Artists

Nigel Price

Friday 7:00PM

The Festival lifts off with one of Britain’s finest guitarists, Nigel Price, who leads a band that will be playing hard swinging, organ-fuelled jazz. Nigel was with the James Taylor Quartet and is also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s. Phenomenal drummer Matt Home is also a house band regular at Ronnie Scott's club and currently the drummer with Ray Gelato. Dynamic organist Pete Whittaker is one of the few players who actually brings the real Hammond organ to gigs.

"Nigel Price more than amply demonstrates his all round skills as a guitarist – great chops, good taste and a great sound – and shows why he and his trio are way up there with the best, not just in the UK but anywhere." (Jim Mullen)

Ian Shaw

Friday 8:45PM

Best Jazz Vocalist’ at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2007 and 2004, Ian Shaw has already amassed a number of highly acclaimed albums and is a popular performer both in the UK and the US. An incredibly colourful character, he has been cited, along with Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling, as one of the world's finest male jazz vocalists.

He is also a talented pianist. This will be Ian’s fourth appearance at the festival – the last was 2006. "I make no apology for this," says Director, Mike Gordon. "Ian is an amazing, consummate performer who just gets better and better."

" .. a profoundly sophisticated artist with a broad grasp of music's mechanics, as well as an affecting, emotional and sometimes very funny singer .. "
(The Guardian)

Stan Tracey Trio with Guy Barker and Bobbie Wellins

Friday 10:30PM

Three outstanding musicians who have starred in previous festivals come together for what promises to be one of the weekend’s highlights. Stan ‘Godfather of British Jazz’ Tracey is recognised as a major jazz influence and a legendary pianist with a unique style. Bobby Wellins is acclaimed for one of the all-time great sax improvisations on Tracey’s 1964 ‘Under Milk Wood’ suite – and he’s playing better than ever. Mega-star trumpeter Guy Barker has played with Mel Torme, Liza Minelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, Sting, the London Symphony Orchestra...

Top UK musicians Clark Tracey (drums) and Andy Cleyndert (bass) complete the line up.

Hearing them recently JazzUK’s Peter Vacher wrote: "Quite one of the best outings by Tracey and company I’ve witnessed."

Threeway

Saturday 12:30PM

“The musical interaction between the three protagonists is excellent, all are superb technicians but there is a warmth and soul about the playing that is exceptional” says The Jazz Mann about ‘Threeway’, a drummerless trio led by bassist and composer Ben Crosland.

The trio will play some numbers from their recent second CD ‘Songs of the Year’ which has been highly praised. Chris Ingham of Mojo writes: “A chamber trio that generates intimacy and heat. The immediacy of Steve Waterman's trumpet blends with the rhapsodic keyboard of Steve Lodder and Ben Crosland's electric bass to delightful effect. Crosland's compositions celebrate the English climate and are suitably bracing and plaintive”

“And what tunes! They are as attractive as jazz has a right to be.” (City Life)

Tim Whitehead’s Colour Beginnings

Saturday 2:15PM

This enchanting project takes you on a musical journey through the most atmospheric and edgy areas of JMW Turner's famous watercolour sketches, ‘Colour Beginnings’, that inspired Paul Rothko, David Hockney and countless other modern artists.

The spontaneous compositions have been transcribed by Tim Whitehead and were originally recorded in front of the famous works at Tate Britain, where he was artist in residence in 2009. In the performance, the paintings relating to the music are projected behind the band, the Personal Standards Quartet, which has the unique Liam Noble on piano, the inspirational Pat Bettison on bass, and Tim Whitehead, one of the UK’s finest saxophonists.

“I can say that the performance I heard of Tim Whitehead's ‘Colour Beginnings’ at Tate Britain was one of the most inspiring I have ever heard.” (Nigel Llewellyn, Head of Research, Tate Britain)

Andrea Vicari with Jazz ExTempore

Saturday 4:00PM

‘Jazz Extempore’ is a group of European jazz musicians – Andrea Vicari (piano,UK), Elvis Stanic (guitar/accordion, Croatia), Rico de Jeer (bass, Holland) and Christo Yotsov (drums, Bulgaria) - coming together to rehearse and perform in Croatia. The music of ‘Jazz ExTempore’ draws on the cultures, folk music and compositions of all the band members. The use of accordion and acoustic guitar gives the music an earthy feel with some beautiful folk melodies. The music is accessible but still has depth and some outstanding playing. Andrea Vicari is Professor of Jazz Piano at Trinity College of Music.

