AB Workshops
Music Workshops – 07711 998058
Simon Allen Jazz Improv Workshop16th - 17th October 2027
Coda Music Centre and Arts Trust, Chewton Farm Rd, Walkford, Christchurch BH23 5QL
Simon Allen Jazz Improv Workshop16th - 17th October 2027
Coda Music Centre and Arts Trust, Chewton Farm Rd, Walkford, Christchurch BH23 5QL
On 16th – 17th October 2027 AB Workshops welcomes Simon Allen, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer/arranger, for a two day Jazz Improvisation Workshop.
He began his career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra, performing alongside the likes of Jazz Stars Art Themen, Gerard Presencer, Jamie Cullum and Peter King. After being a winner in the Daily Telegraph ‘Young Jazz’ competition, and a finalist in the ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’, Simon gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and was selected to join UK drummer Clark Tracey’s acclaimed Quintet, winning further awards and touring the UK over 7 years.
Simon has been a member of the Laurence Cottle All Star Big Band, and also works with Colin Towns Mask Orchestra for the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Matthew Herbert Big Band, touring around Germany, China, Belgium and Poland. He has appeared at major UK venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, and worked with an astonishing array of top musicians from the jazz and pop world. Between 2005-2013 Simon was featured in the late Stan Tracey CBE’s various groups, and is featured on his final two quartet recordings, as well as octet and big band album releases. Simon appeared on Jools Holland’s ‘Later’ TV show performing a track from the album ‘Senior Moment’.
Outside of jazz, Simon leads a horn section which among others has backed Phil Collins, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney. He has recorded and played live with Robbie Williams, Beverley Knight, Katie Melua, Jamie Cullum and many others. He is featured on the soundtracks of Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Aladdin’, and in 2014/15 played for the Strictly Come Dancing UK arena tour.
Simon has released an album under his own name, ‘Any Minute Now – Simon Allen Quintet’, featuring Laurence Cottle, Martin Shaw, Tom Cawley and Mike Bradley.
Most recently, Simon has been performing around the UK in Clark Tracey’s “Jazz Champions”, also in tributes to Stan Tracey and his seminal work “Under Milk Wood”. He plays with Jazz-Funk band Incognito, and tours with “Labyrinth : In Concert”.
In 2014 Simon was appointed Head of Jazz at The Purcell School, and in 2022 launched the UK’s first Commercial and Popular Music pathway at a specialist music school.” In 2023 Simon composed and arranged for RSL’s new “Horn Section” exam syllabus.”
On 16th – 17th October 2027 AB Workshops welcomes Simon Allen, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer/arranger, for a two day Jazz Improvisation Workshop.
He began his career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra, performing alongside the likes of Jazz Stars Art Themen, Gerard Presencer, Jamie Cullum and Peter King. After being a winner in the Daily Telegraph ‘Young Jazz’ competition, and a finalist in the ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’, Simon gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and was selected to join UK drummer Clark Tracey’s acclaimed Quintet, winning further awards and touring the UK over 7 years.
Simon has been a member of the Laurence Cottle All Star Big Band, and also works with Colin Towns Mask Orchestra for the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Matthew Herbert Big Band, touring around Germany, China, Belgium and Poland. He has appeared at major UK venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, and worked with an astonishing array of top musicians from the jazz and pop world. Between 2005-2013 Simon was featured in the late Stan Tracey CBE’s various groups, and is featured on his final two quartet recordings, as well as octet and big band album releases. Simon appeared on Jools Holland’s ‘Later’ TV show performing a track from the album ‘Senior Moment’.
Outside of jazz, Simon leads a horn section which among others has backed Phil Collins, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney. He has recorded and played live with Robbie Williams, Beverley Knight, Katie Melua, Jamie Cullum and many others. He is featured on the soundtracks of Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Aladdin’, and in 2014/15 played for the Strictly Come Dancing UK arena tour.
Simon has released an album under his own name, ‘Any Minute Now – Simon Allen Quintet’, featuring Laurence Cottle, Martin Shaw, Tom Cawley and Mike Bradley.
Most recently, Simon has been performing around the UK in Clark Tracey’s “Jazz Champions”, also in tributes to Stan Tracey and his seminal work “Under Milk Wood”. He plays with Jazz-Funk band Incognito, and tours with “Labyrinth : In Concert”.
