Monday 20th August – Tuesday 21st August

Wayne Krantz Trio 

Legendary New York based-guitarist and ex-sideman with Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Michael Brecker , Chris Potter, Billy Cobham and many others, Wayne Krantz is a boldly inventive guitarist who in the words of the Guardian "Joins the impact of a heavy rock power-trio to the harmonic sleight-of-hand and melodic slipperiness of a contemporary jazz band.

Krantz is an unflinching adventurer who dislikes repeating himself or imitating others." He appears here with rock drummer Nate Wood and bass player Tim Lefebvre.

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Saturday 25th August

A portrait of Jaco … featuring the Laurence Cottle Big Band 

Brilliant Welsh bassist Laurence Cottle leads his top-class UK big band in a storming tribute to the great bass player Jaco Pastorius. Pastorius who would have celebrated his 60th birthday this year was one of the most innovative bass players of all time and his 1975 eponymous album is one of the most influential jazz albums ever released.

A key member of Weather Report for six years, Pastorius also led the acclaimed ‘Word Of Mouth’ big band and tonight’s concert will feature new arrangements of Pastorius tunes as well as recreating some of the great mans own arrangements for the first time since his untimely death. Featuring the cream of UK jazz talent with the likes of flautist Gareth Lockrane, saxophonists Nigel Hitchcock and Julian Siegel, trumpeters Noel Langley, Pat White, Sid Gauld and Martin Shaw, trombonists Barnaby Dickinson and Neil Sidwell and drummer Gary Husband regular members of Cottle jaw-droppingly good big band!

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Wednesday 5th - Thursday 6th September

The Jay Phelps Big Band featuring special guest vocalist Clare Teal 
 

Young trumpeter and band leader Phelps knows his history. One time co-band leader of hell-raising jazz radicals Empirical, his debut solo album 'Jay Walkin' displays a thorough knowledge and love of the golden age of big band jazz. Award winning jazz vocalist Clare Teal will join his all-star 17-piece band to present some of the great jazz classics from legendary leaders Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jimmy Lunceford, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton in an exuberant night of swing, blues and be-bop. One of the pioneering creative forces in UK contemporary jazz, his new band and some iconic jazz landmarks recreated afresh - expect sparks to fly!

'The young bandleader shows great maturity in his choice of music, his arrangements and his ability to control 17 different jazz musicians while also delivering some exceptional solos of his own'.
Bruce Lindsay - All About Jazz

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Monday 27th August – Wednesday 29th August

PEE WEE ELLIS FUNK – FROM JAZZ TO FUNK AND BACK 

Legendary James Brown saxophonist and musical director, Ellis alongside Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley was a key component on Brown’s greatest funk bands and composer of such memorable hits as the much sampled ‘In The Middle’ as well as bringing a touch of jazzy sophistication to Brown’s own fearsome grooves. With over 50 years in the business, Ellis is still a formidable performer and he appears here with a cracking band featuring Tony Remy on guitar, Gareth Williams on piano, Laurence Cottle on bass and the brilliant Mark Mondesir on drums. Expect jazzy funk, funky jazz and a night of funky grooves and old- fashioned R&B as only the great funk masters can deliver.

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Sunday 9th September

Jason Rebello Band feat. Joy Rose 

Sublimely gifted British piano player, perhaps best known for his work as a sideman for Sting, Jeff Beck as well as jazz luminaries Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey and Branford Marsalis, brings an all-star band for an evening of powerful jazz, funk and fusion. With Jason Rebello on keyboards, hard-driving drummer Troy Miller, fine bassist Karl Rasheed-Abel, guitarist Paul Stacey and superb vocalist Joy Rose.

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Sunday 23rd September

Funmi Olawumi 

Traditional and contemporary Yoruba music combine in the soulful voice of Funmi Olawumi, the founder of the Yoruba Women Choir, who creates Faaji music from a refreshing mix of influences, from juju, highlife and afrobeat to fuji. Faaji is a Nigerian-Yoruba word for having a good time and Funmi Olawumi and her 12-piece band create hypnotic dance music that galvanizes and uplifts in a remarkable way.