upfront
THE BEAT OF BRECON
Bill Knowles previews another tantalising weekend of world-class jazz as Brecon Jazz Festival kicks into gear once more this August.
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very year, for one short weekend, a quiet little town in the Welsh valleys changes its tune. You might not notice it on the Thursday night – because, after all, it’ ll be almost like every other Thursday night – and you might not notice it the next morning; it’ ll seem like the same old weekday sun rising over the Beacons on its typical Friday commute. But you’ ll sure as hell notice it before the day gets dark because on Fri 9 Aug, for three short special days, the jazz is back as the music rises from the bandstands and concert halls, the bars and the pubs. In 1984, Jed Williams, a pub landlord and respected jazz aficionado, put on the very first Brecon Jazz Festival. It was part of a local initiative to raise the profile of the arts in the sleepy little market town and bring a little bit of world music to the Welsh valleys. 31 years on and the initiative seems to have worked. Brecon is now one of the biggest names on the British jazz circuit, and year upon year, the festival draws a plethora of prominent musicians as well as music lovers from around the UK and further afield. Some huge names have graced the stages over the years. The list includes the likes of Sonny Rollins, Buddy Tate, Lee Koniz, Woody Shaw and McCoy Turner among others, and as well as choosing from a pantheon of great artists over the years, the festival has also seen musicians in the very early stages of their artistic ascendency. In 2004, fresh from the success of her first album, a young Amy Winehouse stunned a packed festival hall with a set of soulful eloquence and style. There’ s plenty to be excited about on the 2013 programme, too. Some big hitters have been brought in to headline each night – Courney Pine on the
Friday, Mavis Staples on the Saturday and Jools Holland on the Sunday – and whilst they’ re sure to draw the crowds, as always with Brecon, it’ s the less well known, more off the wall acts that really lend the festival its air of creative electricity. In Theatr Brycheiniog on Sat 10 Aug, perhaps one of the most hotly tipped of these acts will be performing: Django Bates’ Belovèd. Recognised by critics as one of the most outstanding jazz trios playing at the moment, Belovèd matches Bates on piano with Petter Eldh on double bass and Peter Bruun on drums. Belovèd are set to perform a series of compositions from their album Confirmation, playing tracks written by Bates as well as some by the great American saxophonist Charlie Parker. Elsewhere, there’ s plenty of prodigious talent to be seen. Scandinavian / British trio Phronesis promise to light up Theatr Brycheiniog’ s Saturday afternoon slot with their enthralling, highly imaginative, pan- European sound. On Friday evening, the Chapter Stage at Brecon Cathedral will host pianist Zoe Rahmen, winner of the Best Jazz Act Award at the 2012 MOBO Awards. And the Sunday afternoon slot sees Jim Black – possibly one of the most exciting and influential contemporary jazz drummers in the world – play a set at the Castle Hotel with Brooklyn and Huw Warren. A range of masterclasses will also be on offer throughout the festival, allowing insights into the creative and technical workings of various musical minds. They’ ll be held by the likes of Maria Pia de Vito and Huw Warren, Jason Rebello, and saxophonist Julian Seigel – all of whom can be seen playing sets of their own during the festival. On Friday, the Jason Rebello Group are due to play the Castle Hotel on Saturday, Brecon Cathedral’ s Chapter Stage will host the Julian Seigel Quartet, and on the same stage, Huw Warren can be seen collaborating with Maria Pia De Vito. Of course, Brecon wouldn’ t be what it is without its expansive fringe circuit, which keeps live music streaming from every bar and pub in the town throughout the day and long into the night. Street entertainment can also be expected throughout the festival weekend, which helps to create the celebrative atmosphere that has led Brecon to become the exciting festival it is today, as well as one of the stand-out events of the Welsh cultural calendar, promising a great weekend for everyone: families, jazz aficionados, and the intrigued jazz newbies.
Brecon Jazz Festival, Fri 9-Sun 11 Aug, tickets: events individually prices. Info: www. breconjazz. com
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