Cheltenham Jazz Festival

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Coordinates: 51°53′24″N 2°04′41″W / 51.890°N 2.078°W / 51.890; -2.078 Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of the UK’s leading jazz festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Science, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year.

The logo of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Contents

[edit] Introduction and history

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival was started in 1996, under the direction of Jim Smith, and has successfully established itself as one of the UK’s most popular jazz festivals. With a programme now developed by Tony Dudley-Evans, the festival’s artistic director, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival consists of a broad range of jazz in many guises. Every year, thousands of music fans come to see some of the most creative musicians in the world.

The festival currently has the Czech beer company Budvar as its 'title' sponsor: therefore making the full name of the festival 'Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival'.

[edit] Previous artists

The Festival has presented a range of star names over the years, including Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Van Morrison, Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland, Eartha Kitt (in her last ever UK performance), Chick Corea, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Gilles Peterson, the BBC Big Band, Dave Holland, Mr Scruff, Charles Lloyd, Silje Nergaard, Guillemots, Madeleine Peyroux, The Cinematic Orchestra, Curtis Stigers, The Nextmen, Bennie Maupin, Marti Pellow, Ben Allison, Michael Brecker, Dianne Reeves, The Claudia Quintet, Courtney Pine, Zoe Rahman, Cassandra Wilson, Benny Golson, Joe Zawinul, Adrian Adlam, and Ray Brown.

In previous years, the festival has also featured an artist in residence, and these have included:

[edit] The programme

The festival has a varied and adventurous programme, and aims to challenge the stylistic boundaries set by other festivals and developing new audiences in jazz. It can be seen to have earned a prestigious reputation for innovation and creativity, and has a continuing relationship with BBC Radio 2.

The festival prides itself on featuring a wide range of jazz: as well as featuring legends of the genre, with jazz standards, big bands and soloists, the festival includes a substantial amount of modern cross-over club jazz acts and contemporary music.

[edit] The Jerwood Jazz Generation

The Jerwood Jazz Generation series is the result of a long-standing partnership between the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation to nurture the British Jazz legends of the future. Since 2002[1] the scheme has backed more than 50 young British artists who come to Cheltenham to premiere a new commission, launch a new band or for a valuable second outing of a new project. The series has seen such rising stars as Bryan Corbett, Soweto Kinch, Ingrid Laubrock, Gwilym Simcock and Seb Rochford, and has produced landmark projects such as Denys Baptiste’s Let Freedom Ring! and Abram Wilson’s Ride! – Ferris Wheel to the Modern Day Delta.

[edit] The Fringe

As the festival grows so does its side line, The Fringe. Located in pubs, parks and restaurants around Cheltenham, The Fringe allows small bands and artists to show their talent and make a name for themselves. Many gigs are often free and enable people who do not have tickets for everything to get a little taster of what else is going on in the jazz world, whilst significantly contributing to the festival vibe throughout the town. Many famous performers such as Jamie Cullum have played at the Fringe before becoming successful jazz musicians.

[edit] Education

A variety of workshops and ‘masterclasses’ are available to children, teenagers and adults throughout the festival. These have included popular band, drum and voice workshops, as well as advice from jazz musicians on performance and improvisation.

[edit] Venues

The events of Cheltenham Jazz Festival take place in a number of different venues, and have included the Everyman Theatre, the Cheltenham Racecourse, The Daffodil Restaurant, St. Andrew's Church, Subtone night club, the University of Gloucestershire, and the main festival venue, the Cheltenham Town Hall. Outdoor stages are also used, such as the "Budvar Jazz Marquee", in Imperial Gardens.

[edit] Festival history

[edit] 2009

The 2009 logo of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, reflecting Budvar's title sponsorship.
[edit] Big names

Hugh Masekela, Nigel Kennedy, BBC Big Band, The Souljazz Orchestra, Beardyman, Portico Quartet, Jack DeJohnette, Madeleine Peyroux, Robert Mitchell, Alex Wilson, Pat Martino, Dave Douglas, Don Byron, John Surman, Nikki Yeoh, BBC Concert Orchestra, Dave Liebman, Imelda May, Lea Delaria, and the Scratch Perverts.

[edit] Budvar's title sponsorship

After being previous partners with the Festival (as the 'official drink' in 2007 and hosting the popular 'Budvar Jazz Marquee' and competition 'Budvar Brewed Jazz' in 2008), the year 2009 saw the Czech beer company Budvar successfully become the title sponsors of Cheltenham's Jazz Festival: making the full name "Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival".

[edit] 2008

[edit] Big names

Eartha Kitt (in her last-ever UK performance), Cleo Laine, Maceo Parker, Carol Brewster, Dennis Rollins, John Dankworth, Ruby Turner, Imelda May, Courtney Pine, Bill Frisell, Jack DeJohnette, Van Morrison, Gilles Peterson, Jose James, the BBC Big Band, Elan Mehler, Roberto Fonseca, Nicola Conte, Tawiah, and Mr Scruff.

[edit] Jerwood Jazz Generation artists

Soweto Kinch, Iain Ballamy, Phil Robson, Dave Stapleton, and Pete Wareham.

[edit] Fringe artists

2008’s ‘Fringe’ performers included: Nia Lynn's 'The Bannau Trio', Le Tatou Bleu, Swing From Paris, Blue Soup, Monk's Milk, Strung Out, Clint Denyer, The Dave Greatrex trio, Joe Summers, Rokhsan Heydari, Peter Hopcroft Quartet, Step Change, Sam Wooster trio, Ricardo Gazzini, Alex Merritt Quartet, Aida severo, Xposed Club Performance, Edward Leaker Trio, Fat Digester, Moment's Notice, Tym Jozwiak, Adam Sanders Quintet, 8-Fold, Ben Bryden, Jamie Safiruddin Quartet, Espresso, Patsy Gamble, Salsa del sol, Andre Canniere, Tommy Charles Quartet, Melonious Funk, IPSO Facto, Big Brunch Band, Steve Franks & Janey Ross, Bunty and The Worm, Tom Bunting quartet, Gareth Roberts Quintet, Alcyona Mick Quintet, Free Spirits and Royal Oak Brass.

[edit] Quotes

The Independent "an event that now rivals London's for the position of leading UK jazz festival"

Birmingham Post "a music festival with a glorious present and a very insiring future"

The Daily Telegraph "The Cheltenham Jazz Festival rose to its climax, with events bursting from every nook and cranny."

The Times "This year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival was more ambitious than ever… what has always set Cheltenham apart is its mixture of the new with well-established artists." ****

[edit] Cheltenham festivals

Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival is just one of the four festivals that Cheltenham Festivals run each year. Combined with the Science, Music and Literature Festivals, Cheltenham Festivals host over 700 events across 12 months. The four festivals have worked together to ensure Cheltenham’s enviable reputation as the festival capital of Britain, and attract some of the art’s biggest names.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]
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