Tempo | Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023

TEMPO

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023

Mika

Ezra Collective

Jake Bugg

Laura Mvula

Van Morrison

Will Young

Gregory Porter

Skylla

Squeeze

Mica Millar

Tamzene and Immy

Tony Hadley

See Gregory Porter performing on the main stage on Monday 1st May

Hello and welcome to Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023, in association with BBC Radio 2. To all of you who are returning for another year of magic through music, welcome back! To all those who are maybe here for the first time, we bid you a warm welcome.

This year, we have an amazing lineup throughout the week, with some old favourites back to enchant and excite you all, but also some fresh new talent eager to put on a show nobody will forget in a hurry. Young talent is the lifeblood of jazz going into the future and we love to see amazing acts make their debut on the multiple different stages here at the Festival.

A few acts we recommend for you this year are Gregory Porter, who is here for his last year as artistic curator, Fergus McCreadie, whose blend of jazz and traditional music of his native Scotland has to be seen and heard to be believed, and Tamzene and Immy, with their fabulous double bill.

We all hope you enjoy all the acts available this year, but of course, there’s more to Cheltenham to explore when the lights go down for the day. There’s a vibrant night life for you to explore here, with restaurants and bars and all manner of things to tempt you to stay awake just a little longer before retiring to your bed in time for the next day. Also throughout the duration of the Festival, several of those venues will be hosting The Fringe, where you can go and see small but no less exciting acts performing. Whatsmore, in these times of tightening purse strings, these events won’t put a dent in your wallet.

Once again, thank you all for coming this year. We hope you have an amazing time!

The Tempo Team

Cheltenham hotspots

All

Everyone has the bug for Jake Bugg

How we are keeping it clean

How

What’s on daily

Experimenting with jazz

The

Immy’s life as an artist

History of soul food

22 26 28 32 34 36

Ezra Collective

The group pioneering for modern jazz

Food for the soul

The history of soul food, and some for you to try

Immy’s life as an artist

Immy Stoudy’s life as a jazz artist

Flapper fashion

The influence jazz has had over the fashion world

Pianoman Jazz

Get to know the singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum

Lights, Camera, Action

The influence jazz has had over hollywood

Tempo’s top 6...

JAKE BUGG

Saturday 29 April 2023

Where? Big Top

9:00pm

Five albums and numerous hit singles ‘Lightening bolt’ and ‘Two fingers’ to his name, following on from a sold-out tour, Jake and his band make their Cheltenham Jazz Festival debut, performing hits from his most recent successful album Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.

GREGORY PORTER

Monday 1 May 2023

Where? Big Top

MIKA

8:00pm

Wednesday 26 April 2023

Where? Big Top

International pop sensation MIKA with his biggest hit Grace Kelly that topped the UK charts in 2007, will be taking the stage this year. Showcasing his vibrant melodies, Mika shot to fame in the 2000s and has since gone on to record four more platinum albums.

8:30pm

Grammy award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and fan favourite Gregory Porter best known for his warm, earthy vocals will be returning to Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year.

SKYLLA 7:00pm

LIZZ WRIGHT

Sunday 30 April 2023

Where? Jazz Arena

12:30pm

One of Gregory Porters picks for this year is Lizz Wright. The American , jazz and gospel singer will be performing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival .

She is the daughter of a minister and started singing gospel and playing piano in church as a child. Don’t miss her and her soulful grooves.

Friday 28 April 2023

Where? Parabola Arts Centre

London based, Ruth Goller is joined by Lauren Kinsella, Alice Grant and Nell Greco. Their voices blend together which is breathtaking and beautiful. This is an act you will not want to miss.

Their music takes inspiration all the way from Eastern European folk song, to Free Jazz, to ‘Joyce’.

WILL YOUNG 8:00pm

Friday 28 April 2023

Where? Big Top

You might have seen Will Young in the charts! The pop legend will kick start the bank holiday. With four number one singles including ‘Leave Right now’ and ‘Ever Green’.

Having sold out his UK headline tour this might be the only time you can watch Will showcase his talent.

An act you will not want to miss.

Cheltenham hotspots

When the music comes to an end, there’s so much more to explore throughout the heart of Cheltenham. With some of the best food spots just a three minute walk from the festival, you’re sure to find somewhere to enjoy your evening before the next fun filled festival day.

food drink

The Coconut Tree

23 minute walk from festival

This Sri Lankan resturant is a hidden gem, tucked away in the St. Pauls area of Cheltenham. Full of flavour and vibrant cocktails, you’ll want to give this one a try.

288 Bar and Wok

17 minute walk from festival

Bar and Wok is a noodle bar inspired by those in Hong Kong and China. They have everything from crispy tempura dishes to fried rice and noodle soups.

Baker & Graze

8 minute walk from festival

This cafe is the ideal brunch spot, within ten minutes from the jazz festival. Try one of their many variations of sourdough toast for a prelunch bite.

ASK Italian

3 minute walk from festival

Just down the road from the festival, you’ll find Cheltenham’s ASK Italian. The perfect restaurant for your pizza craving.

Brassiere Blanc

4 minute walk from festival

Chef Raymond Blanc’s very own restaurant is just a short stroll away from the festival. This restaurant offers a true fine dining experience in the heart of Cheltenham.

