Jazz breaking news: Dave Holland, Pharoah Sanders And Tord Gustavsen For Cheltenham Jazz Festival

The festival, now in its sixteenth year and sponsored by BBC Radio 2 and Jazzwise, is planning major names for the Town Hall stage, a Best of British Cutting Edge series in the Town Hall’s Pillar Room and a second Norwegian strand across a number of venues including the Arena and Pillar Room. This strand was successfully launched last year in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy, Birmingham Conservatoire and Norway’s Trondheim Conservatory. Booked so far for the Town Hall are the Overtone Quartet, whose top drawer line-up promises big things, and Andy Sheppard, who will play a special collaboration with drummer Sebastian Rochford and French bassist Michel Benita. Also due for Cheltenham this year is free jazz legend Pharoah Sanders. The British cutting edge contingent announced so far includes Outhouse Quartet with Icelandic guitarist Hilmar Jensen; Julian Argüelles and John Taylor; Django Bates with newly commissioned music; the Kit Downes trio and quintet; and Big Air.

Tord Gustavsen heads up the Norwegian strand with an all-Norwegian ensemble while Susanna Wallumrød and Stian Westerhus will also play with their own bands. New for 2011 will be a BBC Introducing stage programmed by Radio 3’s Jazz On 3 that will present new undiscovered groups chosen from the BBC’s Introducing uploader website for new talent. Check future issues of Jazzwise and visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com for all further names to be announced and booking details.