Jazz legends and new stars lined up for Brecon Jazz 2012 (From Hereford Times)
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Jazz legends and new stars lined up for Brecon Jazz 2012
4:10pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Music & Dance
Huw Warren
THE legendary five-time Grammy-award-winning Dionne Warwick will perform an alreadysold- out concert in Brecon’s Market Hall on August 10 as Brecon Jazz Festival returns to the town.
The festival, now operated by Orchard, runs from August 10 to 12 and features a compact and powerful programme with a sprinkling of star names, jazz favourites, emerging and Welsh talent, Jazz Club nights, innovative collaborations and a party atmosphere in the town’s streets.
Another big name gracing the Market Hall stage is vibraphonist and vocalist Roy Ayers, the respected artist renowned as the Godfather of neo-soul, making an exclusive UK appearance.
Welsh pianist Huw Warren is this year’s artist-in-residence and can be seen in collaborations with Thomas Stronen and Peter Herbert. And jazz fans can look forward to performances by Soweto Kinch, Neil Yates, Lighthouse, Trio Libero, Neil Cowley, Claire Martin, YolanDa Brown, Iain Ballamy, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Alan Barnes, Kit Downes, Ginger Baker and many more.
Orchard director Pablo Janczur worked with Huw Warren to put the programme together and said: “Orchard was appointed by the Arts Council of Wales at the beginning of May, so it has been pretty hectic trying to get the artists we wanted within the timescale.
“Given the time constraints, this was always going to be an interim year, but we have well over 20 gigs in the classic Brecon town venues.”
There will be concerts in Theatr Brycheiniog as well as in Market Hall, emerging artists and home grown Welsh talent will largely perform in the Guildhall, and there will be special events in Brecon Cathedral.
The town centre will be the location for some spectacular street entertainment, and the Brecon Fringe is running an extensive programme of music in bars, venues and around the town throughout the weekend.
“Brecon Jazz is a heritage brand with a great international reputation,”
Pablo added. “If we can get close to recapturing the values, spirit and magic of the heyday of Brecon Jazz, we’ll have done our job.”
Tickets for all shows are on sale at brecon jazz.com, from Theatr Brycheiniog on 01874 611622 or a 24-hour booking line on 0844 858 8521.
