The Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2015 - Thoughts Of The BWShow

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival Programme was officially launched on 7^th February.  At last we all know who will be appearing although, since December, we have been fed little tasters when a few acts were announced.  This tends to be the trick of most festivals these days, establishing it firmly in the festival goer’s mind, in anticipation of the big launch.  The question in my mind, and maybe some others, was ‘Could Festival Director Ian George go one step further and make it even better than last year?’ 

Now that the full line-up has been revealed, I think it’s even stronger than previous years and covers every genre of music you can possibly connect to this festival, from Blues to Jazz, to Soul and Funk, along with the exciting collaborations that Cheltenham is famous for.  Ian has gone down the familiar route, with the return of Jamie Cullum as Guest Director, Friday Night is Music Night and an extra-special collaboration of Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter, featuring the music of Gershwin.

Some say ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ but I’d argue, in this case, familiarity brings ticket sales.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that both Friday Night is Music Night and Gershwin Rediscovered will be sell-outs.  The younger, hip crowds have not been forgotten either; they’ll be enticed by the return of the famous Club Nights with Giles Peterson and Go Go Penguin appearing on the Saturday, and Squarepusher on the Sunday.  Cutting edge, traditional and ground breaking, Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2015 has it ALL on the menu for music lovers this May.

In terms of the Programme, here is my mini-selection of the must-see acts this year:

·      Phronesis Pitch Black – the band will be performing music from their album Life to Everything (which is superb) in darkness. This is in tribute to band member Jasper Holby’s sister, who sadly lost her sight.

·      In Bed With – a collaboration between Sylvain Darrifourcq with Julien Desprez on guitar and Kit Downes on keys.  The show has already been performed with good reviews.

·      Go Go Penguin – Mercury Prize nominated Go Go Penguin are appearing with Giles Peterson as part of the Saturday Night Club Night. This band is on the cutting edge of the new wave of free improvisation jazz bands and are not to be missed!

·      The Edge Project – Alexander Hawkins and Elaine Mitchener come together to produce an unusual and creative encounter with Jazz Standards, while the Impermanence Trio will let the audience decide what they play in their set.  A thrilling end to Saturday.

·      Medeski Martin & Wood, featuring Jamie Cullum – a rare appearance on these shores for John Medeski and his band.  This, along with the fact that they are a superb band, live and recorded, is a great reason to make a point of seeing them.

To be honest, whatever your selection, you will not be disappointed.  The entire line-up is pure quality and I know that all performances will showcase huge talent.  Full details of the Programme, along with booking procedures, can be found at:  www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz.  Also check out all the additional events that add to this great festival.

THE PROGRAMME IN FULL Wednesday 29 April 2015 Alice Zawadzki  THE DAFFODIL Thursday 30 April 2015 Beth Hart THE JAZZ ARENA Caro Emerald  THE BIG TOP Nina Ferro THE DAFFODIL Friday 1 May 2015 Alice Russell JAZZ ARENA Phronesis: Pitch Black PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Friday Night is Music Night – The Sinatra Legacy THE BIG TOP Andrea Motis & Joan Chamorro Group THE DAFFODIL Late night jazz club: Soul Family & Festival Friends THE DAFFODIL Saturday 2 May 2015 Trondheim Jazz Exchange PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Kizzy Crawford JAZZ ARENA Ben Cox & Jamie Safiruddin HOTEL DU VIN Sun Ra Arkestra THE BIG TOP Jonathan Silk Sextet PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Lee Konitz and Dave Douglas Quintet TOWN HALL Tony Allen THE JAZZ ARENA Wilko Johnson THE BIG TOP Samuel Blaser Trio PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Clare Teal TOWN HALL Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band THE JAZZ ARENA Sugar Sisters THE DAFFODIL The Edge Project PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Martha Reeves & The Vandellas THE BIG TOP The Speakeasy THE DAFFODIL Gilles Peterson and GoGo Penguin TOWN HALL Sunday 3 May 2015 Surnatural Orchestra PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Natalie Williams THE JAZZ ARENA Double bill: Si Cranstoun & Purdy THE BIG TOP In Bed With... PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE John Scofield meets Pablo Held Trio THE JAZZ ARENA Medeski Martin & Wood with special guest Jamie Cullum THE BIG TOP Rachael Cohen Quartet featuring Phil Robson PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba THE JAZZ ARENA Average White Band Plus The Staxs TOWN HALL Rumer THE BIG TOP Julian Arguelles Septet PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE Squarepusher Live TOWN HALL Monday 4 May 2015 Family Show: Supersonics JAZZ ARENA Hackney Colliery Band THE BIG TOP FRINGE SHOWCASE: Melissa James & Hattie Briggs THE JAZZ ARENA Neil Cowley Trio JAZZ ARENA Gershwin Rediscovered feat. Gregory Porter and Laura Mvula created by Ignite THE BIG TOP