Promoter of the Year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2017
The moment of truth!
I hope you will join us for our 21st festival, and my first as festival director.
It has been a labour of love putting together my first programme, so I hope you’ll take the time to peruse this year’s offerings. I trust you’ll agree that it is a varied, exciting programme, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians in the UK and beyond, and I’ll see you at the Spa in September!
I would like to thank my father and former director Mike Gordon, compère Alan Barnes, my wife Debbie and the fantastic Spa team for their help, advice and support.
Best wishes,
Mark Gordon Festival Director
Meet your Compère
Alan Barnes
Alan is a prolific international performer, composer, arranger, bandleader, touring soloist and multi-award winner. His range and brilliance on clarinet, alto and baritone sax are matched by few peers. Alan has been compère since our very first festival in 2003 and is always impressive with his jazz erudition and his sharp, spontaneous wit.
11.45am
Al Morrison’s Blues Experience
Al Morrison takes to the festival main stage with his superb 11-piece blues outfit, created in 2008 for Hull Jazz Festival. Al, known for his blues inflected jazz guitar, is a firm favourite at Scarborough Jazz Club where he is a regular guest artist.
‘Amazing… Al’s a wonderful player’ Steve Shaw (Hull Jazz Festival)
1.30pm
Family Band
Comprising four long-term collaborators and friends (thus the ‘family’ tag), the band takes as its starting point the freewheeling music of those musicians who, back in the 1960s, were at the forefront of the free jazz revolution, but whose opening up of jazz’s constraints is now recognised as not a break from the past but an integral part of the music’s development.
‘One of the best modern jazz groups performing at the moment’ Bebop Spoken Here
3.15pm
Elaine Delmar
Winner, Vocalist of the Year 2023 at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Elaine’s popular appearances at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Club in London have shown her to be remarkably adaptable in a jazz setting, having worked there at different times with such jazz giants as Herb Ellis, Benny Carter and Stephane Grappelli. Elaine regularly headlines at the club, along with her band featuring pianist Barry Green, whose trio backs Elaine at this year’s SJF.
Fri 27 September Session 2 6pm
David Preston ‘Purple / Black’
London based guitarist and composer, David Preston has been described by the Guardian as “Virtuosic” and TimeOut as “A superb modern jazz guitarist”. He released his debut album ‘Purple / Black’ on Whirlwind Recordings in 2023 featuring ECM recording artists, Kit Downes, Sebastian Rochford and bassist Kevin Glasgow.
7.45pm
Fergus McCreadie Trio
Fergus McCreadie is one of the most exciting pianists on the world stage today. With a unique blend of jazz and Scottish folk inspired by his country’s sublime landscapes, his music captures the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide, with an appeal that extends far beyond the constraints of genre.
‘The sound of the Fergus McCreadie Trio is the sound of joy’ All About Jazz
9.30pm
Alan Barnes’ Copperfield
Alan Barnes has been the compère for Scarborough Jazz Festival since the very beginning and is again at this year’s festival. He always brings something fresh and thought-provoking to the festival stage, and the organisers are particularly excited about welcoming his Copperfield Suite in 2024.
‘Whatever the instrument, Alan plays it hard and fast and with the sort of inventive flexibility and invention that ensures that he has his own sound and style and could not easily be confused with another player’ Jazz Journal
11.45am
Jazz Samba – Music of Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd
Featuring leading tenor saxophonist Mark Crooks and award-winning guitarist Nigel Price, ‘Jazz Samba’ spotlights Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s ground-breaking 1962 recording, the first ever fully fledged bossa nova album recorded by American jazz musicians.
1.30pm
Benet Mclean Quintet
Violinist and pianist Benet McLean is one of the most highly regarded contemporary musicians in British jazz. His musical depth and exploration of the boundaries between genres make him a unique and constantly evolving artist. A gifted composer and arranger, live work with his own band focuses on violin-infused high-energy grooves interspersed with lyrical ballads, often augmented with pedals and effects, creating exciting performances that showcase the breadth of his innovative violin style.
