BRECON Jazz Festival organisers have revealed details of this summer’s event, which runs from Thursday, August 8 to Sunday, August 11.
Among the promised highlights will be renowned British trumpeter Steve Waterman who will be playing at the Castle Hotel on the Friday evening where he will be directing the Festival Big Band.
With an established reputation as a jazz musician, composer and educationist, Steve regularly features on the UK, European and international jazz scene.
In anticipation of appearing in Brecon this summer, he said: “I am really looking forward to directing and performing with the Festival Big Band on Friday, August 9 at the Brecon Jazz Festival – and in the splendid Castle Hotel ballroom!
“I’ve been working alongside the organisers Lynne Gornall and Roger Cannon to hand-pick an amazing group of musicians, and I’ll be bringing a selection of jazz arrangements and compositions (including my own) to showcase the talents of everyone involved”. He added that “it will certainly produce a performance that can only be heard at this year’s festival, on Friday at the Castle at Brecon Jazz 2019”.
The festival organisers said it was great news that Steve Waterman is coming to Wales, and also that last year’s Big Band director, accomplished trombonist Gareth Roberts, will join the line-up for 2019 too. Alongside Steve Waterman, who will feature on trumpet, will be a leading new jazz instrumentalist Charlotte Keeffe (on trumpet), alongside a dazzling set of UK and Welsh musicians including Alice Leggett (alto sax), Dan Messore (guitar), Paula Gardiner (double bass), Rebecca Nash (piano), Andrew Bain (drums), with more to be confirmed.
This year’s Brecon Jazz Festival, which is now in its 36th year, will run over four days (starting on Thursday, August 8) rather than three, so it can include a jazz orchestral work, details of which will be promoted to the town and surrounding area.
Friday’s programme will commence after lunchtime, from 2pm, with free jazz concerts and featuring young people, until around 4.30pm. This will be followed by another UK top name charity concert at 6pm, and then the Big Band special at around 8.30pm at the Castle Hotel.
On each of Saturday and Sunday, major concerts are being planned. They will begin each weekend day at noon; the festival will then close on Sunday evening. Top UK, a number of European stars, and a leading US jazz name will be featured. More information to be revealed via this newspaper in the weeks to follow.
Venues this year will include the Brecon Guildhall Theatre, Castle Hotel, Wellington Hotel, Ty Helyg Guesthouse, St Marys Church, Brecon Cathedral, Theatr Brycheiniog the Muse, and hopefully, the re-opened Y Gaer. There will be an inclusive ‘Weekender’ ticket, as well as Saturday and Sunday ’Day’ tickets, and all concerts will be able to be booked individually, subject to availability. Friends of Brecon Jazz get special discounts and the first ticket release, so check the website www.breconjazz.org and join up in time to support the 36th year of Brecon Jazz Festival.