Ipswich celebrates Jazz with its first Ipswich Jazz Festival from the 19th to 28th June 2015 which will coincide with the annual IP-Art Festival. The Jazz festival will combine live music, films, art and workshops during the 10 day event and will offer something for everyone. It will be an opportunity for jazz lovers to experience a host of great performances and will help others to discover more about jazz music and its origins. Suffolk has a vibrant and thriving jazz community and many of Suffolk’s artists, promoters and venues have joined forces for this inaugural festival, which promises to be a celebration of the best that the Jazz community has to offer.
Jazz performances, masterclasses and workshops
Clare Teal and her Trio will open The Ipswich Jazz Festival at the New Wolsey Theatre on Friday 19th June. Clare performs jazz standards, including music by her favourite performers; Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Peggy Lee. This event is promoted by Fleece Jazz at The Stoke by Nayland Hotel.
Before Clare Teal’s show, her band will run a masterclass for local jazz players and music lovers on the New Wolsey Theatre stage. Local players will have an opportunity to participate on stage with the band and receive feedback.
On the 20th June there is an opportunity to ‘Learn How to Sing Jazz‘, with Andi Hopgood at 1pm in Gallery three at Ipswich Town Hall. The workshop includes; vocal technique, an introduction to vocal improvisation, scat singing, style, phrasing and how to work with a band. There will also be an opportunity for participants to perform a song of their choice and obtain feedback.
On the 20th June in the evening the fabulous Jazz Arrivals will be playing at The Woolpack in Tuddenham Road, Ipswich. Their music is a mix of swingy jazz soul and funky blues accompanied by the organ sounds of the fifties and sixties. This a Free event.
On the 21st June from 12–3pm Father’s Day Jazz at the Cock and Pye in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich you will be able to enjoy the music of four Suffolk Jazz Bands, including; Last Orders a nine piece band, Phoenix Jazz a six piece band, Haunted Kitchen and four piece band and Steam on my Clothes are a guitar and vocal duet. A great opportunity to experience a selection of jazz playing styles. Free admission.
On Sunday 21st June in the afternoon, Body and Soul Jazz Band are performing at Isaacs on the Quay playing a popular mix of jazz standards and on Sunday evening Zoe Francis, Jim Mullen and the Chris Ingham Trio are at the California Club in Foxhall Road, Ipswich at the home of the Ipswich Jazz Club.
On Friday 26th June, Morphology will be playing at Arlingtons Brasserie located in Museum Street in Ipswich: In excellent surroundings why not enjoy a jazz dinner and with live music from a talented jazz quartet. An acoustic sound without of drums.
A Jazz drumming workshop will be led by band leader and Jazz drummer Bob Airzee, this will be on Saturday 27th (1pm–5pm) in Gallery three at the Town Hall in Ipswich. The workshop is aimed at drummers who have little or no experience of swing or jazz and would like to expand their knowledge.
In the evening of Saturday 27th June, Peppery Productions and Jazz East at the Fludyers Felixstowe bring Noemi Nuti and her band to town for a concert at Ipswich Town Hall in the Council Chamber. This will include a short set from the South Suffolk Youth Jazz Ensemble.
The Ipswich Jazz festival closes on Sunday 28th June with Weird Rare Animal performing at ISAACS on the Quay, Ipswich Waterfront, and a local jazz trio playing modern jazz classics with a fresh vibrant approach.
Jazz on Film at Ipswich Film Theatre
During the Jazz festival there will be an opportunity to enjoy classic jazz films that will be showing at Ipswich Film Theatre with The Man with the Jazz Guitar and Mo’Better Blues from Tuesday 23rd to Saturday 27th June.
Jazz Art on display at local galleries
There will also be Jazz themed art exhibitions at Ipswich Town Hall with Jazz Art and Artefacts and Subterranean Boulevard Gallery in St Peters Street will be displaying Jazz Camera by John Watson).
Jazz Grooves on the Radio - Ipswich Community Radio (ICR)
Jazz Grooves with Gerry G, 8pm–10pm, a special Jazz Festival preview show on Thursday 18th and 25th June. And the lovely Althea Browne provides more great Jazz with the Velvet Jazz Lounge on Sunday 21st June between 12.00 – 2pm. Tune in at 105.7 FM. www.icrfm.co.uk, or via the tune-in app.
To find more about Ipswich Jazz festival visit www.ipswichjazzfestival.org.uk
