The programme for this year’s Marlborough International Jazz Festival is filling up nicely – and top of the bill again will be ‘the fantastic Clare Teal’. It’s 15-17 July – make sure the dates are in your diary.
Her twitter profile says it all really: “Nice girl, sings a bit of jazz, has a marvellous band, talks on the wireless for BBC Radio 2, writes for the Yorkshire Post. Likes whisky but not the peaty ones.” She’s the one hiding somewhat uncharacteristically behind a bit of blue sweater.
Marlborough will be getting to see and hear Clare’s new show. She will be accompanied by her 16-piece Hollywood Orchestra. That should challenge the canvas of the Priory Gardens marquee.
This report on the Festival’s programme so far is culled from numerous enthusiastic tweets from MIJF’s HQ and from innumerable musical twitter accounts and with careful reference to a large number of You Tube performances.
Among the talents new to the Marlborough Festival will be jazz and soul singer-songwriter Natalie Williams with her Quintet. She has had a long and popular residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and has a recent album titled Kaleidoscope.
Another first timer will be Edd Bateman’s West African Love Affair – “the first ever Mbalax track composed and sung by an Englishman.”
Also new to the Festival will be Ibou Tall and the Jazzmates. This Sengalese keyboard player has played in many of the top jazz venues from Central Park to Bristol Harbourside.
He’s accompanied by four musicians with an equally strong international background. You can choose from a selection of their sound here.
The Festival is also welcoming the Nicola Farnon Trio and the Kevin Figes Quartet.
There will be a big welcome back for singer/songwriter Jeanie Barton who hails from Nottingham and won the Brewin Dolphin Newcomer Award at the 2015 Marlborough International Jazz Festival – and she is very proud of her see-through award.
Sara Spade will be bringing songs from her debut album ‘Boy Next Door’. She’s accompanied by a couple of Noisy Boys. They are not always that noisy – her album’s title song is quite a quiet and reflective little number – very humm-able.
There is a good and lengthy list of returnees including: The Jive Aces, George Haslam, the Red Stripe band, the Adam Winslet Band, the Moscow Drug Club, and KV Brass – a ten-piece band giving the brass twist to swing, jazz, Latin, easy listening and pop.
Big Brunch Band are back too: formed at Ashton Keynes eleven years ago, the line-up includes three vocalists, four alto saxes, three tenor saxes, baritone sax, three trombones, four trumpets, keyboards, guitar, bass and percussion. In a time of austerity that’s some line-up.
Back in their Saturday spot in St Mary’s Church will be the Acapella Extravaganza featuring local groups Mother’s Jam and the Marlborough Community Choir.
The music’s guaranteed. If only the sunshine could be as certain.
The full programme so far can seen for the Friday here and for the Saturday here. Clare Teal has Sunday all to her self.
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