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Countdown to Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2009

Posted on April 24, 2009

It’s now less than a week until this year’s Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which runs from Tuesday 28 April until Monday 4 May and is sponsored by Jazzwise.

It kicks off the spring and summer jazz festival season with its usual eclectic mix of big names and emerging talent from mainstream to modern jazz.

Headline names appearing include Jack DeJohnette, Madeleine Peyroux, Hugh Masekela, alongside leading US players Dave Douglas, Don Byron, Pat Martino and artist in residence Dave Liebman. The varied programme also includes a large cross-section of the buzzing UK jazz scene with the likes of James Allsopp’s new trio The Golden Age Of Steam, pianist Robert Mitchell’s acclaimed 3io, Mercury Prize nominated Portico Quartet, trumpeter Tom Arthurs‘ new Subtopia band, while Nikki Yeoh appears with John Surman and guitarist Phil Robson reprises his fine quartet with Dave Liebman who also appears with the BBC Big Band.

There’s also a series of “recession-busting” free-of-charge fringe events taking place throughout the festival period, many of these in the Budvar Marquee situated in Imperial Gardens adjacent to the Town Hall. Of these the “flash mob” dance happening sounds the most attention-grabbing, planned to take place at lunchtime on Saturday 2 May with hundreds expected to participate in a salsa-vs-jive dance clash. The Youngblood Brass Band and the Cleeve Samba band will lead a parade around Imperial Gardens on Sunday 3 May. The Jerwood and Take Five Schemes once again come into their own by championing new talent and providing a platform to launch new rising stars. This year it’s iconic drummer Jack DeJohnette who plays a special concert at the Everyman Theatre with including trumpeter Tom Arthurs, saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, alto saxophonist Nathaniel Facey, flautist Gareth Lockrane, guitarist Chris Sharkey, pianist Tom Cawley and bassist Neil Charles.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Jazz Festival returns to Williams College from Wednesday, April 29 through Wednesday, May 6. From big bands, dance parties and gospel groups to quartets and trios, there is something for everyone who loves jazz. While many events are free, some have moderate ticket prices. Many venues will be hosting festival-related events, including ‘62 Center, The Clark, MASS MoCA, The Orchards Hotel, Spice Root, St. John’s Church and Café Latino. All events are open to the public.

The festival will kick off with the traditional free dance classes taught by Arif Smith and sponsored by the Greylock Federal Credit Union early in the week designed to prepare everyone for the Salsa Dance Party featuring the Nicki Denner Sextet with guest guitarist Freddie Bryant on Friday, May 2, 8:30 p.m. at MASS MoCA.

The festival will feature multiple college ensembles from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, and local Massachusetts colleges who will play in the always ambitious Intercollegiate Jazz Festival, this year to be adjudicated by Virginia Mayhew and John Clark on Friday, May 1 from 12 p.m to 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at ‘62 Center. Gospel artist Kevin Sharpe will perform on Friday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. at St John’s Church, and headlining the Festival will be the the Miguel Zenon Quartet on Saturday, May 2 at 8:30 p.m. at ‘62 Center. On Sunday, May 3
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guitarist, Jason Ennis will bring his quintet to the Gala Restaurant in the Orchards Hotel for brunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and saxophonist/flutist Erik Lawrence will host the Artwalk on Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at WCMA. The Vijay Ayer Trio will perform on Wednesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. at The Clark.

Other events include the silent film Ben-Hur accompanied by the JC Sanford Octet composed of members of the Central NY Jazz Orchestra with a pre-film lecture by Dr. JC Sanford at ‘62 Center on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m., post concert open jam sessions at Cafe Latino (May 1) and Spice Root (May 2) and a jazz brunch featuring the Jason Ennis Quintet at Gala Restaurant on Sunday, May 3, at 11 a.m. Also, artist Peter Bodge will have a show of his jazz inspired linolem print artwork at Cricket Creek Farm and will be giving a walk-through presentation at 4pm on Sunday May 3.

The festival is sponsored by the Williams Dept. of Music, ‘62 Center, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Berkshire Bank, Gala, Orchards Hotel, Spice Root, St. Johns, The Williams Inn, Berkshire Hills Motel, Banknorth, Café Latino, JAM, MASS MoCA, Williams College Museum of Art, The High Meadow Foundation, The Mohawk Trail Association, and Williamstown Chamber of Commerce.

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