Musicians and singers from Years 7–9 took part in an inspiring afternoon of jazz improvisation this week, as we welcomed 35 pupils from partner schools Eltham Hill and Harris Academy Greenwich for a joint workshop with the acclaimed Blues & Roots Ensemble.
Across two lively sessions, singers and instrumentalists explored the foundations of jazz through a series of professional‑led rehearsals. Vocalists worked on two contrasting pieces – Truth Spoken Here by Dorothy Ashby and Maraba Blue by Abdullah Ibrahim – while instrumentalists took on the rhythmic challenge of So Long Eric by the great American jazz musician and champion of improvisation, Charles Mingus.
The workshops culminated in an evening performance featuring the Blues & Roots Ensemble alongside the participating students. The concert gave pupils the opportunity to showcase the skills they had developed throughout the afternoon, from ensemble playing to improvisation. The event also featured three solo moments: a performance from Colfe’s pupil Naima, a vocalist from Eltham Hill School, and a band from Harris Academy Greenwich, each demonstrating impressive confidence and musicianship.
Director of Music Tim Newberry said the event was “a fantastic opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the world of improvisational jazz, build their performance skills and learn alongside peers from other schools. We were delighted to see such a keen contribution from our visiting pupils and it was excellent to see such enthusiasm and collaboration between the pupils from all schools.”
