Jazz Festivals

Scotland is bursting with talented jazz artists and annually plays host to vibrant jazz festivals in some unusual, and offbeat locations.

Each year thousands of jazz and blues aficionados flock to events across Scotland. From large scale events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to the ’best wee jazz festival in Scotland’ the Islay Jazz Festival. Each festival showcases the cream of Scottish and international talent, honours established artists and provides a platform for fresh talent, world premieres and new collaborations.

World-class festivals attract world-class artists. Scotland’s festival stages have been brought to life in previous years by performers from across the globe. Past guests include American stars Roy Hargrove, Dick Hyman, the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra, Bad Plus and Lightnin’ Willie. Denmark’s Ibrahim Electric and Sinne Eeg. France’s Les Doigts de l’Homme and Norway’s Froy Aagre Quartet, to name but a few.

So whether you like your jazz traditional or experimental, your experience to be mellow or high octane there’ll be something to appeal to everyone. Here’s a small selection of some of the highlights of Scotland’s eclectic jazz festival calendar.

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival is Britain’s largest jazz festival. Now in its 32nd year, the festival is renowned for its diverse mix of artists and venues and is much loved by locals and visitors alike. With performances in over 100 mixed venues – from intimate, candlelit bars and Rosslyn Chapel, to vast concert halls, street parties and parks – the event is eagerly anticipated. The festival showcases all styles of jazz from traditional to the avant garde, from established artists to rising stars. Priding itself on its cutting edge programme, festival goers can expect to see new collaborations and world premieres and the best of both international and Scottish jazz and blues acts, from Courtney Pine to Glasgow’s own saxophonist, Konrad Wiszniewski. Producer of the festival, Fiona Alexander, believes that the secret to the event’s success is “an independent spirit, a commitment to quality and creativity before style and celebrity, strong roots and performances that challenge both the audience and artists alike“.

‘The Mardi Gras’ brings a touch of New Orleans carnival and parade to the streets of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. 2009 saw masked revellers and party goers enjoying free concerts from American blues star Lisa Mills, Diplomats of Jazz and Victoria Bennett amongst others. ‘Jazz on a Summers Day’ is a more relaxed affair with an emphasis on more traditional styles of jazz. Situated in the picturesque Princes Street Gardens underneath the towering bulk of Edinburgh Castle, spectators are encouraged to bring a picnic, relax and drink in the atmosphere.

Glasgow

The Glasgow International Jazz Festival is 24 years old this year. Founded in the years running up to Glasgow’s inauguration as European City of Culture in 1990 it is one of the many musical reasons why Glasgow also achieved UNESCO: City of Music status back in 2008. This exciting festival stages over 160 events around the city and has played host to some of the greatest jazz and blues stars in history, the list includes; Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Dizzie Gillespie, Tony Bennett, BB King and Nina Simone. The festival actively promotes a mixed programme of styles from the established to the up and coming as well as ‘Homegrown’ a programme of artists based in Scotland. Highlights of this year’s diverse programme include the acclaimed Scottish jazz singer, Carol Kidd, singing from the songbook of George and Ira Gershwin, an innovative mix of jazz, hip hop and Indian vibes from clarinettist Arun Ghosh, Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django – a tribute to guitar pioneer Django Reinhardt and the much heralded Polar Bear. The international headline act this year will be New Yorkers, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

Islay

From the largest to one of the smallest. The Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival is truly one of a kind. Using the whole of the Hebridean island as a venue, the festival offers the best jazz in Scotland, from both international and home grown acts. Reviews of previous festivals have raved about the ‘intoxicating’ ambience of the island. The festival presents 15 concerts over the weekend of the event. A taste of what you might expect includes: barbecuing on the beach at Port Charlotte to the sounds of a saxophone quartet, modern jazz in a traditional stag’s head adorned room at stately home Islay House, or concerts in the aromatic Bunnahabhain whisky filling shed situated at the end of a single track road with incredible views over the Sound of Jura. Previous guests have also been charmed by joining their fellow members of the audience post performance to walk out to the hide at the RSPB Centre at Gruinard to watch some of the island’s rare bird species. Visitors are not only charmed by the innovative use of unique venues but also the island’s eight whisky distilleries including Ardbeg and Bruichladdich. Previous years have seen performances from award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King, Scottish saxophonist Laura Macdonald and collaborations between Norwegian musicians Frode Haltli (accordion) and Trygve Seim (saxophonist).

Fresh talent

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland trains future stars of the jazz stage and ensures that Scotland’s scene stays fresh and vibrant. Formed in 1996 the orchestra offers excellent training and opportunities for budding jazz musicians to perform with established artists. The orchestra can be seen in all their glory in Stirling and Glasgow as part of their summer 2010 tour.