‘Benet McLean pushes the boundaries of the violin in jazz with unparalleled modernism’ Julian Joseph
3.15pm
James Hudson (Octet)
With a critically acclaimed debut album already under his belt and a second album out in 2024, British vocalist James Hudson is a rising star in UK jazz. A captivating and charming performer who has a natural affinity with an audience, James Hudson’s outstanding voice can communicate the nuances of a melody and lyric with great interpretive prowess.
Sat 28 September Session 2
6pm
Nigel Price Organ Trio
The Nigel Price Organ Trio, nominated for the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Award for ‘Best Ensemble’ (they won in 2010) and winners of the 2016 British Jazz Award for ‘Best Small Group’ will be playing selections from their vast back catalogue as well as the recently released and critically acclaimed album ‘That’s it. Right there.’ Organist Ross Stanley is a nominee in this year’s Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (Parliamentary Jazz Awards).
7.45pm
Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell
‘Hejira’ is a 7-piece band set up to celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late 70s ‘jazz era’. Since their formation just over a year ago, the band has been a tremendous success, with sold out shows, standing ovations and nearly 90K views on their YouTube channel. Featuring Hattie Whitehead on vocals.
9.30pm
Tom Smith Big Band
Scarborough Jazz Festival are delighted to welcome this refreshing 18-piece big band to the festival. Known for their highly energetic, intense and joyful performances, the Tom Smith Big Band reflects the vibrancy of London and draws from the rich legacy of jazz throughout its history, with their own unique modern and bluesy take.
Run by award winning saxophonist and composer Tom Smith, the music is fuelled by the intimacy and intensity of jazz clubs and the sweeping emotion of film scores and concert halls - expect songs written about steampunk aesthetics, dinosaurs, bar fights and the cosmos.
12pm
ARQ Alison Rayner Quintet
Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, multi award-winning quintet ARQ are widely celebrated from ten years of extensive UK and European touring. Their music combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies; this, along with their love of improvisation, creates a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality.
1.45pm
Fay Claassen with Emma Rawicz and Barry Green
The Dutch power woman of jazz, Fay Claassen, is one of the best-known and most diverse singers in the Netherlands and belongs to the European top echelons.
Emma Rawicz is a multi-award-winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene and beyond. Emma is a nominee in this year’s Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (Parliamentary Jazz Awards).
Barry Green has been playing on the international jazz scene for 25 years. He has two new albums recorded in New York awaiting release as well as forthcoming albums with Elaine Delmar, Brigitte Beraha, Ian Shaw, Tony Kofi and Alan Barnes.
3.30pm
Gareth Lockrane Big Band
The Gareth Lockrane Big Band is a natural evolution from Gareth’s small groups, Grooveyard and his septet, a fiery and unruly animal in its own right. The band plays Gareth’s compositions, which draw on contemporary jazz, funk, gospel, classical and cinematic influences, blending heavy grooves and luscious orchestrations to unique and spectacular effect.
6.15pm
3D Jazz Trio
We are delighted to welcome these three fiercely swinging musicians from across the pond. This American powerhouse trio plays original, traditional and contemporary standards from all genres of music. Their distinctive style and innovative arrangements are super-charged by their boundless musical joy, gratitude and enthusiasm.
8pm & 9.10pm
Big Ben: Celebrating Ben Webster - with Tony Kofi & Alex Webb
‘Big Ben: Celebrating saxophonist Ben Webster’ premiered at the EFG London Jazz Festival on Friday 17th November 2023. 50 years on from Webster’s death, pianist and arranger Alex Webb worked with saxophonist Tony Kofi to curate a narrated show touching on key aspects of the tenor giant’s career, including the acclaimed years with Duke Ellington, his work with Billie Holiday, his visits to Ronnie Scott’s in London, his later years in Copenhagen and his remarkable work with strings.
This remarkable two-part show is presented in full at this year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival.
Webster (1909 – 1973) was a true giant of the tenor sax and one of the most-loved of all African-American jazz musicians. His career spanned several generations of jazz and resulted in hundreds of recordings, including many acknowledged classics.
Tony Kofi (saxophone) and Alex Webb (piano, arrangements) will lead a band of major UK jazz musicians, including Alan Barnes (reeds), Simon Finch (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone) and a rhythm section of Dave Green (bass) who played and recorded with Ben Webster in the 1960s, and Clark Tracey (drums) whose legendary father also accompanied Webster on his 1960s UK dates.
