ABOUT ME

Hi,

My name is Ivo - I'm a piano player and composer. I have been involved in jazz and improvised music for more than 20 years. I have recorded 9 albums as a bandleader and have participated in numerous recording projects as a sideman with musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, the Frankfurt Radio Jazz Orchestra and Kenny Wheeler. For my 10th release I would like to realise something very special - it's a video and album recording for my 12-piece band "Dodeka". Dodeka is a unique band featuring twelve of the finest jazz musicians based in the UK - I formed this band specifically to perform music that I wrote before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have put a huge amount of love and time into Dodeka - if I manage to realise my dream of recording this music I will be in seventh heaven! It's a very ambitious project - extra financial support will be absolutely vital to prevent me making a huge loss on this. If you are able to contribute to making this recording a reality it would be hugely appreciated.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

"Dodeka" is a new band that I formed in 2022 to play music that I had written and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been an absolute privilege to gather together 12 incredible musicians to play my music. The first concert we performed was to a sold-out Ronnie Scott's Club during the 2022 London Jazz Festival. This was followed by 6 concerts during 2023 at festivals such as Scarborough Jazz Festival, Clun Valley Jazz Festival and the Canterbury Festival. I was very grateful to receive funding from Help Musicians to make this tour a reality - without their support I would have been unable to cover the musicians' fees for a band of this size.  

It was great to discover that many audience members who attended the concerts in 2023 were interested in getting hold of a recording of the music that I'd written for the band. I would love to make a video and album recording of this new music - the recording will feature some of my favourite musicians such as Emma Rawicz, Robbie Robson and Kieran McLeod.

My plan is to book 2 days at Giant Wafer Studios in Llandrindod Wells, Wales. I have picked Giant Wafer Studios because it is a good value studio in a beautiful location in rural Wales. It also has plenty of space to accommodate 12 musicians and a film crew. I've been to the studio already to scope it out - it will be an inspiring place to record this music. It will be lovely for everyone involved to be out of London in order to focus on the music. 

FUNDS REQUIRED

Fees for 12 musicians to record (2 days - £7,200, £300 per musician per day)

Fees for an audio engineer to record the session (2 days - £600, £300 per engineer per day)

Fees for 2 videographers (2 days - £1,200, £300 per videographer per day)

Fees for a mixing engineer to mix the recording (2 days - £600, £300 per engineer per day)

Fees for a mastering engineer to master the recording (2 days - £600, £300 per engineer per day)

Travel expenses to Llandrindod Wells (15 people - £900)

Accommodation at Llandrindod Wells (15 people - £1,800, £60 per night per person)

Giant Wafer studio hire costs (£330)

Grand piano hire for 2 days (£400)

Piano tuning for 2 days (£150)

Food expenses for 15 people for 2 days (£600)

GRAND TOTAL: £14,380

UNIQUE PERKS

There are three different "perks" if you are able to contribute to this project:

PERK 1

£12 - Pre-order of signed copy of the new Dodeka album on CD and mp3 (reduction of 20%)

PERK 2

£25 - Pre-order of signed copy of the new Dodeka album on Vinyl and mp3 (reduction of 15%)

PERK 3

£65 and above - Pre-order of signed copy of the new Dodeka album on CD plus exclusive access to a private Dodeka concert organised by CVJAZZ in Shropshire.

All the gigs that I have performed with Dodeka have felt special - it is a rare privilege to gather together so many amazing musicians. I have also worked tirelessly on organisation and logistics in order to realise the concerts that we have done. As a result each concert feels like a release - it is a joy to be able to focus on the music and explore what is possible with this lineup. Many concerts that we performed in 2023 were sold out - as words spreads about this band more performance opportunities will materialise. By supporting this recording project you will be helping me to continue to find performance opportunities for this lineup in the UK and beyond.

MUSICIANS' BIOGRAPHIES:

Ivo Neame (piano/compositions)

Ivo Neame is an internationally renowned pianist, composer, and bandleader who has established himself as one of the most innovative and dynamic figures in the contemporary jazz scene. He regularly performs at jazz festivals worldwide, collaborating with ensembles as diverse as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the London Sinfonietta.  He is best known for his work with the award-winning bands Phronesis and the Marius Neset Quintet, as well as collaborations with numerous other artists, including Hermeto Pascoal, Kenny Wheeler and Gilad Hekselman. Ivo's music is characterised by a stunning mix of virtuosity, sophistication, and playfulness, and his performances are known for their dynamic energy and emotional depth. His ninth album under his own name “Live at Turner Sims” was released on Whirlwind Recordings in September 2023. In 2023 he was also made ‘artist-in-residence’ with the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

Mike Chillingworth (alto sax/clarinet)

Mike Chillingworth is a London based saxophonist and composer. He regularly performs throughout the UK and internationally with his own groups, and with many leading musicians at the forefront of British and European jazz. Mike is a long standing member of acclaimed guitarist Ant Law’s quintet, recording four albums and touring extensively throughout the UK and Europe, as well as performing live on BBC Radio 3 and numerous other media appearances. Other sideman appearences include with Julian Siegel, Miguel Gorodi, Rick Simpson, Troyk-estra (Kit Downes, Chris Montague and Josh Blackmore), Stan Sulzmann and as a member of the band Round Trip.

George Crowley (tenor sax/clarinet)

Since his arrival in London in 2007, Crowley has steadily established himself as a key player within the city’s burgeoning creative jazz and improv scene. He can be found playing with bands and musicians such as Melt Yourself Down, Julian Argüelles Septet and Yazz Ahmed. Outside the world of jazz and improvised music he has worked with artists such as Boy George, Culture Club and Mount Kimbie.  