“One of the most brilliant young jazz musicians in the UK - an outstanding pianist and superbly fertile composer.” (Penguin Rough Guide to Jazz)

The Karen Sharp Quartet

Saturday 7:00PM

This is a band of like-minded musicians with a wealth of experience and a shared love of great tunes both old and new. Karen has formed a quartet of the highest quality which plays with energy, commitment and fun. She has become a busy freelance musician working alongside many top class British and American players and for three years was in Humphrey Lyttelton’s band, Pianist and composer Nikki Iles’ music has been commissioned and performed by influential ensembles such as The London Sinfionetta, The Creative Jazz Orchestra, the London Philharmonic’s ‘Renga’ ensemble and Tim Garland’s Underground Orchestra.

Drummer Steve Brown and bassist Dave Green have both worked with almost every major British artist, and accompanied many visiting American musicians.

Brian Kellock & Julian Arguelles

Saturday 8:45PM

Two world class musicians whose incredible musical relationship was displayed in their recent recording. Pianist Brian Kellock has performed with Herb Geller, Stanley Turrentine, Scott Hamilton, Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and James Morrison. He is equally at home with mainstream and contemporary jazz styles.

Saxophonist and composer Julian Arguelles has received several BBC awards. Ex UK big band ‘Loose Tubes’ he has worked internationally with Tim Berne, Steve Swallow, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Dave Leibman, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Carla Bley.

“Endlessly spontaneous, instinctual yet masterly interplay – at once a duet, a dialogue, a debate and a duel – born of that mutual familiarity, which catalysed their superb individual prowess...by turns primal and lyrical, raging and sublime.” (The Scotsman)

Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django

Saturday 10:30PM

To mark the 100th Anniversary of the birth of the legendary Django Reinhardt, world-class guitarist Martin Taylor has reformed his award winning group ‘Spirit of Django’ which he formed in 1994 to re-explore his own Gypsy roots. Their first album reached No.1 in the UK Jazz Charts and topped the US Gavin Jazz Charts before Martin retired the group to work on collaborations with Bill Wyman, Bryn Terfel and Jamie Cullum and his own solo recordings.

His famous pairing with violinist Stephane Grappelli in the ‘70s enables him to trace his musical lineage back to Django Reinhardt and the original Quintette du Hot Club de France. The new line-up includes Martin, Alan Barnes (saxes/clarinet), Alison Burns (vocals), John Goldie (guitar), James Taylor (percussion) and Terry Gregory (bass). In 2002, Martin was appointed MBE ‘For Services To Music’.

“Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He’s unbelievable.” (Pat Metheny)

Allison Neale Quartet

Sunday 12:30PM

Alto saxophonist Allison Neale’s beautifully crafted lines evoke the spirit of Paul Desmond and Art Pepper with whom she has a particular affinity. As a strong advocate of the melodic West Coast style she has performed alongside leading international artists such as Adelaide Hall and Bud Shank and often performed in John Dankworth ‘Generations Band’ and the ‘Back to Basie Orchestra’.

Her quartet features acclaimed bebop guitarist Dave Cliff, Simon Thorpe on bass and Steve Brown on drums. She has two CDs to her name ‘Melody Express’ and ‘Blue Concept’ with trumpeter Gary Kavanagh.

“Allison Neale plays the alto saxophone with a tone so light and airy it positively melts at the edges.” (Dave Gelly, The Observer)

“A talent to savour.” (Peter Vacher, Jazz UK)

Magic Hat Ensemble

Sunday 2:15PM

“The Magic Hat Ensemble have built a solid name for themselves as a cracking live unit around the UK. Offering a youthful and often irreverent take on standards asserted through incredibly tight rhythmic playing and cheeky metric modulations the result is pulsating post bop given a refreshing boot up the behind. Led by Steve Chadwick on cornet with pianist Andrzej Baranek, guitarist Tony Ormesher, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner this is a dynamic and hugely listenable band worth catching live.” (Jazzwise)

“A very tight unit with a dynamic approach and a totally appealing sound. A gem of a band, and quite rare with its stimulating nature … They present an exciting, upbeat programme of very original, quirky and sometimes even hilarious re-arrangements of standards”’ (The Jazz Bar)

Anita Wardell Quartet

Sunday 4:00PM

Anita’s singing is exciting and breathtaking. She is noted for her mesmerizing and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos. Anita is a musician who uses the voice as her instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion.

