Rob Luft (right) with Marcus Miller at the Montreux Jazz Acadamy 2017 Photo credit: Marc Ducrest / FFJM

Sebastian writes: 

The next set of BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for 2019-21 has been announced, and includes guitarist Rob Luft, who thereby becomes the seventh jazz artist to be part of the prestigious scheme.

Rob Luft was a member of NYJO from the age of 15, was on the jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music, where he won the Kenny Wheeler prize. In 2015 he was the recipient of the Peter Whittingham Award as part of two collective ensembles – Patchwork Jazz Orchestra and jazz-rock quartet Big Bad Wolf. He won second prize in the Montreux Jazz guitar competition  in 2016. He has been twice nominated at the Jazz FM Awards, and once at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. His debut album Riser (Edition) came out in 2017. In his CD review, Peter Jones reviewed the CD and wrote that the whole album was “fizzing with vitality and stuffed full of quirky and original musical ideas. . In her review of the album launch, Leah Williams was captivated by “the joyous, unique sound that pervades Luft’s writing and playing.”

The BBC’s Press Release describes the scheme:

“Now in its twentieth year, BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme was founded in 1999 with the aim of nurturing and promoting some of the world’s best young musicians at the start of their international careers. Over the past twenty years the scheme has featured a series of major names from the world of classical music today, including violinist Janine Jansen, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote and percussionist Colin Currie.

“New Generation Artists are given the opportunity to broadcast from some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and festivals, make studio recordings, and collaborate with other NGAs in chamber music. Every New Generation Artist performs in Radio 3’s flagship Lunchtime Concert series from Wigmore Hall; there are also opportunities to work with the BBC Orchestras, and for new music commissions.

“Through supporting the brightest musicians in reaching the next stage of their careers, the NGA scheme showcases new talent to listeners across the UK through a series of BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. Over the past 20 years the scheme has supported well over a hundred internationally recognised artists as diverse as pianists Igor Levit and Beatrice Rana, Andrei Ionita (cello), Lawrence Power (viola), Mark Simpson (clarinet), the Pavel Haas and Belcea Quartets, Sean Shibe (guitar), singers including Elizabeth Watts (soprano) and Ashley Riches (bass-baritone), jazz trumpeter Laura Jurd, and Gwilym Simcock (jazz piano).” (Quote ends)

LIST OF PREVIOUS BBC RADIO 3 JAZZ NEW GENERATION ARTISTS

– Bassist Misha Mullov- Abbado (2017-19)

– Trumpeter Laura Jurd (2015-17)

– Saxophonist Trish Clowes (2012-2014)

– Clarinettist/saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (2010-12)

– Trumpeter Tom Arthurs (2008-10)

– Pianist Gwilym Simcock (2006-08)