Free events at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2022 by Cheltenham Festivals

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Cheltenham J A Z Z F E S T I VA L

Cheltenham Jazz Festival

J O I N US AT H OTE L D U VI N C H E LTE N HA M

Our Cheltenham Festivals App is back this year!

Pitch and Putt

Pittville Pump Room

Prince of Wales

The party carries on just a short stroll from the Jazz Festival. Stadium Leisure at Enjoy a glass of wine from our huge cellar selection asCheltenham well as a range of cocktails in a relaxed and informal enviornment.

Pittville Available on Android and Play Area IOS, it’s the easiest way to plan your perfect Festival visit.

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Throughout the Festival

FREE EVENTS INSIDE

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The place to go for workshops, hands-on sessions and musical fun for all the family.

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Dubbed “Jools Holland for kids”, YolanDa’s Band Jam encourages children to discover the joys of music through dancing, singing and playing! YolanDa’s Band Jam will expand children’s knowledge about music and instruments, attune children’s understanding of different musical sounds and styles, and inspire them to discover the wonders of music making.

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Jazz Arena Cheltenham Train Station £10

YolanDa’s Band Jam

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Monday 2 May, 11–11.45am

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Alongside all the free music across Cheltenham and on the Festival site in Montpellier Gardens, don’t miss the amazing line-up of headline acts, cutting-edge jazz and unique collaborations that can be found at Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

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27 April – 2 May 2022

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Cheltenham Jazz Festival’s annual highlight for school and county jazz bands to perform at the heart of the Festival and entertain the Free Stage audience. Come along and join the fun.

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Jazz It Up Concert

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30 April – 2 May, 10.30am–1pm

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27 April – 2 May 2022

Box Office 01242 850270 cheltenhamfestivals.com #CheltJazzFest

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Book now at cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz

Charity No. 251765

SAT 30 APRIL 10.30am

FREE THU 28 APRIL

FRI 29 APRIL

4pm

Triple Sec Septet Free Stage This homegrown Cheltenham combo makes its Festival debut with a celebration of classic Blue Note tracks and hidden gems from the hard bop back catalogue. Get ready for some tight horn harmonies and driving grooves with tunes from Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Steve Grossman and Roy Hargrove.

6.30pm

St Barbe Free Stage 1.30pm

Maisie Gaffney Free Stage

5.45pm

Alex Hitchcock Free Stage Ivor Novello-nominated saxophonist and composer Alex Hitchcock is regarded as one of the UK’s most creative and virtuosic jazz musicians. With critically acclaimed releases on Fresh Sound New Talent and Edition Records, along with innovative collaborations across the jazz scene, Alex continues to grow his international reputation as an instigator for captivating musical encounters that ‘continually push the envelope a little further’ (Jazzmania BE).

7pm

The Fabulous Red Diesel Free Stage The Fabulous Red Diesel will sweep you off your feet. Kat Lee-Ryan belts out raw soul with Bush/Mitchel-esque lyrics over the grooviest arrangements of original funk, latin, soul, gypsy punk and swing. There are trumpets, a flute and even a tuba when one is required. You will smile like a loon, sing along and dance like nobody’s watching.

8pm

Thrill Collins The Old Courthouse See Free Stage listing for more details.

Rising singer-songwriter Maisie Gaffney is set to make waves on the scene with her brand of soulful pop. She released her debut EP Escapes in 2020, offering a collection of five covers which saw her place an acoustic twist on classic pop hits from the likes of Drake. With the project receiving notable acclaim from the music blog community, Maisie is now gearing up to release her own original music.

Dissolving the lines between jazz, rock and electronic music, St. Barbe create a rich and expansive sound world fuelled by high-octane improvisation, ethereal textures and complex beats. Their debut EP Shapeless was released in January 2021 and garnered support from Spotify’s editorial jazz playlists, accumulating over 300,000 streams.

7.30pm

Rory McNeil John Gordons With a stage presence and voice likened to Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, Rory McNeill is breathing new life into the sound of crooners before him. Rory’s fresh lyrics, storytelling, and songs inspired by the Great American Songbook have seen him at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and played on BBC Introducing.

