Fresh from releasing his globally acclaimed new studio album ‘Duets: Reworking The Catalogue’, which features collaborations with the likes of Gregory Porter, Michael Buble, Clare Teal and others, pop maverick Van Morrison has been confirmed to perform at the opening night of this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The visionary songwriter joins an already star-studded line-up that includes Gregory Porter, Beth Hart, Martha Reeves, Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Lee Konitz, Squarepusher, Laura Mvula, Sun Ra Arkestra, Tony Allen and many more.
Festival Director Ian George:
“We are obviously delighted to have been able to add Van Morrison to the programme for this year’s festival. He’s universally regarded as one of the most singular artists of all time and I can’t think of a better way to kick off proceedings.”
Cheltenham Jazz Festival runs from April 29th – May 4th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens.
Van Morrison performs at The Big Top on Wednesday April 29th. The full programme is available to view here.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns at the end of April with a bold programme featuring a range of exclusive one-off performances, unique collaborations, special commissions and debut UK appearances from a heady mix of established stars and emerging talent.
Taking place across 6 days from April 29th – May 4th, this year’s festival will present a smart balance of classic and contemporary jazz, blues, soul and pop from a string of pioneering acts including million-selling singer-songwriter Rumer, Dutch superstar Caro Emerald, experimental producer and composer Squarepusher, one of the queens of soul Martha Reeves, world-renowned DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, Californian blues-rocker Beth Hart, and consummate jazz singer and broadcaster Clare Teal.
Once again returning as Guest Director is Jamie Cullum who, alongside handpicking a selection of events for this year’s programme, will perform with trailblazing US jazz funk jam band Medeski, Martin & Wood. Other high profile acts on the bill include venerable jazz-fusion star John Scofield, whose collaboration with German pianist Pablo Held’s trio is currently receiving rave reviews (“a fascinating fresh setting for a unique guitarist who always means business” The Guardian), the mystical sounds of the Sun Ra Arkestra, master ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate, the UK premiere of jazz heavyweight Lee Konitz’s new quintet featuring virtuoso trumpeter Dave Douglas, and a treat for fans of Afrobeat in the form of two contrasting but equally outstanding concerts – a Saturday afternoon show from legendary African drummer Tony Allen, who performs music from his acclaimed 2014 album Film of Life, followed that evening by Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band, an inventive 7-piece outfit which explores the connection between West African music and jazz.
BBC Radio 2 continues its long-term association with the festival and has confirmed a range of activity across the week. Alongside live festival-themed shows recorded onsite by Jamie Cullum on Saturday May 2nd and Clare Teal on Sunday May 3rd, the network will air Caro Emerald’s concert on Thursday April 30th, a Frank Sinatra-themed ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’ featuring appearances from Kurt Elling, Clare Teal and Anthony Strong on Friday 1st, and a world premiere to close the festival on Monday 4th, a celebration of the music of George and Ira Gershwin featuring Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter.
Justifying its reputation as one of the most forward-thinking festivals in Europe, a varied collection of the next generation of global jazz stars are represented this year by the likes of Anglo-French trio In Bed With, Suiss trombonist and composer Samuel Blaser, Spanish singer and multi-instrumentalist Andrea Motis, the first ever UK performance by the inimitable Surnatural Orchestra, and European trio Phronesis, whose Pitch Black project will be performed in total darkness.
A wide range of top UK-based talent will appear on the bill including East London’s unique take on the brass band Hackney Colliery Band, Mercury-nominated piano trio GoGo Penguin, who will join Gilles Peterson at the festival’s much-anticipated club night, funk favourites Average White Band, Neil Cowley Trio, the Rachael Cohen Quartet featuring Phil Robson, soul diva Natalie Williams, a double bill featuring the soulful vocals of Si Cranstoun and Purdy, and the Julian Arguelles Septet, a band formed especially for the festival.
Opening on International Jazz Day, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns at the end of April with an incredibly unique and diverse programme packed with jazz, world and blues legends, superstar international acts and outstanding emerging talent.
Running across six days from April 30th – May 5th, this year’s festival presents a star-studded line-up featuring the likes of Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Jamie Cullum, who will premiere his eagerly anticipated new album backed by an 11-piece big band, a special 70th birthday concert from jazz fusion trailblazer Billy Cobham, five-time Grammy-winner Robert Cray, the incomparable Laura Mvula, who returns to Cheltenham as this year’s Artist in Residence, as well as shows from big hitters such as Jools Holland, Curtis Stigers, Tinariwen, Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and Frank Sinatra Jnr.
