Introducing the 2023 EFG London Jazz Festival

This year, after returning to its pre-pandemic size in 2022, the EFG London Jazz Festival is bigger and more ambitious than ever. Director Pelin Opcin is in upbeat mood, and when I suggest that London is one of the few festivals that can accommodate some really sizeable groups, she is quick to agree: “We’re very lucky with our partnering with contributing orchestras and big bands who are not just going to be there, but are really taking part in the artistic process. So, for example, presenting Wayne Shorter’s symphonic music and showing how it has developed is one of the most important parts of this year’s programme. He presented some of this music himself at earlier editions of the festival with the BBC Concert Orchestra, but he was continuing to compose for large forces right up to his death, and this year the Philharmonia Orchestra, with conductor Clark Rundell, will be presenting some of this recent music. It includes the European premiere of his semi-operatic piece Iphigenia, which he was working on with Esperanza Spalding.

"He was inspired by her singing and she was writing the libretto. But as well as that body of material, there was a mass of newly-composed music in Wayne’s apartment at the time he died, and Clark Rundell realised there was enough there for another programme, including new arrangements of part of his 2013 song cycle, Gaia.

Esperanza Spalding (photo: Ryan Brabazon)

"This was originally planned to be a 90th birthday concert, but when we lost Wayne, it became an hommage to this great, visionary figure. And we’re lucky to have musicians who worked with him, including Danilo Pérez and John Patitucci from his quartet, Esperanza of course, and Terri Lyne Carrington who also has a long history with Wayne. It’ll be a very apt climax to the festival on 19 November.”

I mention the fact that other orchestras include the BBC Concert Orchestra with Miho Hazama and Rob Luft and the London Sinfonietta with Marius Neset.

“Yes, this piece Geyser is Marius’s third collaboration with the orchestra after the earlier pieces Snowmelt and Viaduct, and it’s great to have this continuing collaboration with these two orchestras, who have appeared many times before. We love working on programme ideas with them and creating new works that can become part of the festival. And I’m really glad, for example, that we can showcase Miho as a conductor as well as a composer and performer.

"I don't see these as one-shot events, but as catalysts for further ideas, so that, for example, Rob Luft, who is appearing with Miho, is also building on his work on last year’s Tomasz Stańko tribute with the BBCSO, by returning to Stańko’s music with Alice Zawadzki and Byron Wallen at Café Posk this year. And also building on that same event, we’ll see Emma Rawicz on a double bill with trumpeter Avishai Cohen after they appeared together last year. That’s a musical match made in heaven, as each of them performs their latest music with their own groups. And Emma’s also appearing this year with Gwilym Simcock, who’s really become a pillar of British jazz."

Alice Zawadski and Rob Luft (photo: Mark Allan / BBC)

The festival isn't just about British jazz, though and I was interested to see this year’s links with the Melbourne Jazz Festival and with Jazz from Ireland.

“It’s very exciting, and it’s been very generous of our partners there to come up with these ideas, so – from Australia – we can host key figures in the Melbourne scene, including Zela Margossian and Brekky Boy. And it’s great for them to engage with the audience on a free stage where there are no barriers whatsoever.

"The same goes for the musicians from Ireland, and of course we’re also presenting the UK premiere of Christine Tobin’s Returning Weather, which reflects on moving back to Ireland in 2020 after a time based in New York. There’s also a strong African strand in the festival and this year we’re focusing on East and North Africa, starting with the legendary Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke at the Barbican.”

Ron Carter

One facet of a festival as big as this, with a number of sizeable venues, is that Astatke is just one of a number of legendary names who are appearing in London, whereas some other festivals might be hard-pressed to host just one!

“Well, Charles Lloyd and Ron Carter are both incredible musicians. Charles’ appearance in 2021 was one of the great experiences of my life – just an unforgettable concert. So it’s wonderful to welcome him back with his Ocean Trio, because he is a non-stop creator! And the same is true of Ron Carter, here this time with his quartet Foursight, with Renée Rosnes.

"And I have to mention another band from the same generation, bringing their music to a young international audience here in London and that’s The Cookers, which is just packed with legendary names. I’m really pleased to have such a breadth and depth of programme this time around.”

The 2023 EFG London Jazz Festival runs from 10-19 November. For full details visit www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk