Jazz breaking news: Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Terry Riley and Solveig Slettahjell For Belfast Festival

Begun by Queen’s University undergraduate Michael Emmerson in 1962, the festival runs from 15-30 October at more than 30 venues around the city.

Featuring the only Irish performance by the touring Kenny Wheeler 80th Birthday Big Band (Elmwood Hall, 28 October), this year also sees composer Terry Riley with saxophonist George Brooks and tabla player Talvin Singh (Elmwood Hall, 30); and a rare sighting in Belfast of the Polish pianist Andrej Jagodzinski’s trio featuring the pianist best known for his album Chopin, with bassist Adam Cegielski and Time Killers drummer Czeslaw “Mały” Bartkowski (Black Box, 27).

Local talent with growing international reputations includes guitarist Mark McKnight’s Organ Quartet featuring US saxophonist Seamus Blake, Hammond organist Ross Stanley and drummer James Maddren (Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, 16 October). Drummer David Lyttle (well known for his work with Soweto Kinch) brings his Dark Tales featuring Panacea pianist Robert Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Tim Warfield and the ubiquitous double bassist Michael Janisch (Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, 17).

The Ray Anderson / Han Bennink / Frank Möbus / Ernst Glerum / Paul van Kemenade band (Black Box, 21 October) are also for Belfast this year, a must for free jazz and improv fans. Also look out for highly rated Norwegian “Slow Motion” singer Solveig Slettahjell at the festival, which also has extensive visual arts, theatre, comedy and classical music strands. Slettahjell appears with her band at the Black Box on 29 October. Other jazz and related music programming at the Belfast festival includes Krystle Warren and Muntu Valdo (Black Box, 19); Bob Brozman, Donal O’Connor, John McSherry (Empire Music Hall, 20); and clarinettist Evan Christopher’s Django à la Creole (Black Box, 26).

– Stephen Graham

For more go to www.belfastfestival.com