Page 26 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2020_Neat

BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES 2020 PROGRAMME

Running 26 – 29 March 2020, Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival presents a tantalising weekend centred
around Park St, with high-quality concerts in St George’s, blues and trad jazz in Folk House, and a Bond spectacular
at O2. It embraces new partners - working with Worm Disco and UWE – whilst continuing its dynamic relationships
with Bambalan and Bristol Music Trust.

The Festival opens on Thursday 26 March with Manfred Mann band leader and radio presenter Paul Jones
performing his personal blues and swing favourites with a big band.

Big bands and large ensembles continue to be a theme through the weekend: Clare Teal and Denny Ilett are joined by
a large ensemble to celebrate the ‘60’s Bossa movement, performing Doris Day’s Latin for Lovers and Sinatra /
Jobim’s album in full. And on the closing day internationally acclaimed Bristol saxophonist Andy Sheppard brings
his brilliant work, Bump 5250 originally commissioned for the Bergen Big Band. Featuring the cream of South West
musicians together with Sheppard’s regular band, the large-scale work explores the ups and downs of falling in love.

Festival patron, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis has hand-selected a special band to join him in performing a selection of
classic and original blues tracks, well-loved tunes that he has carried with him through his extraordinary career which
saw him as MD for both James Brown, and Van Morrison.

The Festival commission this year celebrates female songwriters and composers. What She Said features a brilliant
ensemble of singers and instrumentalists – fronted by Rebecca Nash, Sara Colman, Ruth Hammond and Katya Gorrie
– performing re-imagined and new works inspired by composers such as Joni Mitchell, Esperanza Spalding, Kate
Bush, Nina Simone and many more.

Winners of MOBO Best Jazz Album 2011 Kairos 4Tet release their third album this autumn and the Jazz & Blues
Festival have grabbed this exciting UK success story as they tour around the country with Swedish singer Emilia
Martinsen.

Andy Hague’s Kind of Blue sold out earlier this year. For 2020, he has selected a lesser known but equally vital piece
of work in the history of jazz, Oliver Nelson’s The Blues and the Abstract Truth which featured Freddie Hubbard,
Bill Evans and Eric Dolphy.

Singer, broadcaster and all-round dazzling soul diva China Moses wowed audiences last year with her rendition of
Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin. In 2020 this dynamo of glorious jazz energy returns with her own band, marking the
release of her forthcoming album.

In 2020 the Festival presents its first full programme at the intimate Folk House where it will celebrate the roots of
blues, trad, gospel and more.