The team at Watermill Jazz in Dorking seem to like mixing the up-and-coming with the well-established when picking bands and performers for their weekly concerts.
That so many came out to The Stade on a hot and airless night was a tribute to Jazz Hastings and their programme planning, on this occasion presenting an evening of jazz and poetry which appealed to those who recall New Departures of the 1960s and indeed the work of Kenneths Patchen and Rexroth earlier.
This year's 40th anniversary Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (EJBF) was a far cry from the inaugural Edinburgh jazz fest back in 1978, a one day, mostly un-ticketed event, which showcased largely UK traditional jazz bands.
The 'MJF originals' are a lifeline to artistry, like most music festival commissions, and this year they handed the chance to Esther Swift (pictured far right) to entwine her folk, classical and jazz roots with a statement ensemble of strings, brass, piano, drums and four harps.
Parimusmuusika, the sub-title of this joyous festival is translated from Estonian as 'folk music'.
Promoter Carole Merritt has built a loyal following for jazz at Imber Court in Surrey, me included, and tends to pick a star player for her monthly events and put him or her in front of a good rhythm section and see what develops.
The sun, sea and sounds were a reminder of the famous film, Jazz On A Summer's Day, and while an introduction from Eli's Chosen Few was missing, traditional jazz emanating from the Marquee suitably provided the backdrop.
Jazz á Vienne's annual two-week gathering has been charming crowds for almost four decades, thanks to a diverse and vibrant programme and a headline venue – a stone-built Roman amphitheatre – that never fails to get jaws dropping.
Director Klaus Widmann's theme for this year's Südtirol Jazz Festival was 'Exploring the North', with most of the musicians and bands chosen from Scandinavian countries.
This two-day festival that explores and extends the 650-year-old tradition of Japanese ritual performance art Noh is a welcome event, given the success of its previous 2016 edition.
