After a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, the internationally renowned Cheltenham Jazz Festival is back with a vengeance this spring, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a smorgasbord of aural delights.
Running from Wednesday 27 April to Monday, May 2, the festival will offer an array of must-see events; from big concerts by pop superstars to cosy jazz club gigs, as well as world premieres, musician-led master classes, family-oriented shows and a range of free concerts.
Among the big-name draws at this year’s festival is the popular US singer Gregory Porter – who will also be returning for his second stint as an artistic curator – together with the legendary ex-Led Zeppelin rock deity Robert Plant, who will be performing with Saving Grace, and the award-winning singer, pianist and broadcaster, Jamie Cullum.
The vibrant British contemporary jazz scene is represented by the acclaimed London saxophonist Nubya Garcia, the groups Ezra Collective and Maisha (the latter featuring legendary US saxophone icon Gary Bartz) and drummer Moses Boyd, while from the pop world there will be appearances by singers Emeli Sandé, James Bay, Corinne Bailey Rae, Imelda May and Paloma Faith.
To prove how eclectic the festival is, other performers on the bill range from the ’60s soul legend P. P. Arnold and Gil Scott-Heron collaborator, jazz-funk keyboard maven Brian Jackson to noted Afrobeat purveyor Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Brazilian jazz maestro Hermeto Pascoal and the so-called “father of Ethio-jazz,” Mulatu Astatke. Those whose musical preference is heavy blues-rock should be satisfied by the appearance of singer/guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor while aficionados of cutting edge jazz should be pleased by the festival collaboration between the US musicians, trumpeter Dave Douglas and drummer Joey Baron, as well as an avant-garde group fronted by veteran British saxophonist Paul Dunmall that features the talents of three American trailblazers; pianist Mathew Shipp, bassist Joe Morris and drummer Gerald Cleaver.
Tickets go on general sale from Wednesday 2 March 2022 from http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz.
The Full Line Up, Artists and venues below:
Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2022:
Wednesday 27 April
Corinne Bailey Rae
Henry Westons Big Top
Denny Illett Sings Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole
The Daffodil
Thursday 28 April
BBC Radio 2 Celebrates Jazz
at the 25th Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Henry Westons Big Top
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Jazz Arena
Liane Carroll
The Daffodil
Friday 29 April
Emeli Sandé
Henry Westons Big Top
Nitin Sawhney
Jazz Arena
Ezra Collective and Nubiyan Twist
Cheltenham Town Hall
Kansas Smitty’s
The Daffodil
Lucia Cadotsch with Kit Downes, Phil Donkin and James Maddren
Parabola Arts Centre
Zoe Rahman Quintet
Parabola Arts Centre
Errol Linton
The Daffodil
Saturday 30 April
Holly Thomas
Hotel du Vin
Imelda May and Ronnie Scott’s Big Band
Henry Westons Big Top
James Bay
Henry Westons Big Top
Gregory Porter
Henry Westons Big Top
NYJO + Hermeto Pascoal
Jazz Arena
Lady Blackbird
Jazz Arena
Nubya Garcia
Cheltenham Town Hall
Jordan Rakei
Cheltenham Town Hall
Cherise
The Daffodil
Kansas Smitty’s
Cheltenham Town Hall
Dave Douglas and Joey Baron
Jazz Arena
The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Parabola Arts Centre
Neil Charles: Dark Days
Parabola Arts Centre
Shake Stew
Parabola Arts Centre
Graham Costello’s STRATA
Parabola Arts Centre
Invisible, Real by Faye McCalman
Venue tbc
BAM! Babies’ Adventures in Music
Discovery Space
Family Sing with Juliet Kelly
Discovery Space
Adriano Adewale: A World of Sound and Percussion
Discovery Space
Sunday 1 May
Showcase: Elles Bailey and Georgia Cécile
Jazz Arena
Tom Odell
Henry Westons Big Top
Double Bill: Adeline and Lola Young
Henry Westons Big Top
Saving Grace ft Robert Plant and Suzi Dian
Henry Westons Big Top
Electric Lady Big Band
Jazz Arena
Gary Bartz & Maisha
Jazz Arena
Penguin Cafe
Cheltenham Town Hall
PP Arnold
Cheltenham Town Hall
Mulatu Astatke
Cheltenham Town Hall
Kansas Smitty’s
The Daffodil
Emma Smith
The Daffodil
Paul Dunmall with Matthew Shipp, Joe Morris and Gerald Cleaver
Parabola Arts Centre
Iain Ballamy with Rob Luft, Huw Warren, Conor Chaplin and Will Glaser
Parabola Arts Centre
Mike Westbrook: The Uncommon Orchestra: On Duke’s Birthday
Parabola Arts Centre
Laura Jurd Ensemble
Parabola Arts Centre
Invisible, Real by Faye McCalman
Venue tbc
Jazz Babies with Holly Thomas
Discovery Space
Jazz Kids with Alex Woods
Discovery Space
Grace Savage Beatbox Champion!
Discovery Space
Monday 2 May
Jamie Cullum
Henry Westons Big Top
Seun Kuti and Africa 80
Henry Westons Big Top
Gabrielle
Henry Westons Big Top
Family Concert – YolanDa’s Band Jam
Jazz Arena
Moses Boyd
Jazz Arena
Brian Jackson
Jazz Arena
Myra Melford Quintet
Parabola Arts Centre
Bonfire Radicals
Discovery Space
Brass Blast!
Discovery Space
