The 2024 Southport Jazz Festival is about to burst back into life with 10 spectacular shows over three days and nights!
Here’s who you can see and when between Friday 2nd February and Sunday, 4th February 2024 at the Grand on Lord Street in Southport.
Some of the UK’s top jazz musicians are due to perform in an event sponsored by Chapelhouse Motor Group.
You can buy tickets and see more details at the southportjazz.co.uk website.
There are lots of ways to enjoy the event, with tickets available for single shows, day passes and Weekender Passes available.
Here’s who’s on and when at the 2024 Southport Jazz Festival:
Friday 2nd February 2023
1pm – Dean Masser Quartet – A Salute To Dexter Gordon £16
Dean Masser is an award-winning jazz saxophonist. His aim is to continue the legacy of the bebop tradition by teaching, composing, recording, and playing for live audiences. He started his professional career as a member of the Jack Parnell Quartet and recorded a live album during a week-long stint at Ronnie Scott’s shortly after graduating from Leeds College of Music as Saxophone Prize winner.
4pm – Matt Carmichael Quintet – Marram £16
Pic Greg Macvean 20/07/2021 – Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Matt Carmichael Quartet featuring Charlie Stewart
Heralded by BBC Music Magazine as ‘a distinctive new voice in a crowded scene’, saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael continues to move from strength to strength and grow his reach globally with his powerfully emotive blend of Jazz and Folk music. He has performed throughout Europe at Celtic Connections, Ronnie Scott’s, Love Supreme, Bimhuis as well as being a guest soloist with the Grammy Award winning WDR Big Band in Germany where his music was arranged by Bob Mintzer.
8.30pm – A Swing Spectacular – Matt Ford and Emma Holcroft with the Swingtime Big Band £26
Swingtime Big Band became synonymous with Friday evening sold-out shows to a packed audience at the Southport Jazz Festival.
Led by Musical Director Jez Murphy the band is made up of 17 North West-based freelance musicians who are the finest exponents of Big Band swing around. Based around a superb rhythm section, the band shows off tight ensemble playing and excellent soloists throughout each section.
Joining the band and stealing the show are vocalists Matt Ford and Emma Holcroft. Emma has a very successful solo and small band career as one of the UK’s leading vocalists, who sings a wide repertoire of classic jazz standards and has received superb reviews from past festivals.
Matt Ford is the UK’s most experienced and in-demand Swing Era vocalist.
Saturday 3rd February 2023
12.30pm – Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra In Concert £12
Formed in 1976 by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, this multi-award winning band aims to train and develop the musical skills of its members through the performance of big band music from 1930’s to the present day.
Over the years, WYJO has received many national and international honours, most notably from the BBC Radio Big Band Competition, the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Competition and the National Festival of Music for Youth.
3pm – The Gaz Hughes Trio – Nuclear Bebobalype – new album launch £16
Gaz Hughes is a renowned jazz drummer and band leader, who first gained wide public attention as the original drummer in the Matthew Halsall Band. He played a significant role in the early recordings of the Gondwana label. One of the highlights of his career was his contribution to the album “On The Go” which received critical acclaim, winning the Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards in 2012 and garnering a nomination for the Best Album at the MOBO Awards in 2011.
7pm – The Clare Teal Four £26
She’s back! Expect exhilarating swing from award winning jazz vocalist and long time Radio 2 & Jazz FM broadcaster Clare Teal and her marvellous band who return with a fabulous new show as ever celebrating the hits and hidden gems of the Great American and British Songbooks, plus contemporary covers and originals. The concert will also include favourites from her acclaimed DVD The Fireside Sessions.
Teal’s live shows are constantly evolving, always richly infused with jazz and critically. renowned across the country for their fabulous arrangements, interspersed with Clare’s warm and witty storytelling.
10pm – The Elliott Henshaw Band – Spice Fusion £16
The Elliott Henshaw Band was formed in 2005 and is made up of some of the finest musicians in the country. Taking their influence from artists such as Dave Grusin and the Yellowjackets, they play a mixture of originals and covers that highlight the importance of groove and melody. With plenty of opportunity for the players to stretch out and be creative, it becomes quickly evident why each of them is so in demand in the industry.
The band will be performing music from their two albums ‘Who’d Have Guest?‘ and ‘Is That Not What You Wanted?’ along with some classic covers.
Sunday 4th February 2023
1pm – Mike Smith Jazz Quintet – featuring Jamie Brownfield £16
One of the UK’s finest saxophonists is backed by a stellar rhythm section and also featuring trumpet superstar Jamie Brownfield.
Prepare to be thoroughly entertained as they deliver a mixture of Mike’s original compositions together with fresh takes on well known jazz classics.
Band leader and friend of the festival Mike Smith hails from Southport.
He is a versatile saxophonist and keyboardist who has amassed a 20-year career in the professional music industry, gracing the stages of numerous events alongside well-known artists. He maintains an active role as a regular sideman for acclaimed musicians such as Elkie Brooks, Echo & the Bunnymen, Tony Hadley, Kid Creole, Heather Small, ABC, and Sandi Thom.
4pm – TRYPL – Latin Jazz £20
TRYPL is a UK based Latin Jazz outfit co-founded by the horn section consisting of Trevor, Ryan and Paul. This is new and fresh original music, penned by these three esteemed musicians, along with special guest Alex Wilson (piano). The band is also joined by powerhouses Dimitris Christopoulos (bass), Edwin Sanz (percussion), Tristan Banks (drums) and Davide Giovannini (drums).
Their professional credentials read like the Who’s Who in today’s music.
8pm – Joe Stilgoe Trio £20
Joe Stilgoe is an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter.
“A very British Harry Connick Jr” – The Times
He has released 9 albums, five of which have topped the UK Jazz chart.
He is a true modern-day entertainer, known globally as a performer of wit, style and a level of musicianship which has seen him recognised as one of the best singer-pianists in the world. Always searching for a new way of bringing not only his own songs but those he loves from the past to a new audience, he is an enticing mix of his heroes Danny Kaye, Nat King Cole and Dudley Moore, and influenced by Harry Connick Jr, Peter Skellern, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beach Boys, Oscar Peterson, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin and Joni Mitchell.
His latest album, THEATRE, a collaboration with The Metropole Orkest has been met with widespread acclaim, and has been recognised as a landmark in Joe’s recording career.
- Southport Jazz Festival is at The Grand, 180 Lord Street, Southport, PT9 0QC from Friday 2nd February to Sunday 4th February 2024. For tickets please visit: southportjazz.co.uk
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