From the classics to the experimental spirit of jazz, Edward Lee looks into the goings-on at this year’s Brecon Jazz Festival.
From its George Melly headlined beginnings in 1984, the Brecon Jazz Festival returns once more to celebrate its 34th birthday. For the majority of the 2010s so far, Orchard Media and Events Group were the assigned contractors for the festival. Having stopped their involvement in the festival in 2015, local community groups such as Brecon Jazz Club stepped up to the plate and contracted the festival the following year. With this being their second year with the festival, the new status quo should have worked out any kinks and gotten into the flow of things. While the festival may lose the corporate sheen and flashy branding provided by Orchard, if anything it is returning to its roots in providing a warm, community vibe.
First on Friday is an ‘Instant Jazz’ workshop led by Rod Paton. An informal atmosphere focussed on group improvisation, the workshop is designed for both trained and untrained musicians (all 16+) to develop original jazz together, and reinforces the community atmosphere of the festival. Later that afternoon, ‘Strings go Swing’ will take place. Featuring violinist Heulwen Thomas and electro-acoustic jazz harpist Ben Creighton-Griffiths, the pair present up-tempo classic jazz. In the evening, the 12-piece Festival Big Band, alongside vocalists and professional Lindy hop swing dancers, act as the official opening concert of the festival. The majority of tickets for this evening act include a hot buffet prepared in the Brecon Castle Hotel, and all guests are encouraged to take to the dance floor (with some potential tuition from the professional dancers during the interval).
Saturday kicks off with Gerard Cousins’s Miles Davis tribute group, who will be performing their interpretation of Davis’s 1969 album In a Silent Way. The festival offers up a unique concert special later that day, Japanese jazz pianist Atsuko Shimada forming a trio, and Rod Paton joining in to play the French Horn. That evening, the eldest of Dave Brubeck’s sons, Darius Brubeck, leads his quartet who are celebrating a decade together (and their first visit to Brecon) this year. Their playlist mixes the work of Dave Brubeck alongside their own original music and South African jazz.
The main events for Sunday begin with a ‘Jazz in the afternoon’ double bill at the Muse Arts Centre. First up are Annette Gregory & Friends, a piano and vocals focussed lineup. Secondly, Ashley John Long & Friends present a hard bop concert. Later in the afternoon, the Hannah Vivian-Byrne Trio will be performing classic jazz. With Hannah having been selected as one of the BBC Wales Horizons artists of 2015, the festival seems to be plugging her ‘rising star’ power and appeal to the performance. The final headliner is The Nigel Price/Ross Stanley Organ Trio with Matt Griffiths. With each member of the trio packing an impressive CV, Nigel winning a British Jazz Award in 2016, the combination should be a good way to cap off the night. Each of these headliner acts take place across various venues in Brecon. Multiple ticket options are available, including individual show prices, day tickets (Fri £28, Sat £32, Sun £35), and a weekend pass for £95.
In addition to these headlining acts, another key element of the Brecon Jazz Festival is the large number of fringe acts. Presenting local bands, national bands and foreign groups across the many cafes, pubs, and galleries of Brecon, these additional performances truly increase the spectacle of the festival and its popularity. Though there is no official committee behind these acts, they are grouped under the title of the Brecon Fringe Festival. Make sure to check out their website for more detail of the packed lineup across over 30 venues, lasting from Thurs 10 until Sun 13. With performances of jazz, rock, R&B, blues, comedy and dance in the Brecon Fringe Festival, the combination of it and the Brecon Jazz Festival will truly make Brecon come alive with music.
Brecon Jazz Festival, Brecon, Fri 11 Aug-Sun 13 Aug. Admission: Prices vary per event. Info: www.breconjazz.club
