Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers, the Marcus Miller Band, the Chris Potter Tentet and Lighthouse (Simcock/Garland/Sirkis) are among the first headlining names to be announced for this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival which runs from Wednesday 2 to Monday 7 May, the Spring Bank Holiday. Now in its 17th year and sponsored by Jazzwise, the festival will take place in a number of venues in Cheltenham Town Centre including the Jazz Arena and The Daffodil as well as a new venue, The Parabola. This attractive and acoustically excellent theatre is located on the city-centre campus of Cheltenham Ladies College and will showcase special collaborations and a forward-looking contemporary jazz programme.

Also just announced for the festival are Fieldwork featuring Vijay Iyer, Steve Lehman and Tyshawn Sorey; Jeff Williams New York Quartet; Abram Wilson’s Running With The Flame project; John Taylor performing a brand new commission and a strong Norwegian strand, featuring the acclaimed Helge Lien Trio, the Trondheim Jazz Exchange, and Hilde Marie Kjersem. Jamie Cullum will once again be involved with the festival and this year’s artist-in-residence is the singer Paloma Faith who will play a special closing night concert with the Guy Barker Big Band. The full programme and dates will be announced during February and tickets go on sale to the public on 20 February.

– Jon Newey

Pictured Bill Frisell (above, left) and Marcus Miller

The festival box office number is 01242 505444 or visit the website at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

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