Jazz Round Up
The final concert of the 2010 Jazz & Blues Festival took place on Sunday, marking the end of ten days of performances. The programme that began on the 30 July has been as varied and exciting as always this year, with a total of 110 shows making themselves heard. We take a look back at some of the highlights.
30 July
A much anticipated event for long-term Edinburgh music fans was the one-off revival of Lizzard Lounge, a renowned local club night in the late ‘90s, and by all accounts it did not disappoint.
31 July
Clandemonium saw a huge flash-mob of volunteer musicians assemble in Parliament Square, signalling their presence with both a great deal of noise and the mass adoption of a traditional Scottish article of fashion - the ginger wig and tartan Tam o’ Shanter combo.
This was followed by the Mardi Gras, for which over a thousand players marched (or in some cases danced) from the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket, and proceeded to spend the next three hours entertaining the crowds there.
3 August
The Festival of Swing at the Queen’s Hall featured nine jazz stars, fronted by saxophonist Bob Wilber. This was traditional Jazz & Blues Festival fare, the kind of show that brings audiences to Edinburgh every year.
4 August
There had been some controversy amongst hardcore jazz fans over the brief appearance of former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm alongside Peter Vettese, the ex-Jethro Tull keyboardist. The two of them performed three songs together at Assembly@Princes Street Gardens, delighting their audience and offering a confident riposte to their critics.
7 August
Django 100 was one of the sub-themes of the festival, in tribute to the centenary of the legendary guitarist Reinhardt’s birth. It was left to Django a la Creole and Evan Christopher to provide the climax to this celebration, offering an electrifying homage to his sound packed with their own innovative ideas.
8 August
Naturally Inspired took place in the unique surroundings of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Yet another event freely open to the public, it offered an experimental musical depiction of the natural world, set against the tranquil surroundings of the Botanics.
If you love Jazz and Blues, why not keep an eye on the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues festival website for their 2011 dates: http://www.edinburghjazzfestival.com/
