Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival
(28th April - 4th May) has become an unmissable date in the jazz
calendar due to its unique blend of British stars, one off
collaborations and the freshest new sounds. In the 2009 programme,
up-and-coming young musicians sit alongside some of the jazz scene's
most influential and respected performers. With more opportunities
for dancing, wining and dining than ever before, this year's
festival is a whistle-stop tour of the world's finest jazz set to a
stunning regency backdrop
At
the head of this year's star-studded programme, world famous
virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy will celebrate the Bank Holiday in
a spell-binding festival finale. Undoubtedly one of the most
important violinists Britain has ever produced, Kennedy's passion
for jazz resulted in the acclaimed album Blue Note Sessions in 2006.
He brings his Polish Jazz Quintet to Cheltenham to perform exciting
high-energy compositions which roam from blues and bebop to ballads
and bossa-nova, interspersed with an occasional blast of metal. This
is a unique and exciting opportunity to see this icon of British
music.
International starlet Madeleine
Peyroux returns to Cheltenham following her sell-out performance in
2007. Her previous albums Half the World Away and Careless Love sold
over a million copies, earning critical-acclaim for her jazz/blues
interpretations of works by artists such as Leonard Cohen and Edith
Piath. In the intimate setting of the Everyman this will be Peyroux
at her jazz club best.
At its heart, Cheltenham rejoices
in the talent of some truly legendary jazz performers. South African
trumpeter Hugh Masekela boasts a career that spans the entire
history of jazz. Having collaborated with such diverse musicians as
Paul Simon and Fela Kuti, his performance in Cheltenham promises a
gloriously uplifting combination of jazz and township jive to
fabulous effect.
Cheltenham's relationship with BBC
Radio 2 continues to flourish with two unique concerts. In Friday
Night Is Music Night the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Guy Barker
Big Band tell the story of Billy Strayhorn and his controversial
relationship with Duke Ellington, whilst in a renowned festival
collaboration, Artist in Residence Dave Liebman performs with the
BBC Big Band. As the leading preserver of John Coltrane's saxophone
legacy, Liebman's gentle approach will be complemented by the
accompanying sounds of drummer Jeff Williams. Liebman will also
share the secrets of his success in a live recording of BBC Radio 3
Jazz Library with jazz guru Alyn Shipton.
Following sell-out performances
last year, Jack DeJohnette returns to Cheltenham for a unique
performance with a band featuring the finest UK's talent from the
Jerwood Jazz Generation and Take 5 schemes. One of jazz music's
greatest drummers, this is a hugely anticipated collaboration. In a
festival association pianist Nikki Yeoh performs with her excellent
Trio Infinitum to present a number of specially commissioned pieces
featuring guest John Surman.
The programme takes us on a heady
journey from iconic legends to stars of the 
future
courtesy of the Jerwood Jazz Generation - a showcase for the very
best young talent in the UK. James Allsop's new trio The Golden Age
of Steam promises a multi-coloured world of improvised sound whilst
Robert Mitchell celebrates hip-hop, folk, electronica and rock with
his new group 3i0. Elsewhere BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Tom
Arthurs debuts his new quintet featuring festival favourite Ingrid
Laubrock and Chris Bowden sets out to prove that jazz can be as
contemporary and relevant as modern sampled music. With unique
approaches and refreshing energy, each musician of the Jerwood Jazz
Generation offers the chance to hear some truly cutting edge sounds.
The festival also has plenty of
opportunities to dance the night away. With her infectiously unique
fusion of rockabilly, blues and jazz, Imelda May's star is on the
rise. In this headline slot at club Dakota, Imelda's distinctive and
uplifting performance is bound to be a toe-tapping festival
highlight. For some international grooves join Alex Wilson's Salsa
Orchestra as they delight with a combination of fiery afro Latin
tunes, soaring jazz licks, unique R&B influences and powerful
vocals. At the other end of the dance spectrum, YouTube sensation
Beardyman will be joined by The Scratch Perverts for a night of
off-the-wall human beat-boxing and scratching - jazz style. These
entertaining and diverse concerts will have jazz lovers dancing
through the night…
In four glamorous evenings the
festival brings a series of unique performances to the beautiful Art
Deco setting of The Daffodil. The series starts in chic style with
the sublime vocals of Lizzy Parks. Since featuring as a Jerwood
Rising Star three years ago, Lizzy's cutting edge soul and unique
sound has won her wide critical acclaim. In another truly
unforgettable performance Lea Delaria will bring her trademark mix
of cool swinging jazz with in-your-face comedy to The Daffodil. For
some classic jazz tunes, Scottish singer Todd Gordon will perform
songs from his new album which celebrates the genius of one of the
world's greatest lyricists of all time, Johnny Mercer, who penned
such timeless classics as Moon River and That Old Black Magic. And
in his highly anticipated return to Cheltenham, movie star Colin
Salmon takes time from his Hollywood schedule to play the trumpet in
his very own quartet in an evening of unrivalled Hollywood glamour.
Combining smooth sounds and the finest eating experience in
Cheltenham, these concerts are always a firm festival favourite.
In our very popular family
breakfast slot, The Homemade Orchestra and Michael Rosen form a
unique combination and a lively addition to the festival. Together
they will perform a piece which combines Rosen's poetry with music
to ignite the surreal, playful and truly unexpected. Add to this a
gospel extravaganza with the Ruach Choir and guests including Mica
Paris, the schools' project Jazz It Up!, master classes, free fringe
events round town, the Budvar Jazz Marquee and even our very own
jazz inspired cocktails - and this year's programme offers a feast
of festival fun.
