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Partly cloudyMagazine
Self-taught Jon is the ace of bass
by Conrad Astley21/ 7/2005
THE Manchester jazz festival holds a special place in Jon
Thorne's heart.
The double bass player was involved in the initial meetings to get
the event set up, and has been on the bill at every festival ever
since.
Now 10 years old, the festival contains performances from 50 bands,
at nine venues over nine days.
Jon said: "It's grown enormously. It was originally intended just
to be a forum for local musicians to present their own bands, but
it's blossomed into a festival of the quality that could bring
artists of international standing here.
"It also continues to provide an amazing platform for local
musicians, and there are a lot of special pieces that have been
commissioned specially for the festival."
Jon says the expansion of the festival, which will be broadcast
live by the BBC and sees performances by European artists, reflects
a growing interest in the form, as well as a strong local scene -
bolstered by talented musicians trained at the Royal Northern
College of Music and able to hone their skills at Matt and Phred's
Jazz Club.
He said: "Internationally the popularity of jazz has expanded a lot
recently - if you go into any record store and look at the size of
the jazz department compared to how it was 12 years ago it's
unbelievable.
"It's a very healthy scene up here in terms of the quality of the
musicians that play here. A lot of musicians have chosen to stay
here rather than go down to London, and that's really paid off for
Manchester."
To celebrate the festival's 10th anniversary, Jon has assembled a
group of musicians he calls Oedipus Mingus.
The seven-piece - a variation of his usual band Oedipus Complex -
will play re-workings of tunes by legendary jazz bass player and
band leader Charles Mingus.
This was the man without whom Jon would never have decided to pick
up the double bass, or get into jazz - and he believes he has much
to be thankful for.
Originally born in Hertfordshire before being brought up in
Zimbabwe, Jon settled in Manchester at the age of 15 when his
father moved here two decades ago.
Two years later he left school and worked in numerous jobs
including footpath layer, market trader and cleaner.
After a three-day stint at a slaughterhouse, which led to him
turning vegetarian, Jon got a job at a bookshop where he decided to
read Mingus' autobiography - he had never heard of the musician but
liked the book's front cover.
He recalls, as a 23-year-old, being blown away by the heady tales
of sex, drugs and jazz, and within weeks had bought a double bass
and begun teaching himself.
Fanatical practice and regular attendance at jam sessions meant he
quickly mastered the instrument, and soon got a name for himself -
becoming almost a house bass player at venues such as Night and
Day. Jon's career has since seen him play with dozens of jazz
musicians at events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and London's
606 Club, as well as musicians including electronic artist Robert
Miles, Asian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, and former King Crimson
guitarist Robert Fripp.
Jon also performed with Badly Drawn Boy during one of the singer's
early gigs, and is in talks about appearing on his forthcoming
album.
And his involvement in Manchester-based electronic group Lamb,
which disbanded last year, saw him tour Europe and North America,
play festivals including Glastonbury, and perform at the Brixton
Academy, Shepherds Bush Empire and MEN Arena.
Not a bad career for someone who only decided to pick up the
instrument after reading a book, but Jon believes he owes a lot to
the nurturing environment of his adopted city.
He said: "I'm a very strong advocate of Manchester. I love the
people and the spirit here and music scene has a very strong,
communal feel.
"Everyone's very supportive and it's a lot more friendly and
conducive to creativity than London.
"You've got more chance to develop your own sound at your own pace
here, without being distracted by nonsense like trying to become
famous or make a lot of money.
"Manchester's a very good place for people who are doing it because
they love music."
Jon's personal highlights of the Manchester Jazz Festival include
The Mancunian Way (Sunday, Green Room) Andy Schofield's Suite For
Manchester (Friday, Green Room) and The Stuart McCallum Trio
(Saturday, St Ann's Square).
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