The younger generation will be represented by the likes of rising-star US trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, the inspirational Zimbabwe-born vocalist ESKA, BBC Sound of 2014 nominee Nick Mulvey, and acclaimed New York-based instrumental fusion band Snarky Puppy, who are teaming up with DJ Gilles Peterson for the return of the festival’s popular club night. Among an impressive roster of British talent being showcased will be the much talked about reunion of acclaimed big band Loose Tubes, one of the UK’s most renowned improvisers Paul Dunmall, accomplished pianist Jason Rebello, and the boundary-pushing Julian Siegel Quartet.
The festival continues its association with BBC Radio 2, who will broadcast live on-site across the weekend. Slots include a gangster-themed Friday Night Is Music Night, celebrating the golden age of jazz and featuring the inimitable talents of Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers and Liane Carroll, and a special Jamie Cullum radio show, which will go out live on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to a world class line-up of acts, the Beyond the Band tent will feature talks, workshops and masterclasses and will transform into a ‘silent cinema’, hosting a range of jazz inspired films.
Festival Director Ian George:
“We’re proud to once again be delivering a really diverse Festival programme that covers the entire jazz spectrum, incorporating blues, soul, funk, world music and more. We welcome musical megastars alongside the brightest emerging talents, all set against the beautiful backdrop of regency Cheltenham.”
The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from April 30th – May 5th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens, featuring a Big Top stage, the Jazz Arena, and a food, drink and market area.
Tickets go on sale to members from February 24th and on general sale from March 3rd.
The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival line-up is below.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2014 – Full Programme
April 30th
Jamie Cullum
The Big Top 9pm
Jason Rebello
The Daffodil
9.15pm
May 1st
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
The Jazz Arena
7pm
Judith Owen
The Daffodil
9.15pm
Laura Mvula
The Big Top
8.30pm
May 2nd
ESKA with special guest Laura Mvula
The Jazz Arena
6.30pm
Julian Siegel Quartet
The Playhouse 8pm
Friday Night Is Music Night – Hoods, Horns & Hooch
The Big Top 8pm
Hailey Tuck
The Daffodil
9.15pm
May 3rd
Anthony Marsden
Hotel Du Vin 12pm
Paul Dunmall Sextet
The Playhouse 12.15pm
Nick Mulvey
The Jazz Arena 12.30pm
Loose Tubes
The Big Top 2pm
Denys Baptiste – Now is the Time…
Town Hall
3.45pm
Tigran
The Jazz Arena 4.15pm
Michael Wollny Trio
The Playhouse 6pm
Robert Cray
The Big Top 5.30pm
Kurt Elling Quartet
Town Hall 7pm
Tinariwen
The Jazz Arena
7.15pm
The Speakeasy
The Daffodil 10.30pm – 2am
The Edge Project
The Playhouse 10pm
Gilles Peterson and Snarky Puppy
Town Hall 10.30pm
May 4th
Trondheim Jazz Exchange
Parabola Arts Centre 11.45am
Sunday Lunch with Laithwaite’s Wine and Nearly Hot Club Four
The Daffodil
Bar open 11.30am
Lunch served 12.30pm
Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
The Jazz Arena
1.15pm
Jake Isaac and Lake Street Dive
The Big Top 2.30pm
Iain Ballamy’s Anorak XL
Parabola Arts Centre
3pm
Liane Carroll Trio
The Jazz Arena
4.15pm
Billy Cobham at 70
The Big Top
5.45pm
Dan Nicholls’ Strobes + ByramArt
Parabola Arts Centre
6pm
Sinatra Sings Sinatra
The Jazz Arena
7.15pm
Gregory Porter and Blue Note Guests
The Big Top
9pm
Thomas StrØnen’s Time Is A Blind Guide
Parabola Arts Centre
9pm
May 5th
Family Show: Jazz All Stars ft . Natalie Williams
The Jazz Arena
11am
London Afrobeat Collective
The Big Top
1pm
Fringe Showcase: Jo Silver and the Café Bohemia & The Indigo Kings
The Jazz Arena
2.30pm
Curtis Stigers
The Big Top 4.15pm
Get The Blessing and Kairos 4Tet
The Jazz Arena
6.45pm
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra featuring Gregory Porter and guests
A host of world class musicians will once again descend on the Cotswold town of Cheltenham in May 2014 for the return of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Although full details of the line-up are yet to be disclosed, the organisers have made an initial announcement which hints that the programme will again feature the festival’s trademark mix of jazz icons and up-and-coming new artists interspersed with unique, one-off performances from established international stars.
Amongst the first names confirmed for next year’s festival are five-time Grammy-winner Robert Cray; world renowned DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, who will perform a DJ set at a late night club event featuring a live performance from a very special guest band; and the first show in 24 years from acclaimed ‘80s big band Loose Tubes, who are reuniting to mark their 30th anniversary.