“Rarely does a player so young debut with such a fully rounded tone and range of writing skills”  JAZZWISE MAGAZINE 

Emma Rawicz (tenor sax/flute)

Emma is an award-winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene. She had been described as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (JAZZWISE) and ‘a fast-rising star’ (LONDON JAZZ NEWS). She was awarded “Best Newcomer” in the 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and is a recipient of the 2021 Drake Yolanda Award. 

“An astonishing new talent” (JAMIE CULLUM - BBC RADIO 2)

“A name on everyone’s lips right now” (JULIAN JOSEPH - J to Z BBC RADIO 3)

Jon Shenoy (baritone sax/bass clarinet)

Jon Shenoy is a saxophonist, clarinettist and composer/arranger living in South London. A talented improviser and creative spirit, he plays a wide range of music and leads a number of celebrated ensembles.Having been born in the cultural mecca that is Stevenage (Herts) to an Indian doctor and an English nurse with a love for classical music it was inevitable that his contribution to the world would be a healing of sorts, a soul vaccination if you will.As a sought-after woodwind specialist he brings a stylistic awareness of pastiche and sensitivity to the likes of Claire Martin’s Hollywood Romance, the Heritage Orchestra, and his own King Candy & The Sugar Push.

Brinley Heywood-Snell (trumpet)

Brinley Heywood-Snell is a jazz and lead trumpet player currently based in London. He has studied at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.  He has played in venues such as The London Palladium, Ronnie Scott's, The Vortex, Pizza Express Dean St. Jazz Club and the 606 Club. He is also a chair holder in Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra.

Brinley comes from a long line of professional musicians. His father Frazer Snell, is a well-known bass player and both his grandfathers were prolific session musicians - Chris Smith (trombonist for Frank Sinatra no less) and David Snell (harpist, conductor, and composer of many film scores). He has three uncles who are also professional musicians - it is no surprise that Brinley is carrying on the family business! 

Robbie Robson (trumpet)

Robbie studied jazz at both Leeds and the Guildhall School of Music, where he won prizes for Outstanding Musicianship and Composition. He was a national finalist in the Young Jazz Musician of the Year 1999, and the runner up in the Perrier Young Jazz Musician 2000. He regularly works with the Matt Wates Quintet, Frank Griffiths Nonet, Pete Hurt Big Band, Hans Koller, Gareth Lockrane Septet/Big Band, Alcyona Mick Quintet and the London Jazz Orchestra. He has also worked with Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Lane, Phil Woods, Jamie Cullum, Noel Gallagher, Jason Rebello, Jerry Bergonzi and the James Taylor Quartet.He has recorded albums with Bill Frisell, Julian Arguelles and Steve Swallow.

Miguel Gorodi (trumpet)

Born in Spain in 1990, Miguel also grew up in Saudi Arabia and Thailand before moving to England in 2006 upon receiving a music scholarship from Wells Cathedral School in Somerset. Miguel moved to London in 2008 to study Jazz Trumpet at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and has been playing across a broad spectrum of jazz and improvised music ever since.

Gorodi released his debut album Apophenia on Ubuntu in 2019 featuring his original compositions for Nonet. His versatility has seen him work across many styles of music with projects and musicians such as Ian Shaw, Jamie Callum, BBC Big Band, Barry Green, SEED Ensemble, Yazz Ahmed, Femi Temowo, The London Jazz Orchestra, Kansas Smitty’s House Band, London City Big Band, Hackney Colliery Band, The Ticklers, Riot Jazz and many others.

Kieran McLeod (trombone)

Originally from Aberdeen, Kieran is an award-winning jazz trombonist who has toured with artists of international repute such as Charlie Hunter, London Electricity and the late Keith Tippett. As a bandleader, you can see him fronting anything from his trio to his 30 piece Big Band. With Big Band Jazz as one of his passions, he also regularly performs with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the BBC Big Band. Kieran is a high-energy performer and fulfils this by touring across with world with Riot Jazz Brass Band and Young Pilgrims. A few career highlights include being a member of Iain Ballamy’s Anorak XL and the Julian Arguelles Septet.

Richard Foote (bass trombone)

Richard Foote is a trombonist and composer based in Birmingham, UK. Born in East Kilbride, Scotland he grew up playing in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra. A busy freelance musician, Richard is at home performing in a variety of musical settings and has worked with The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, David Ferris, The London Elektricity Big Band, Stan Sulzmann, Liane Carroll, Mike Gibbs, Eliza Carthy, Martha Reeves, Eddie Henderson and most recently has been working in a new quintet lead by improv legend, Paul Dunmall.

Tom Farmer (bass)

Tom is a founder member of the award-winning quartet ‘Empirical’ and many other diverse ensembles and projects. With Empirical, Farmer won multiple awards including ‘MOBO Best Jazz Act 2010’, and toured extensively in the UK, Europe and North America. The group were the 2011-2012 ‘Golubovich Jazz Scholars’ at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and ‘2019 Artists in Residence’ at Wiltshire Music Centre.

As a bassist, pianist and vocalist, Farmer is a valued, active side-man, performing and recording many times with artists such as Anoushka Shankar and Manu Delago.

Martin France (drums)

Martin France (born 1964) is one of the top jazz drummers in the UK. He has recorded on over 100 albums and is a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is sponsored by Paiste cymbals. France began performing at the age of twelve with singers in Working Men's clubs and organ trios in Manchester, England. After moving to London in 1983, he began his recording career for ECM.[5] He has been active for many years as a studio musician in London, performing on recording sessions for European and American films and television.