Look forward to a packed schedule of performances, workshops, talks and much more at the Cambridge Jazz Festival
The innovative Cambridge International Jazz Festival returns in November for two weeks of cool tunes, exciting beats, swinging sounds and the blues. Featuring many heavyweights from the UK and beyond, it’s a celebration of the best on the musical culture scene, from modern jazz to acid jazz, spread across 28 venues, mostly close to the heart of the city.
With more than 70 gigs from 13 to 24 November, featuring 500 musicians, every audience member will have their own favourites. Bound to be a big draw are pioneers of the funk and soul mash-up that became acid jazz, The Brand New Heavies. Their early albums in the 90s were hits on both sides of the Atlantic and they have featured vocalists N’dea Davenport, Siedah Garrett and Carleen Anderson down the years. They play Cambridge Junction on 14 November.
Gwilym Simcock plays on 15 November
Roslin Russell, the festival’s director, said: “As ever, our aim is to offer audiences something that will change their ideas about jazz and exactly what genre of music it is. In doing this, we hope to attract people who may never have thought of attending a jazz performance, because they think it’s not for them.
“One of the greatest things about jazz is that it appeals to everyone of all ages, and from all walks of life. It’s an incredible, genre-bending musical experience.”
Among the wide range of choices to tempt you are the Black Voices Quintet, who present The Soul of Nina Simone on 24 November at Storey’s Field Centre. The group are known for their arrangements of traditional African, Caribbean and English folk songs, jazz, gospel, pop and reggae.
Saxophonist Jan Garbarek – known for his work in classical and world music spheres, too – plays Saffron Hall on the 16th, while Norwegian compatriot Marius Neset takes his sax to the Mumford Theatre on the 23rd.
Yazz Ahmed (left) returns to the festival with her 13-piece ensemble at the Junction’s J2 on 19 November, with her psychedelic Arabic jazz promising to be a big draw.
Cambridge’s own Brass Funkeys are also back, with their pumping brass-driven funk at a toe-tapping Storey’s Field Centre gig on 24 November.
The godfather of British blues, John Mayall has featured numerous greats in his band the Bluesbreakers, including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Mick Taylor in the 60s. He plays the Corn Exchange on 17 November. Also with roots in the 60s, Soft Machine bring jazz, rock and folk to their gig at Storey’s Field Centre on 14 November.
One of the country’s finest new funk and soul singers, Ashton Jones is at the Junction with his group The Ashton Jones Project on 13 November, together with the Renegade Brass Band.
Nominees for this year’s Mercury Prize, Seed Ensemble – a ten-piece led by alto saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi – play Storey’s Field Centre on 17 November, and earlier the same evening Routes in Jazz, featuring pianist Trevor Watkis and trumpeter Byron Wallen, play the music of Dizzy Reece at the same venue. Stapleford Granary hosts Liane Carroll, Claire Martin, Christian Muthspiel and Steve Swallow, Dave Gordon and John Law Duo, and the Leon Greening Trio throughout the festival.
A celebration of Nat King Cole’s 100th birthday features Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra and special guest Mads Mathias at West Road Concert Hall on 22 November. Expect classics such as When I Fall In Love, Unforgettable, Route 66 and Nature Boy.
Camilla George and the Harry Bolt Quartet headline Cambridge Modern Jazz on 14 and 21 November at CUC Wine Bar, while the Julia Hülsmann Quartet mark the 50th anniversary of ECM Records with a performance at Gonville
& Caius College.
Highly acclaimed pianist Gwilym Simcock plays St Catharine’s College on 15 November, Richard Spaven makes a return to the festival with his trio at the Cambridge Junction on the 14th, while Bristol newcomers Ishmael Ensemble play Storey’s Field Centre on 23 November.
There are also films, workshops and talks about the roots of jazz, live painting, jams, fringe events and much, much more. Many of the venues have multiple events on most days of the festival.