Festival Fringe Events
Wednesday 25 September
Alan Barnes & Bruce Adams with MG3
Where Scarborough Jazz Club @ The Cask Doors Open 7.45pm Entry £10 on the door, first come first served Festival compère and award-winning saxophonist Alan Barnes teams up with legendary trumpeter Bruce Adams to perform at Scarborough Jazz Club at The Cask. This fabulous duo of jazz royalty will be backed by the club’s house trio MG3 (comprising of festival director Mark Gordon on piano, Bob Walker on bass and Tom Townsend on drums).
Thursday 26 September
Alan Barnes & Stuart Garside with MG4
Where Scarborough Jazz Club @ The Cask Doors Open 7.45pm Entry £10 on the door, first come first served Alan Barnes teams up again, this time with superb trombonist and vocalist Stuart Garside for Scarborough Jazz Club @ The Cask. House trio MG3 will this time be augmented by percussionist Adrian Riley to MG4.
This wonderful quartet give a preview of their main stage performance at next year’s festival in Farrer’s Bar.
Saturday 28 September
Eastern Area Schools Youth Band (E.A.S.Y. Band)
Where Sun Court, Scarborough Spa
Timings 9.30am – 11.30am & 4.30pm Entry Free
The Eastern Area Schools Youth Band (E.A.S.Y. Band) morning rehearsal and afternoon performance have become popular features of the festival. There will be a public morning rehearsal and workshop with 2 festival performers, followed by a concert by these wonderfully talented young people in the afternoon at 4.30pm.
Another preview of one of the main stage acts at next year’s festival. This time featuring the incredible Gaz Hughes Trio who will be performing in Farrer’s Bar on Saturday night.
Sunday 29 September
Groovy Jazz Vinyl Tunes from DJ Rowan Oliver
Where Sun Court, Scarborough Spa
Timings 10.30am – 11.45am Entry Free
Groovy Jazz Vinyl Tunes from DJ Rowan Oliver in the Sun Court.
Sunday 29 September
Funky Tuesday Choir
Where Sun Court, Scarborough Spa
Timings 4.45pm Entry Free
The Funky Tuesday Choir deliver a break from the jazz, singing pop, Motown and disco songs in the Sun Court.
Friday 27 – Sun 29 September
The Al Morrison Trio with Festival Guests
Where The Jazz Lounge (Sun Court Cafe), Scarborough Spa Starts Intervals of Grand Hall performances
The superb Al Morrison Trio will be performing in the Jazz Lounge, formerly known as the Sun Court Cafe, during the breaks between main stage acts. Watch out for surprise guests throughout the weekend!
How to Book
Online scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk
Telephone 01723 376774
In person Scarborough Spa’s Box Office
Venue address Scarborough Spa, South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HD
Dine With Us
Dining options will be available including Farrer’s Restaurant and Bar, serving food from 9am – 7pm
Cliff Lift times Cliff Lift to be open, please see the Scarborough Spa website for daily running times Scan
Table reservations are advised. Please email farrers@scarboroughspa.co.uk or phone 01723 357860
Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024
Friday 27 September
11.45am Al Morrison’s Blues Experience
1.30pm Family Band
3.15pm Elaine Delmar Session 1
6pm David Preston – ‘Purple / Black’
7.45pm Fergus McCreadie Trio
9.30pm Alan Barnes’ Copperfield Session 2
Saturday 28 September
11.45am Jazz Samba - Music of Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd
1.30pm Benet Mclean Quintet
3.15pm James Hudson (Octet) Session 1
6pm Nigel Price Organ Trio
7.45pm Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell
9.30pm Tom Smith Big Band Session 2
Sunday 29 September
12pm ARQ Alison Rayner Quintet
1.45pm Fay Claassen with Emma Rawicz and Barry Green
3.30pm Gareth Lockrane Big Band Session 1
6.15pm 3D Jazz Trio
8pm & 9.10pm Big Ben: Celebrating Ben Webster with Tony Kofi & Alex Webb Session 2
