Scarborough Jazz Festival opens at Spa on Friday

After winning Jazz Venue of The Year at The Parliamentary Jazz Awards, organisers of the Scarborough Jazz Festival are hoping the 16th festivalcould provetobethe best so far.

Festival director Mike Gordon said: We have some incredible performers booked.

“As always we have tried to achieve balance and variety, and above all superb musicianship.”

This year there wil l be two big bands packed with UK jazz stars: the Gareth Lockrane Big Band and the Stan Sulzmann Neon Orchestra.

“They will be producing big sounds to fill the Spa Grand Hall,” said Mike.

“We’ll hear the songs of Peggy Lee sung by Jo Harrop, with Tony Kofi on sax, and Vimala Rowe singing Billie Holliday accompanied by internationally renowned guitarist John Etheridge.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Vimala sang Strange Fruit at our festival in 2016,” said Mike.

“We have two very different offerings from abroad. Leila Martial is atruly unique singer and performer from France.

“Woody Black 4 are four clarinet virtuosos from Vienna. And nearer to home Andchuck is a young, modern and experimenta Manchester-based jazz quartet selected for the Jazz North Introduces scheme.

“I’m particularly excited by the quality of the combos we have booked: Alan Barnes Octet, the all female septet Nerija who were awarded the Parliamentary Award Jazz Newcomer of the Year 2017.

“Matt Ridley Quartet, Nigel Price Organ Trio, Terry Seabrook Quintet – celebrating Wayne Shorter, and theseven-piece Atlantic Crossover.

“One of the finest duos around, pianist David Newton and reeds player Alan Barnes, wi l l celebrate 40 years playing together,” said Mike.

Alan Barnes will again be the festival compere.

The festival takes place in Scarborough Spa’s Grand Hall between Friday September 28 and Sunday September 30.

Tickets from the Spa box office on 01723 821888 or on line: www.scarboroughspa.co.uk

The run-down of acts for Scarborough Jazz Festival is as follows

Friday September 28

12.30pm: Andchuck (5)

2,15pm: Ben Crosland plays the Ray Davies Song Book

4pm: The Toots Project: A homage to Toots Thielemans

7pm: Terry Seabrook Quintet

9.45pm: Fever: Jo Harrop sings Peggy Lee with special guest Tony Kofi.

10.30pm: Henry Lowther’s ‘Still Waters’

Saturday September 29

12.30pm: Atlantic Crossover

2.15pm Dave Newton and Alan Barnes

4pm: Matt Ridley Quartet

7pm: Woody Black 4

9.45pm Vimale Rowe sings Billie Holliday with John Etheridge

10.30pm Alan Barnes Octet

Sunday September 30

12.30pm: Leila Martial Trio

2.30pm: Stan Sulzmann’s Neon Orchestra

4.15pm: Nigel Price Organ Trio

7.14pm: Nerija

9pm: Gareth Lockrane Big Band