Rory McNeil Free Stage

4pm

Will Rees-Jones Free Stage Will Rees-Jones is a London/ Somerset based saxophonist and composer, currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Iain Ballamy. After releasing his debut EP Waypoint in 2021, Will has been playing around London in a number of venues such as 91 Living Room, Ronnie Scotts and LFE London Jazz festival. At Cheltenham he’ll be playing a stripped-down set of music from the EP as well as new unreleased music.

Free Stage Pure joy from start to finish, Jazz It Up is guaranteed to kick off each day of your Free Stage weekend with a bang. The opportunity to perform at the heart of Cheltenham Jazz Festival is an annual highlight for these school and county bands, and we are thrilled to be welcoming them back after a two-year hiatus. With performances showcasing everything from jazz standards to current hits, and featuring a wide range of styles, you can expect energy, verve, great musicality and inspirational leadership. Many of the biggest names in jazz cut their musical teeth in a school or county jazz band, so come along to spot some stars in the making. Drop in anytime between 12–6.45pm or see live performances by Faye MacCalman at 2–2.45pm, 4–4.45pm and 6–6.45pm each day

Faye MacCalman: Invisible, Real 106 Promenade, Cheltenham Invisible, Real is a brand-new audio-visual performance-installation created by composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and improviser Faye MacCalman. Explore what happens when our inner worlds are taken out of the dark and mental illness is free to be talked about without stigma or shame. Anonymous real-life stories collected from the public meet magical and playful subconscious worlds, conjured through collaboration with visual artist Rhian Cooke and sound artist Nikki Sheth to merge woodwind, vocal and electronic layers with floating projections and sound art. Immerse yourself in this Festival installation by contributing your own experiences or take part through Faye’s survey. This work is supported and commissioned through the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jerwood Jazz Encounters Programme and funded by Jerwood Arts.

2.45pm

With a stage presence and voice likened to Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, Rory McNeill is breathing new life into the sound of crooners before him. Rory’s fresh lyrics, storytelling, and songs inspired by the Great American Songbook have seen him at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and played on BBC Introducing.

Jazz It Up Schools

7.45pm

Swing From Paris Free Stage Often described as ‘the finest gypsy jazz in the Cotswolds’, Swing From Paris are a UK quartet of violin, guitars and double bass. Influenced by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, they present their own versions of music from across Europe and beyond. Expect stylish jazz and vintage swing.

8.30pm

Electric Pocket The Old Courthouse Electric Pocket specialise in funkifying all of your favourite pop classics, old and new, and will bring you the grooviest show since sliced bread with plenty of opportunities to sing your heart out and dance the night away.

Supported by Keith Norton and Louise Hewett

1.30pm

Lucy Bell

5.15pm

Harry Cook Free House

Queen Colobus

Ingenious singer singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist George Montague is an exceptional musician with immense energy and countless contagious original songs. Known for entertaining and rousing enthusiastic audiences with uplifting songs and his versatile vocals, George enhances his phenomenal live shows by featuring live-looping vocal harmonies and beatboxing.

Free Stage

George will also be performing a pop-up gig on the Promenade at 1.30pm and 2.20pm.

Led by do-it-all Welsh front woman Beth Hopkins on saxophone and vocals, Queen Colobus bring a fresh sound with music from their upcoming second EP Think Fast to Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Their music mashes together jazz with indie rock, neo-soul, and Beth’s teenage obsession with Dave Grohl. Their raw emotionally honest lyrics and genre-bending compositions break new ground within the UK jazz scene.

10.30pm

Late Night Jam Sessions Hotel du Vin The party carries on late into the night at our free jam sessions. Expect some surprise guests and collaborations with our house band from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Free Stage Pianist Sultan Stevenson is one of the fastest emerging young artists on the London jazz scene. His trio is already established as an outfit to catch and is being tipped for success on national and international stages. His approach to composition and playing has already been compared to that of McCoy Tyner and Esbjörn Svensson.

