Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra, Norma Winstone and Art Themen for Swanage Jazz Festival 2024
Mike Flynn
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The Dorset coast will be swinging to the sound of Swanage’s biggest jazz festival line-up since 2018
The Swanage Jazz Festival is back from 12-14 July with its biggest line-up since 2018, which includes a second Marquee on Sandpit Field (increasing the festival’s capacity), while Arts Council England and Dorset Council funding has secured a ‘new bands and new audiences’ programme.
Among the 50 acts booked are headliners such as multi-award-winning singer and pianist Liane Carroll and her Trio (in their first performance at Swanage for 10 years); prodigiously talented saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz and her 20-piece Jazz Orchestra; top vocal and sax team of Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi who pay tribute to Billy Strayhorn plus Mercury-nominated pianist Zoe Rahman leads her heavy-hitting Colour of Sound Octet.
Also appearing is bass boss Gary Crosby’s Mingus Moves Band; the soulful sounds of The Wonder of Stevie with Derek Nash and Noel McCalla, and The Printmakers with leading pianist Nikki Iles and revered vocalist Norma Winstone among its world-class personnel.
Festival favourites are also prominently featured including Dave Newton and Alan Barnes, Clark Tracey Quintet, Art Themen’s Organ Quintet, American altoist Greg Abate and the return of Henry Lowther’s Still Waters. Additionally bassist, broadcaster and Jazzwise scribe Alyn Shipton will be talking about his book on Gerry Mulligan and later performing music from Mulligan’s pianoless Quartet. The line up so far announced below:
Friday 12 July
From 4pm
The Wonder of Stevie with Derek Nash and Noel McCalla
Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi Tribute To Billy Strayhorn
Art Themen’s Organ Quintet
The Sound of Bluenote with Greg Abate
Horns Upfront
Thokozile
Jivin’ Miss Daisy
Saturday 13 July
From 10.30am
New Orleans Festival Parade
The Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra
The Gary Crosby Sextet ‘Mingus Moves’
The Brandon Allen Groove Band
Dave Newton/Alan Barnes Duo
Henry Lowther’s Still Waters
The Clark Tracey Quintet
The Emma Rawicz Quintet
The Noemi Nuti Quartet
Yetii
Soldoro
Jazz Knots
The TJ Johnson Band with Alex Clarke
Forest Hill Owls
Songs of 1924 with Janie Day and Martin Litton
Martin Litton’s Red Hot Peppers
Sunday 14 July
From 11am
The Liane Carroll Trio
Zoe Rahman’s Colour of Sound Octet
Five Way Split
The Printmakers with Norma Winstone and Nikki Iles
The Henry Spencer Band
The Alyn Shipton Quartet plays Gerry Mulligan
Marianne Windham’s Jazz Samba Project
The Andy Hague Quintet
Lucy Moon sings Anita O’Day
Alex Webb’s Quintet Blue
Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen
John Maddocks’ Jazzmen
The Gin Bowlers
Vintage Jazz Collective
Plus, free Festival Fringe in Swanage Hotels and Pubs – details to be announced - and free outdoor concerts.
For the full line-up and tickets visit www.swanagejazzfestival.co.uk/tickets/
