The Hull Jazz Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary later this month with a busy ten-day programme running 20-29 July, culminating in a performance by celebrated alto saxophonist Bobby Watson (pictured left). The latter first emerged as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz messengers in the 1970s and 1980s, and has since played with such jazz greats as Max Roach, Sam Rivers and Branford Marsalis. He closes the festival with his band of pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Duncan Hopkins and drummer Stephen Keogh at the Truck Theater, 29 July. Other highlights include New Orleans clarinettist Evan Christopher who will be performing vibrant gypsy swing standards with his band Django à la Créole (20 July, Truck theatre) while award winning singer Christine Tobin performs set of Leonard Cohen songs with a fine band featuring guitarist Phil Robson and bassist Dave Whitford (21 July, Truck theatre).

A special feature this year’s 20th anniversary event will be The Freedom Chorus Does Jazz which sees 120 local singers working with vocal tutor Jilly Jarman and the Yoruba Women’s Choir, led by Nigerian Faaji queen Funmi Olawumi, performing at Truck theatre on Sunday 22 July. While singer Lyn Acton will be celebrating the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim in Bossa Revisita (23 July, Truck theatre). The Pave Bar will play host to Michael Cretu trio (22 July), the Pave Jazz Jam all-stars (24 July) and Owl Ensemble, who combine string quartet with rhythm section in their dynamic originals (26 July).

Festival favourites Jazz Jamaica, led by bassist Gary Crosby, celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence with a performance of their Trojan Records inspired Tighten Up! set (28 July, Truck theatre) that will feature guest vocals from lovers rock star Myrana Hauge. And closing the week bassist and bandleader Paul Baxter’s Give A Little Love Jazz Orchestra will perform his self-penned jazz suite dedicated to the music of Horace Silver (Pave Bar, Sunday 29 July).

For more info go to www.jnight.org

– Lizy Exell