SCHOOL CONCERT Emma Fisk & James Birkett - Guitar and Violin

Emma Fisk is a jazz violinist based in the North East of England, specialising in Hot Club/ Gypsy Jazz, Classic Jazz and Swing styles. She has received critical acclaim both for her spirited gypsy jazz performances, and her interpretations of the music of early-jazz violin master, Joe Venuti. As well as performing the music of Venuti and Lang with James, Emma leads hot club quartet Hot Club du Nord ; is a long standing member of Gypsy Jazz quartet Djangologie with whom she has toured and recorded for 15 years; performs in a piano/ violin duo with jazz pianist/composer Paul Edis,  and has appeared as guest violinist at jazz festivals and clubs throughout the UK. She has performed with many inspiring jazz musicians including  Keith Nichols, Jeff Barnhart, Remi Harris Trio, Spats Langham, Enrico Tomasso, Matthias Seuffert, Duke Heitger, Daryl Sherman, Cecile McLorin-Salvant, Andy Schumm, the Tony Oreshko Trio, Michael McQuaid, Josh Duffee, Frans Sjostrom, Guy Barker, Mike Piggott, Mellow Baku, Morten Gunnar Larson, Lars Frank, Martin Litton, Robert Fowler, David Boeddinghaus and Jean-Francois Bonnel.

James Birkett has worked as a professional guitarist since the 1970s, undertaking the full range of freelance work, including TV/Radio, backing artists, concerts, theatre orchestras and musicals, etc. As a jazz guitarist he continues to direct a variety of jazz ensembles for concerts, recordings, broadcasts and festivals. Over the years he has had the pleasure of working with major jazz soloists from the UK (Digby Fairweather, John Barnes, Dick Morrissey, Don Weller, Roy Williams, Harry Becket, Don Rendell, Guy Barker, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams, Jamie Talbot, Ronnie Ross, Peter King, Alan Skidmore, Brian Lemon, Al Gay, Chris ‘Snake’ Davis) and the USA (Scott Hamilton, Bud Freeman, Peanuts Hucko, Spike Robinson, Kenny Davern, Harry Allen). As a jazz educator James has  had a profound impact on the North East's jazz scene since the 1980s, having developed and led the pioneering Graduate Diploma and BMus (Hons) degree programmes in Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music. He is  currently Director of Jazz for the Youth Music Programme and Artistic Advisor: Jazz, Popular and Contemporary Music for The Centre for Advanced Training at The Sage, Gateshead.