AB Workshops
Music Workshops – 07711 998058
Simon Allen Jazz Improv Workshop - Making The Changes10th July 2026
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1AZ
Simon Allen Jazz Improv Workshop - Making The Changes10th July 2026
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1AZ
On Friday 10th July 2026 AB Workshops welcomes Simon Allen, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer/arranger, for a one day Jazz Improvisation Workshop.
This is brought to you in partnership with Swanage Jazz Festival.
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 Friday 10th July 2026 AB Workshops welcomes Simon Allen, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer/arranger, for a one day Jazz Improvisation Workshop.
This is brought to you in partnership with Swanage Jazz Festival.
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 are new to Improvising or confident soloing over changes, Simon will offer tips and advice on how to get the most out of your playing, covering aspects including:
– Rhythmic and Melodic Motific development
– Developing harmonic language through chord tone / chord scale improvisation
– Group interaction
– Making your warm up Musical! And directly linking it to your practise
Simon, as a multi-instrumentalist (sax, drums, bass, piano), will be working with a small group of front line players and also be giving the rhythm section players special attention too! Simon will give every rhythm instrument aspects to work on at the same time as working with front line instruments on improvising, focusing on group interaction etc.
Also, Swanage Jazz Festival will give a 50% discount on the Friday ticket – starts 4pm – to workshop participants. Discount code to be sent out separately.
“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 Emmanuel Baptist Church in beautiful Dorset, with excellent facilities
- One full day of tutor lead sessions
- Suitable for the following instruments: Front line instruments such as saxophone, trumpet etc, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Keys
- Workshop runs from 10am – 4pm, 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 £60
- FREE parking (subject to availability)
- Safe, simple, secure. We have now set it up for you to be able to book easier than ever before, simply BOOK ONLINE
Alternatively if you have any questions on the suitability of this course for you we will be happy to help. Contact us at hello@abworkshops.com or by calling 07711 998058 and we will be happy to discuss your needs further.
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 - 3.15pm
Session four: 3.15pm - 4pm
