Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s What’s Going On, Jazz Arena and free events complete Cheltenham Jazz Fest 2022
Mike Flynn
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Making a full return for the first time in three years, there’s a strong line up and much to enjoy at this year’s 25th edition of this leading UK jazz festival
As Cheltenham Jazz Festival gets underway this week, from 27 April to 2 May, a further highlight in the programme comes in the form of the Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s musical exploration of Marvin Gaye’s iconic album What’s Going On, alongside excerpts from the soundtrack to Trouble Man (4pm Jazz Arena, 30 April). Premiered last year to celebrate both Tomorrow’s Warriors’ 30th anniversary and 50 years since the release of What’s Going On, the 24-piece orchestra, conducted by Peter Edwards, reflects on our current times through the lens of Marvin Gaye’s catalogue. What’s Going On gave voice to a generation, reflecting on the violence and turmoil of America with razor sharp wit and deeply soulful songs, which still ring true today.
New talent is showcased throughout the programme, such as a double bill of Bristol-based blues singer Elles Bailey and rising Scottish jazz award-winner Georgia Cécile at the Jazz Arena (12.30pm, 1 May).
The Bank Holiday Monday also sees Jazz Arena host saxophonist YolanDa Brown’s live version of her hit CBeeBies show Band Jam, introducing young listeners to musical sounds and styles to help them discover the wonders of music making (11am, 2 May). Mercury Prize-nominated drummer Moses Boyd then takes over with his band of leading London-based players on music from his acclaimed album Dark Matter (2.304pm). And later that evening Brian Jackson (who wrote, arranged and produced over 10 albums with Gil Scott-Heron), performs music from his recent album for Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Jazz Is Dead label as well as classics from the GSH songbook (6.30pm, 2 May).
A strong free stage and family line-up also runs alongside the headliners. This includes performances from rising stars of the Tomorrow’s Warriors roster, as well as Festival favourites Thrill Collins, while some of Gloucestershire’s best school jazz bands play the Jazz It Up stage. The Around Town line-up includes gigs in participating local venues such as the John Gordons and Harry Cook Free House, with sets from Chloe and AI and Justin Light Band, while the popular Late Night Jam Sessions will return to Hotel du Vin, where many of the festival’s headliners (such as Gregory Porter) come to play some spontaneous sets with the talented house band.
These shows join those already announced in Jazzwise that are:
Wed 27 Apr: Denny Ilett Sings Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole (The Daffodil); Emeli Sandé (Big Top).
Thu 28 Apr: Joanne Shaw Taylor (Jazz Arena); Liane Carroll (The Daffodil); BBC Radio 2 Celebrates Jazz at the 25th Cheltenham Jazz Festival (Big Top).
Fri 29 Apr: Nitin Sawhney (Jazz Arena); Lucia Cadotsch with Kit Downes, Phil Donkin and James Maddren (Parabola); Errol Linton (The Daffodil); Corinne Bailey Rae (Big Top); Zoe Rahman Quintet (Parabola) and Kansas Smittys Takeover (The Daffodil).
Sat 30 Apr: The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Parabola);Faye MacCalman: Invisible Real (106 The Promenade, Cheltenham); Lady Blackbird (Jazz Arena); Imelda May and Ronnie Scott’s Big Band (Big Top); Neil Charles Dark Days (Parabola); Nu Civilisation Orchestra presents Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (Jazz Arena); Shake Stew (Parabola); James Bay (Big Top); Jordan Rakei (Town Hall); Graham Costello’s STRATA (Parabola); Cherise (The Daffodil); Dave Douglas and Joey Baron (Jazz Arena); Gregory Porter (Big Top) and Nubya Garcia (Town Hall).
Sun 1 May: Faye MacCalman: Invisible Real (106 The Promenade, Cheltenham); Elles Bailey and Gerogia Cécile (Jazz Arena); Penguin Cafe (Town Hall); Paul Dunmall with Liam Noble, John Edwards and Mark Sanders (Parabola); Electric Lady Big Band (Jazz Arena); Tom Odell (Big Top); PP Arnold (Town Hall); Laura Jurd Ensemble (Parabola); Emma Smith (The Daffodil); Maisha and Gary Bartz (Jazz Arena); Iain Ballamy with Rob Luft, Huw Warren, Conor Chaplin and Will Glaser (Parabola); Saving Grace ft Robert Plant and Suzi Dian (Big Top); Mulatu Astatke (Jazz Arena) and Mike Westbrook: The Uncommon Orchestra: On Duke’s Birthday (Parabola).
Mon 2 May: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 (Big Top); Moses Boyd (Jazz Arena); Gabrielle (Big Top); Brian Jackson (Jazz Arena); Myra Melford Quintet (Parabola) and Jamie Cullum (Big Top). Jazzwise is festival media partner.
For full programme detail and tickets visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/