5.15pm

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Allexa Nava Quartet Free Stage Allexa Nava is a young jazz saxophonist and composer, originally from Peru, who was the recipient of the inaugural Tomorrow’s Warriors Alf Williams Memorial Award. As a member of the formidable Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline, she’s been appearing at venues and festivals across the country.

106 Promenade, Cheltenham 9pm

DJ Echo Juliet Free Stage Echo Juliet is the alias of Emily Jones: a producer, DJ and percussionist who has also spent over ten years curating live music. Her music blends hypnotic percussion loops and organic sounds, creating a melodic feel influenced by club sounds such as garage and house, as well as her background in jazz and classical music; think Four Tet and Floating Points alongside jazz, broken beat, disco and soulful sounds.

9pm

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Sultan Stevenson Trio The Old Courthouse See Free Stage slot for more details.

SKANKt Free Stage 9pm

Triple Sec Septet The Fire Station 6.30pm

Year of the Dog Free Stage A new beast has been discovered, smashing the festival, radio and TV circuits alike, going by the name of Year of the Dog. The fresh brasshousesoul sound from Cardiff was born at the Royal Welsh College of Music from where they graduated in 2020. Packed with brass-blasting punch, professional suave, and high energy, the Dogs are selling out gigs and rising fast.

This homegrown Cheltenham combo makes its festival debut with a celebration of classic Blue Note tracks and hidden gems from the hard bop back catalogue. Get ready for some tight horn harmonies and driving grooves with tunes from Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Steve Grossman and Roy Hargrove.

Bass12 will also be performing a popup gig on the Promenade at 1.15pm.

SKANKt started in Cheltenham in 1999 and toured around the UK for a number of years, releasing three records. They play an infectious blend of upbeat post-ska grooves and have played alongside bands such as The Selector, Bad Manners, Suzi Quatro, Capdown and King Prawn, and at major UK festivals including Isle of White, Wychwood and 2000 Trees. Any gig with this band is an absolute riot, they know how to party and infect the audience with a compulsion to pull ridiculous shapes.

10.30pm

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Allexa Nava Quartet

10.30pm

Late Night Jam Sessions Hotel du Vin 7.45pm

Thrill Collins are a UK based skiffle-pop trio who have a habit of rearranging the most epic pop songs of all time into spectacular medley marathons. Festivals faithfuls for almost a decade, they have been performing since 2010 entertaining audiences around the world.

Bass12 are a New Orleans style, riot jazz brass covers band from Cardiff, bringing huge horns, dangerous drums and sumptuous sousaphone to the stage. Working on the principle that music should be danced to, their high energy brass and percussion is influenced by the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band. Expect to hear music from Mardi Gras street carnivals and some well-known tunes like you’ve never heard before.

Free Stage Alto saxophonist Donovan Haffner has been part of Tomorrow’s Warriors for ten years. Currently studying jazz at the Royal Academy of Music, Donovan has played with a multitude of artists including Moses Boyd and Shane Forbes. Influenced by Joe Henderson, Immanuel Wilkins, Walter Smith and Kenny Dorham amongst others, for this special Cheltenham Jazz Festival appearance Donovan will be leading his trio and is joined by Hamish Nockles Moore (double bass) and Harry Ling (drums).

“Amazing... Prepare to be blown away” – Glastonbury Festival “Energy that can smash main stages across the world” – Bestival “A festival institution – absolutely incredible” – Wychwood Festival

8.30pm

Rubaso x Lila Smokey Joe’s Head to Smokey Joe’s for a collaboration between local artists, Rubasu x Lila. performs as a five-piece band covering songs from multiple artists as well as original content whilst creating an exciting fusion of jazz, indie, and R&B.

The party carries on late into the night at our free jam sessions. Expect some surprise guests and collaborations with our house band from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

SUN 1 MAY

3pm

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Amy Gadiaga Quartet Free Stage Bassist and singer, Amy Gadiaga continues to build her fine reputation as musician, arranger and performer. Connecting old-school jazz singer storytelling and modern rhythms inspired by artists such as D’Angelo and The Jacksons, Amy’s band offers energetic performances that celebrate artistry and freedom.