In 2014 Simon was appointed Head of Jazz at The Purcell School, and in 2022 launched the UK’s first Commercial and Popular Music pathway at a specialist music school.” In 2023 Simon composed and arranged for RSL’s new “Horn Section” exam syllabus.”
Whether you’re just starting out with improvisation or already feel confident soloing over chord changes, this is an opportunity to unlock new ideas, strengthen your musical instincts and discover how to make your playing more creative, confident and connected.
Led by multi-instrumentalist Simon, the workshop will be packed with practical ideas, exercises and inspiration that you can take straight into your playing and practice.
Develop Your Improvisation
- Explore ways to create stronger, more expressive solos by developing:
- Harmonic language through chord tones and chord-scale improvisation
- Melodic and rhythmic motifs — learning how to develop simple ideas into exciting musical phrases
- Musical warm-ups that directly connect to your practice and improvisation
- Greater confidence navigating chord changes and finding your own musical voice
Become a Stronger Rhythm Section Player (for all band members)
- Great musicians listen, react and connect
- The workshop will explore the skills that make an ensemble really swing and groove, including:
- Developing an authentic swing feel
- Creating a strong, supportive groove
- Improving your internal time and timekeeping
- Learning how to confidently keep the form
- Rhythmic and harmonic interaction between musicians
- Connecting chord changes through voice leading and bass lines
- Learning how to truly “lock in” with the musicians around you
Simon’s experience as a saxophonist, drummer, bassist and pianist gives him a unique perspective on how different parts of an ensemble fit together.
Working with a small group of frontline players (12 maximum) alongside the rhythm section, the workshop will create a genuinely interactive musical environment. While the frontline explores improvisation and soloing, rhythm section players will have their own focused exercises and challenges — all happening together in real time.
The emphasis is on listening, interaction, communication and creating music as a group.
Come with your instrument, your curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
Leave with new ideas, new skills and a fresh approach to your playing — and, most importantly, a deeper understanding of how to make great music with other people.
“Allen, the latest in a long line of gifted Tracey saxophone recruits, brings a searing urgency … with Allen injecting an anthemic soul jazzy heat (an unfamiliar ingredient for a Tracey album)”
— John Fordham, Guardian
“Allen’s questing inventiveness and thrilling rhythmic interplay”
– Brisbane Jazz Club
“He knows how to produce a luminous, floating tone on alto sax, has an impressive technique, and constructs his solos with maturity and confidence”
— Sholto Byrnes, The Independent
“He was able to steal the show from under the feet of a band of masters”
— Derby Jazz Club
- Based at Coda Music & Arts Trust in beautiful Dorset, with excellent facilities
- Two full days of tutor lead sessions
- Suitable for the following instruments: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Keys
- Workshop runs each day from 10am – 4.30pm, with two short breaks and a 1 hour lunch break
- Refreshments; Tea, coffee (including freshly made filter coffee), juices, a variety of biscuits, fresh pastries
- Price is £150 for horns and £100 for rhythm section instruments, lunch not included
- FREE parking
- Safe, simple, secure. We have now set it up for you to be able to book easier than ever before, simply BOOK ONLINE
Regardless of your current level, we here at AB Workshops are committed to providing tuition and support at a pace that allows you to absorb salient points while good progress and motivation is maintained.
What do we mean by “grades” as a measuring tool? We use the ABRSM/Trinity “classical” syllabus, but in most respects this applies to the Jazz grades as well. If you haven’t taken any grades then please contact us to discuss suitability. Also, it'a a requirement to be able to comfortably play your scales with 3 sharps/flats.
– Drums
– Bass
– Guitar
– Keys
Drums: You’ll need to bring your own kit.
Keys: You’ll need to bring your own keyboard.
Guitar/Bass: You’ll need to bring your own amps.
Lunch not included.
Arrive: 9.30am onwards
Session one: 10am - 11.15am
Morning break: 11.15am - 11.45am
Session two: 11.45am - 1pm
Lunch: 1pm - 2pm
Session three: 2pm - 3pm
Afternoon break: 3pm - 3.30pm
Session four: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
