Jazz Improvisation – Pete Letanka – Nat Gonella, Gosport Jazz Musician
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Students from Bay House School and Sixth Form, worked with jazz musician Pete Letanka to write their own song inspired by the legendary local trumpeter Nat Gonella. Two days of hard work at St John’s Arts in Gosport culminated in a magnificent live performance of their own piece, recorded by Quay West Studios. Musicians from Pete’s band, Chris Higginbottom and Sam Burgess joined Bay House for the performance. Together with the students they brought their own composition and that of Nat Gonella to life.
Pete Letanka is a jazz pianist, composer, workshop leader and presenter. He studied Jazz and contemporary music at Leeds College of Music, where he won a scholarship to spend a year studying under (Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition winner) Mark Polishook at the University of Maine, USA. He graduated in 1997 with a 1st class BA (hons) and the Leeds University Armes award for the highest mark in the year.
In 2005 he formed The Pete Letanka Trio and has performed regularly at leading jazz venues and concert halls across the UK including Ronnie Scotts, the Purcell Room and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. In 2005, he was signed to Zephyr Records (the award-winning jazz record label) who released his debut album, “Afrostocracy”.
His work as a composer has led to collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Centre, the Pasadena Pops (California, USA), Royal Opera House, English National Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He has worked in schools and prisons across the UK, inspiring vulnerable young people to find new confidence through composition and improvisation.
Find out more about Pete and his work here: https://www.peteletanka.com
Recorded at St Johns, Gosport by Quay West Studios