10.30am

1.45pm

Bonfire Radicals Free Stage Expect the unexpected with vibrant six-piece band Bonfire Radicals! From global grooves and instrumental fireworks to rich vocal harmonies, discover more about their eclectic music, a host of instruments and fun and games aplenty. With original and traditional tunes from Britain to the Balkans, there’ll be raucous woodwind, wild fiddle and emotive vocals to get you dancing out of the tent.

3pm

Ben Cipolla

Namywa

Free Stage

Possessing a naturally languid and confident vocal style, Cipolla’s singing has been described as “having liquid chocolate dripped in your ears.” Ben Cipolla is returning to the festival with an exclusive band performance of his upcoming second album. Casa Mia is about celebrating and discovering his Sicilian roots, while falling in love on holiday. The album will be released on 27 May, with a subsequent tour of the UK to be announced soon.

Hailing from Birmingham, Namywa is an international recording artist and songwriter speaking truth to power, with a fearless lyrical approach to subjects that mean a lot to her. Namywa’s music is inspired by artists like Amy Winehouse, Emile Sandé and Paloma Faith. In the live setting, she is quite simply a force of nature, with her striking styling and accomplished stagecraft, making her the focal point of an exciting majority-female band of musicians.

7.30pm

Tomorrow’s Warriors is proud to be taking part in the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in its 25th year congratulations to the festival team and thank you for supporting jazz music so much over this time. As well as our incredible emerging artists listed here, we also have the Nu Civilisation Orchestra presenting Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, an album still so relevant today.

Hailing from Cheltenham, singersongwriter Issy Winstanley is a flourishing name on the music scene. Crafting a blueprint of catchy melodies and featherlight vocals, Issy combines carefully crafted lyrics with acoustically-driven pop production. Having featured on BBC Introducing In The West with ‘Track of the Week’ and performed at legendary venues such as The Sunflower Lounge, Issy’s career continues to grow. Following a soldout release show for her debut single, Issy’s debut EP is set for summer 2022, and is not one to be missed.

Harry Cook Free House See Free Stage slot for more details.

10.30pm

Free Stage

10am

Birmingham Conservatoire Afro Cuban Orchestra Free Stage Usually sold out fast at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Eastside Jazz Club, this is a rare chance to get some dancing in to the amazing Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra in a bigger setting. With full rhythm section, horns, vocals and of course percussion this band creates a great festival vibe wherever it goes.

For more than thirty years Tomorrow’s Warriors has been working as a pioneering charity, developing young jazz talent, championing diversity and ensuring that access to music is democratised. As a charity we raise funds to maintain the £FREE delivery of our Learn and Train programme to all participants aged 11-25 and we work as creative producers to secure performance opportunities for musicians. Our alumni include Nubya Garcia, Zara McFarlane, Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd, Theon Cross, ESKA, Binker Golding, Camilla George and so many more. If you would like to ﬁnd out more, including the diﬀerent ways you can help support the next generation of jazz talent, please visit us at:

LIVE AT CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL 2022

AMY GADIAGA

DONOVAN HAFFNER

ALLEXA NAVA

SULTAN STEVENSON Charity Reg. No. 1153613

John Gordons

Jazz It Up: Schools 4.15pm

Peter Edwards, Musical Director, Nu Civilisation Orchestra

www.tomorrowswarriors.org

Issy Winstanley

MON 2 MAY

Pure joy from start to finish, Jazz It Up is guaranteed to kick off each day of your Free Stage weekend with a bang. The opportunity to perform at the heart of Cheltenham Jazz Festival is an annual highlight for these school and county bands, and we are thrilled to be welcoming them back after a two-year hiatus. With performances showcasing everything from jazz standards to current hits, and featuring a wide range of styles, you can expect energy, verve, great musicality and inspirational leadership. Many of the biggest names in jazz cut their musical teeth in a school or county jazz band, so come along to spot some stars in the making.

Following 2020-21 lockdown virtual rehearsals, recordings and a more recent return to in-person rehearsing, GJL are really excited to present their 2022 ensemble and improvising skills to the bank holiday audience.

