Tradition in Transition
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival might be the oldest in Britain, but the programme is designed to show that it can still hold its own as one of the hippest events on the festival calendar.
The festival, which celebrates its 33rd year, will run from the 22-31 July 2011 in venues across Edinburgh. The Jazz festival today announced a great 2011 programme, effortlessly combining traditional Scottish and International influences into in one great festival.
Roger Spence, co-Producer of the Festival said “Edinburgh Jazz And Blues Festival has always stood on its own – with its unique approach to creativity and its commitment to all jazz styles. Now we stand apart from the other Edinburgh Festivals and are confident that audiences will respond to the excitement that we generate. We may be the oldest Jazz Festival but we’re refreshing our programme every year, presenting the best young musicians, and the newest music. Tradition is in transition every year with Edinburgh Jazz Festival”
Some highlights of the programme include the traditional emphasis on creative projects, special one-offs, and unique events which have made the Festival famous in the past. The iconic Mardi Gras also returns to the Grassmarket, in which every style of jazz from 1917 to 2011 is covered.
Local Scottish talent including Niki King; Hidden Orchestra ; and Fat Sams Band , as well as special concerts by bands led by Haftor Medboe, Dave Batchelor and Kenny Ellis.
Swedish Jazz is a focus on the agenda this year with a hot new programme of Swedish events including Magnus Ostrom’s Band and Lina Nyberg singing offbeat “West Side Story”.
There is also an homage to the traditional roots of Jazz, and we have some terrific concerts in store in the New Orleans, Dixieland and Swing styles. Cecile Salvant is the hottest young singer in classic Jazz; the young musicians in Dom James’ London based band bring class, panache and great musicianship to traditional jazz; Fapy Lafertin, hero of Django-style guitar fans is back with fellow Gypsy guitar star Lollo Meier, and the mercurial blind gypsy fiddler Tcha Limberger
For the first time there are also key collaborations with the Delhi and Atina Jazz festivals, so be sure not to miss out on these key one-off events with like minded jazz-fanatics.
Why not browse the full programme to see all the events at the festival?
