascinating Days/Mountains merge and KSGS will feature Muevete at their festival!

Women Play Jazz, Penrith

Great to host a session at the BlueJam Space in Penrith – with women players from Scotland, Cumbrian and NE Improv Choirs and Jazz Sessions.

Women Play Jazz! Newcastle

Really pleased to be able to continue with these workshops due to popular demand – jazz and laughter – a great combination.

And also great to be able to export the session to Penrith for our women players over here – hope we will get cross-pollination soon. First Penrith session is June 16th. See bluejamarts.org for details.

 

Carols for North Lakes School

I have been writing a carol every year for the school my children went to since about 2003. I think this is the year we should get them all into a book!
Intonent Hodie | Welcome | Toca La Campanas
Now At Evening | Make Me A Lantern | Walking | Join In
Celebrate | Don’t Look Now!
Joyeux Noel, Merry Christmas! | Promise | Spirit of Christmas
The Boy | Xmas Is Coming | The Snowman
My Bairn Sleep Softly Now | Whisper of the Wind | Carol of the Birds
Celebrate New Life | Imagine Now

Women Play Jazz!


I’m delighted to be asked by Jazz Coop Newcastle to run a series of workshops for emerging women jazz players at their base, the Globe pub. First 4 Saturday afternoons in January with an evening party on the 27th. Go to http://jazz.coop/women-play-jazz-workshops/ for details and booking.

Will Michael Jazz Education Award

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BlueJam was awarded a diploma along with three Music Hubs from around the UK last week. Jilly shown here receiving it!
This is a real boost for the work being done by all the organisations promoting youth jazz in Cumbria and for the Music Hub’s commitment to a viable and innovative jazz development programme.
Congratulations to everyone!

HIGHLIGHTS
One Small Bird

The Ballad of the Red-Necked Phalarope
by Kate Stilitz and Jilly Jarman
Commissioned by Haringey Music Service for 2000 young singers and instrumentalists, for performance June 27th 2016 Royal Albert Hall

Performed with Cumbria Youth Orchestra, primary school choirs and BlueJam Youth Jazz Ensemble at The Sands, Carlisle, July 10th 2017

Next performance Kendal with Westmorland Youth Orchestra and Mid-Lakes school choirs July 5th 2019

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LAND OF SHADOWS at Rheged: a new song cycle written with 8 primary schools in October 2017
BACKtoBACK:FACEtoFACE:SIDEbySIDE – the latest song, poetry and soundscape performance is being devised for performance by north Cumbrian schools at Rheged on October 16th 2018
and next up…. TREES – the latest devised show for primary schools at Rheged on October 15th 2019.