6.45pm

Ben Cipolla

Free Stage

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Donovan Haffner Trio

9pm

Thrill Collins

Bass12

5.30pm

This work is supported and commissioned through the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jerwood Jazz Encounters Programme and funded by Jerwood Arts.

1.45pm

Lucy Bell is a singer-songwriter bringing a distinctive folk tone to the pop style, fitting nicely on a playlist with the likes of Gabrielle Aplin and Laura Marling. In 2018 she was named Panarts Belfast-Nashville Songwriter of the Year in association with the Northern Ireland Arts Council which saw her travelling to Nashville and performing in the Blue Bird Café alongside Nashville songwriter of fame, Tony Arata and Grammy Award winners Benita Hill and Gary Nicholson.

2.45pm

Invisible, Real is a brand-new audio-visual performance-installation created by composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and improviser Faye MacCalman. Explore what happens when our inner worlds are taken out of the dark and mental illness is free to be talked about without stigma or shame. Anonymous real-life stories collected from the public meet magical and playful subconscious worlds, conjured through collaboration with visual artist Rhian Cooke and sound artist Nikki Sheth to merge woodwind, vocal and electronic layers with floating projections and sound art. Immerse yourself in this Festival installation by contributing your own experiences or take part through Faye’s survey.

Supported by Keith Norton and Louise Hewett.

See Free Stage slot for more details.

Free Stage

George Montague

Faye MacCalman: Invisible, Real

Free Stage

DJ Dave Elmer

8.30pm

Drop in anytime between 12–6.45pm or see live performances by Faye MacCalman at 2–2.45pm, 4–4.45pm and 6–6.45pm each day

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Sultan Stevenson Trio

The Old Courthouse

9pm

Dancer, DJ and promoter DJ Dave Elmer kicks off Friday night on the Free Stage with an eclectic mix of jazz, afrobeat and funk for late night revellers to enjoy. He has played Festivals around Europe including Suncebeat and ADE Festival and is a Resident DJ at Gin & Juice’s late night clubbing lounge.

4pm

“Tomorrow’s Warriors have changed the musical landscape of Britain. It‘s as simple as that.” CERYS MATTHEWS

Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Jazz It Up: Glos Live Free Stage Pure joy from start to finish, Jazz It Up is guaranteed to kick off each day of your Free Stage weekend with a bang. The opportunity to perform at the heart of Cheltenham Jazz Festival is an annual highlight for these school and county bands, and we are thrilled to be welcoming them back after a two-year hiatus. Today, youth and adult musicians from Gloucestershire Music’s county jazz groups (Gloucestershire Jazz Live) showcase their favourite and very best repertoire, arrangements and playing.

4.15pm

Fiona Bevan Free Stage Fiona Bevan is a Canadian-British songwriter, singer and multiinstrumentalist from Suffolk, with a sweet, fiery voice and soulful, cinematic folk sound, creating “startling odysseys that suggest Erykah Badu, Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush spine-tinglingly joined” (The Guardian). As well as an artist in her own right, she is also a hugely successful songwriter who has penned songs with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue and Tom Walker.

5.30pm

Andrew Bate & Chloe Gorman Free Stage Drawn together by the pandemic in a beautiful twist of fate, accomplished singer-songwriter Andrew Bate is collaborating with poet Chloe Gorman for a new project. With songs ranging from powerful, blues-inspired rock to delicate acoustic numbers with dark twists, the blend of Andrew’s ethereal vocals and unique playing style with Chloe’s sensual lyrics and soulful singing create a spellbinding performance.

6.45pm

Loz Ruston Quartet Free Stage From the heart of Worcestershire comes the county’s sharpest ensemble. Drawing from a book that covers re-imaginings of familiar tunes, classic grooves and choice jazz standards from this hard-hitting funky four piece.

Faye MacCalman: Invisible, Real 106 Promenade, Cheltenham Drop in anytime between 12–6.45pm or see live performances by Faye MacCalman at 2–2.45pm, 4–4.45pm and 6–6.45pm on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May. See listing for full details.

Supported by Keith Norton and Louise Hewett