The musical treat based in Swansea returns for the fourth year running this June – find the line-up here
The sweet sound of jazz will ring out once again this summer season with the return of a popular jazz event in the maritime quarter of the city that showcases the best jazz talent.
Swansea International Jazz Festival is returning for a fourth year from June 15 to 18. More than 50 events will be taking place at 15 sites on land and 1 on the water.
“We are putting together a strong and diverse programme for 2017,” says festival creative director Dave Cottle who also programmes the Wednesday night charms at Swansea Jazzland in Uplands.
“We have the musicians from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing series bringing their 14-piece band All Fired Up, which plays the music of Earth Wind and Fire. It’ll be their first performance outside of London.””
Dave Cottle continued: “Ruby Turner, fresh from touring with Jools Holland, will be making an appearance with her own band, along with Joe Stilgoe presenting ‘Songs from Films’.
“To mark the occasion of the 90th birthday of legendary jazz pianist Stan Tracey, his son Clark presents the Stan Tracey legacy Octet, and another pianist is Chris Ingham, who will be presenting his jazz quartet, featuring the jazz of Dudley Moore.
“Skelton/Skinner Septet, with musicians from the BBC Big Band and the John Wilson Orchestra, will be presenting the best of British jazz.”
“Big band fans are well catered for with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, plus the festival big band The Power of Gower, featuring a mixture of local musicians alongside festival headline performers.”
“We also have the Statoil Big Band from Norway.”
The Dylan Thomas Theatre and the Dylan Thomas Centre both based in Swansea will host the ticketed performances with a varied programme of jazz along with workshops and a South Wales Schools Big Band workshop and concert.
There are also a number of free events at pubs all around the maritime quarter, with Swansea community boat Copper Jack also offering waterborne jazz. The full fringe programme will be announced shortly.
The upcoming 2017 event is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Swansea Council and for the fourth successive year the festival backer is Swansea-based Prescott Jones Insurance Solutions.
Managing director Ed Prescott said: “We relish our continued support for an event which we think adds a lot to the Swansea cultural scene. A jazz festival just seems to fit in the marina and SA1 area.”
A spokesman from Swansea council said: “Dave Cottle and his team are doing Swansea proud with their efforts. The festival attracts visitors from away, so it is a great boost to tourism and has increased Swansea’s reputation as a centre for festivals.”
And for yet another year the patron of the festival is Penclawdd’s Sir Karl Jenkins, the world’s most-performed living composer.
For more information on the international jazz festival, visit sijf.co.uk