“That Loose Tubes have chosen to perform their reunion gig at Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a real coup for the Festival and for Cheltenham” commented Festival Director Ian George. “Loose Tubes were the first ever jazz orchestra to play the BBC Proms and jazz fans round the world have been eagerly hoping for this reunion.”
“Programming for the 2014 Festival is well under way – 2014 will see the return of the popular club nights and we already have some very big names scheduled to appear in the Big Top. The free stage will also return, giving local artists a chance to perform in front of a hugely appreciative jazz crowd, and we will be launching a new talent search for an emerging jazz artist.”
BBC Radio 3 in association with Jazz on 3 have commissioned new pieces from Loose Tubes original members Chris Batchelor, Steve Berry, Eddie Parker and Django Bates. These will be premiered at Cheltenham Jazz festival alongside classic repertoire from the band’s back catalogue including Yellow Hill, Shelley, The Last Word, Sticklebacks and Sunny.
The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from 30 April -5 May and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’sMontpellier Gardens, featuring a Big Top stage, the Jazz Arena, and a food, drink and market area.
Highlights of the 2013 programme include Van Morrison, who will return to Cheltenham to play classic songs from his award-winning back catalogue alongside material from his Blue Note debutBorn to Sing: No Plan B; Madeleine Peyroux will introduce her new album The Blue Room, which sees the genre-blending songstress rework landmark musical gems from legendary artists Ray Charles, Buddy Holly and Leonard Cohen; exclusively for the festival, Noisettes – described as “the best live band in Britain” by The Guardian last year – will perform a stripped back session of sleek soulful pop-songs inspired by jazz and blues greats; universally acclaimed singer Gregory Porter is the festival’s Artist in Residence and will be performing tracks from both his Grammy-nominated debut Water and latest album Be Good; and shows from stars of tomorrow Laura Mvula and Lianne La Havas will demonstrate why the future of British music is brighter than ever
BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night will once again broadcast live from the festival and this year will honour the legendary Georgie Fame at 70. Fame will perform with The Guy Barker Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra and will be joined by special guests Alan Price, Zoot Money and Madeline Bell for a truly unique birthday celebration.
Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and his superb quintet will present music from Grammy-nominated album Spirit Fiction; seven-time Grammy Award-winning vibraphonist Gary Burton will present his latest group comprised of guitar protégée Julian Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Antonio Sanchez; trumpeter Dave Douglas will be bringing his quintet and guest vocalist Heather Masseto perform material from his album Be Still ; whilst Mike Stern, Dave Weckl and Tom Kennedywill all be on stage together as part of the Mike Stern and Bill Evans Band
Mercury Music award nominees Roller Trio will feature in a double bill with Polar Bear, and Seb Rochford of Polar Bear will also be appearing with Sons of Kemet, a post-jazz ensemble that features saxist/clarinettist Shabaka Hutchings, tuba virtuoso Oren Marshall and the stunning double-drum team of Tom Skinner and Rochford. The Edition Records Quartet, an exciting new Anglo-Norwegian collaboration that features Dave Stapleton, Neil Yates, Marius Neset and Daniel Herskedal will showcase music from their hotly-tipped debut album, whilst revered composer and band leader Mike Gibbs and his stellar 12-piece ensemble led by keyboardist Hans Koller are also set to entertain the Cheltenham crowds.
Following the huge success of 2012, the Festival will once again take place in Montpellier Gardens in the heart of Cheltenham. The tented festival village will feature a 1300 seat Big Top, which will play host to some of the Festival's biggest names, and the 630 seat Jazz Arena will welcome both established acts and emerging artists. In addition, concerts will also take place in the beautiful Parabola Arts Centre, just minutes from the main festival site. The site in Montpellier Gardens will also be the place to soak up an outstanding festival atmosphere, with free outdoor music, a selection of food and drink stalls, fun family activities and a host of talks and workshops which explore the music industry, it's the perfect place to spend the Bank Holiday weekend.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2013 runs from 1-6 May and will take place at Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham.
Held over the May Bank Holiday, the Festival will welcome musical stars including Jamie Cullum, Paloma Faith, Imelda May, The Puppini Sisters, Marcus Miller, Candi Staton and Gregory Porter.
Plus, with a brand new Big Top venue, free outdoor stage, boutique cinema, interactive Music Lab – full of the latest musical gadgetry – and a host of bars and cafes, the gardens will offer the perfect backdrop to the world’s greatest jazz performers.
Tickets are on-sale now. Visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz to sign up for alerts and to buy tickets.