‘Kinda Blue’, Anita’s most recent album demonstrates her versatility and complete command of her instrument. She received the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best of Jazz category in 2006. This and her lauded recordings are now propelling Anita into the major artist arena. She will be backed by some of the UK’s finest musicians: Robin Aspland- Piano; Jeremy Brown –Bass; and Steve Brown- Drums.

“The singer’s mercurial musicality and acute sense of improvisation freedom can at times take the breath away.” (Jazzwise)

A Funny Valentine: A Tribute to Chet Baker

Sunday 7:00PM

Mike Maran’s dramatization of the story of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker is pitched somewhere between theatre piece, concert and storytelling session and combines all these elements in absorbing and entertaining fashion.

"Maran stalks the stage in a white suit as the narrator … His trump card lies in the on-stage collaboration with two of Scotland’s best jazz musicians, trumpeter Colin Steele (a Baker expert) and pianist David Milligan. Music is an almost constant presence whether as a vocal point of the action or as a muted compliment to Maran’s words (which have their own musical rhythm and timing in any case) and adds immeasurably to the emotional impact." (The Scotsman)

Alan Barnes plays Alan Barnes

Sunday 8:45PM

What better finish than listening to virtuoso Alan Barnes. Alan has been a prolific and imaginative composer for the last thirty years and this new band was put together to play some edited highlights and some fresh material. The accent is on accessibility, and most of the pieces have a story attached to them – which will be told in Alan’s inimitable way! The musicians are some of the finest and most individual around: Jim Hart is the new voice on vibes, Mark Hodgson a bass virtuoso and Robin Aspland a great piano player. Alan is especially proud to have persuaded the amazing percussionist Paul Clavis to come, ‘blinking like a mole, from the studios to the live stage again!’

“Whether on alto, baritone or tenor, Barnes' melodic sense bypasses the usual scale-running cliches that pepper the playing of lesser bop disciples.” (Peter Marsh, BBC)

Urban Latino

Scarborough Jazz @ the Cask - Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough
Wednesday 22 September 8.45PM - Entry £3

This brand new outfit – led by reeds-meister Stuart MacDonald – is simply bursting with talent. The style is influenced by the compositions of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Chris Potter. The music has driving urban jazz pulses of both past and present times, and ranges from fast racing beats to more groove based medium tempos and, with Enrico Monzano adding percussion to the drumming of Dave Tyas, a strong latin flavour. Swinging Al MacSween is on keyboards.

Urban Latino deliver exciting music. They will put you in the mood for the weekend – and you won’t be able to keep your feet still!

The Eastern Area Schools Youth Jazz Orchestra

Scarborough Spa, Sun Court Enclosure
Saturday 25 September 5.30PM

This is always a happy and entertaining performance. Anyone is welcome to attend the Saturday morning workshop with the EASY Jazz Orchestra. Star trumpeter and big band leader Steve Waterman and well-known ‘Threeway’ leader, bassist Ben Crosland, will lead this session and play with the orchestra in their afternoon interval concert. Why not have a drink or some food whilst you listen.

Nicki Allan’s Gospel Singers

Scarborough Spa, Sun Court Enclosure
Sunday 26 September 5.30PM

Find time to listen to this wonderful music. The Nicki Allan Gospel Singers are a group of students from Leeds College of Music where Nicki is a tutor. The repertoire includes standard gospel favourites, songs from Sister Act 2 and Nicki’s own compositions which are inspired by her work with choirs and gospel music over the years and her continued love of harmonies.

The Jazz Photography of William Ellis

Wiliam Ellis will be featuring some previously unseen portraits in his exhibition including this powerful image of Kyle Eastwood taken here at last year's festival. There will also be photographs from Hong Kong and Penang Jazz Festivals where William exhibited and gave presentations on his work last year in association with the American Jazz Museum.

Visit www.william-ellis.com

Mike Jackson's Jazz Images

Local jazz photographer Mike Jackson returns this year with a new exhibition entitled ‘Scarborough Jazz’ featuring images taken at last year’s festival along with some of his earlier pictures of jazz musicians who have played at previous festivals and at Scarborough Jazz.

Visit www.mjimagery.com