Jazz Aberdeen

Jazz Aberdeen to Warm Up City with Preview Public Performance

In recent years, new names in Jazz from Jamie Cullum to Norah Jones have stripped jazz of its reputation for being more the music of choice for the older generation, and left all the nation’s generations tuning into the latest in jazzy refrains, from Dixieland to Blues.

Jazz Aberdeen will be tapping into the nation’s newfound love for jazz on Saturday 4th March 2006 as they warm up Aberdeen shoppers with a quartet performance in the Bon Accord Centre
St. Nicholas shopping centre, prior to the opening of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival on Wednesday 8 March. Four musicians from Jazz Aberdeen will treat shoppers to two hours of jazzy numbers, from 12 noon till 2 pm, in the lower mall of the shopping centre’s central atrium.

Director Of Jazz Aberdeen Neil Gibbons

Co-director of Jazz Aberdeen, Neil Gibbons, says: “We are very happy to be making an appearance in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre on Saturday 4th March, to help mark the start of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival. The festival will run from the 8th - 12th March at venues throughout the city, including the Lemon Tree, The Blue Lamp, The Tunnels and the
Music Hall. In the shopping centre this weekend we’ll have a piano, saxophone, guitar, bass and possibly some drums too – so we may even have a jazz quintet!”

Aberdeen Jazz Festival Brochures

In addition to the musicians, there will also be representatives from the jazz festival in the shopping centre this weekend, displaying posters and brochures to advertise the festival.



“By performing in the shopping centre, we hope to make people aware of the breadth and quality of jazz in Aberdeen,” continues Neil.

Manager of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre

Frank Sutherland, manager of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, says: “The Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre is always happy to support local companies and I’m really looking forward to this performance by Aberdeen Jazz in the shopping centre. This preview performance should be a great way to get Aberdeen in the mood for the forthcoming jazz festival!”

Chris

Kidney Research UK Aberdeen Collection

From No Hair to Grey Hair: Kidney Research UK
Knows No Boundaries

The Aberdeen branch of Kidney Research UK will be asking local shoppers in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre to join them in their commitment to their unofficial adage, “From No Hair to Grey Hair”, as they hold a collection, which will go towards helping those of all ages suffering with kidney problems, this Saturday (4 March) in the lower mall of the central atrium of the shopping centre.

Local Kidney Research UK volunteer Alistair Reid, will be collecting for the charity in the shopping centre this weekend. Having retired from work through ill health himself in 1992, he took up charity work in his spare time. He now deals with the bookings and collections aspect of the Aberdeen branch of Kidney Research UK and explains his reasons for getting involved:

“Kidney problems affect people of all ages, young and old. According to a recent UK survey, roughly one in five babies are born with malformed kidneys, and one in ten people have chronic kidney disease. Only by raising money for Kidney Research UK, can we hope to reduce the numbers affected.”

The money raised will be split between Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the University of Aberdeen, and fund a range of activities, including research into treatment, home dialysis and post treatment care.

“Last year the Aberdeen group raised just shy of £8,000, and this year we really want to beat that target. Hopefully the people of Aberdeen can live up to their generous nature of last year and donate as much as they can afford to Kidney Research UK once again in the shopping centre this weekend,” adds Alistair.

Centre manager, Frank Sutherland, says: “For as little or as much as they can afford, shoppers in the centre can make a donation to this very worthwhile cause. Alistair Reid is doing a fantastic job for the Aberdeen group of Kidney Research UK and on behalf of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, I am very happy to be hosting this collection in the centre.”

Chris