Curious Cafe & Bistro

13 minute walk from festival

Situated on Bath Road, Curious Cafe & Bistro is an independant, family-run business offering hearty breakfasts and tasty lunches in a beautiful setting.

Franco Manca

11 minute walk from festival

This cosy joint is every pizza lovers dream. They have options for every dietry requirement, so it’s the perfect place for a meal out for everyone.

Mowgli Street Food

17 minute walk from the festival

If you’re craving authentic, Indian street food then don’t miss Mowgli’s

John Gordons

2 minute walk from festival

Just two minutes away, you’ll find this cosy family run bar. Don’t forget to come away with a bottle of whiskey or gin from their shop, too.

All Bar One

3 minute walk from festival

This stylish bar is known for their iconic bottomless brunch and cocktail masterclasses.

Brewdog

16 minute walk from festival

In Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter, you’ll find the recently opened Brewdog. Offering 30 lines of craft beer alongside spirits and cocktails, this is an ideal bar for an evening drink. They also do great burgers!

Flight Club

17 minute walk from festival

Also in the Brewery Quarter is Flight Club, where you can enjoy a game of darts alongside a selection of exquisite cocktails.

Revolution

12 minute walk from festival

Revolution is a bar offering incredible cocktails and delicious food. It’s the perfect spot for both a boujee lunch and a great night out.

The Alchemist

17 minute walk from festival

From colour changing cocktails to drinks that smoke, this bar is truly magical. The Alchemist is situated in The Brewery Quarter.

4 minute walk from the festival

Circus is a cosy bar tucked away in Montpellier, less than five miunutes from the jazz festival

Circus Bar Imperial Haus

8 minute walk from the festival

This bar is hidden away, but once you’re inside you’re sure to be blown away by its mystical decor and magical drinks.

Everyone has the bug for Jake Bugg

By Sophie Hipkiss

The Nottingham-born singer Jake Bugg will be taking the stage at Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year. With five albums and numerous hit singles to his name, and a sold-out UK tour, Jake and his band will be wowing Cheltenham this year performing his most iconic songs- ‘Two Fingers’, ‘Lightning Bolt’, and many more.

The edgy singer-songwriter and indie icon has made a career for himself, leaving school at 16 to focus on music worked out well for the artist. At just 18 he topped the charts in 2012 when his bluesy, indie-folk, self-titled debut album entered the UK charts at number one – making him the youngest British male artist to ever achieve this! He later went on to sell double plati-num and get shortlisted for the UK

Mercury Music Prize. Let’s not forget to mention he has three further UK Top albums. Bugg picked up the guitar when he was just 12 years old and started writing his songs throughout his teenage years. He gained local recognition after playing at open mic nights in Nottingham, leading him to be spotted by a music manager who helped him get signed to a record label.

Flash-forward a few years, at 17 Bugg’s

Big Top

Saturday 29 April 2023 9:00pm - 10:30pm

music started turning heads, as a local DJ began using one of Bugg’s tracks that he had uploaded to BBC Introducing giving him airplay. This then led to an invitation to play at Glastonbury, a huge break for Bugg. Before you knew it Bugg was supporting acts such as The Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher, and Lana Del Rey on tour.

His self-titled debut album went platinum after its release in October 2012 and he has built a strong fan base thanks to his chilled-out, relaxing, acoustic sound. The album was a success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, ‘Lightning Bolt’ was Bugg’s first UK top 40 single and to this day remains one of his biggest and most recognisable songs. Bugg later went on tour across the UK while receiving nominations for awards including a Brit Award for Best British Newcomer and Mercury Music Prize.

Bugg’s distinctive voice, raw and catchy lyrics appealed to a mass audience, and he quickly gained attraction as one of the most promising UK new artists. The

iconic, blues-rock of songs such as ‘Lightning Bolt’ and ‘Two Fingers’ revealed Bugg’s life, growing up on a working-class Nottingham council estate- a tale of drug dealers, stabbings and poverty hit thousands of hearts, which lead him to be labelled as the new Bob Dylan. Now living in London where you will find Bugg working on new music. His current album ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’.

As of now, Jake Bugg has just released his fifth album ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’ and is planning on touring. The new album is filled with catchy and rhythmic baselines, with an in-die and edgy feel.

We are super excited to see Jake Bugg perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year. An iconic indie superstar will take the Big Top stage on Saturday 29th April from 9:00 pm-10:30 pm. This is an act you will not want to miss this year.

If you want to find out more about what Jake Bugg is up to, have a look at his socials –Twitter @JakeBugg Instagram @jakebugg

You will find Jake Bugg at

Strapped for dough?

Here are five things you can enjoy during your time here without breaking the bank

It’s a known fact that life and enjoying life is getting more and more expensive in the UK. With everything that’s going on in the world it can be hard to think of anything that’s simple and easy to access. Well fear not, we here at Tempo want all of you, regardless of who you are or what you have in your pocket, to have a good time. Here are five of our reccommendations for things to do around Cheltenham on a budget.

The Find Cafe

This legendary independent cafe will help cure any hangovers that may have occurred as a result of your revelry or just set you up for another day of soulful fun. Portions are guaranteed to be large, the food is always top quality and you can guarantee you’ll get maximum bang for your buck.

Address: 20 Regent Street, GL50 1HE

Pop up gigs

Keep your eyes peeled around town for pubs hosting an eclectic mix of free performances from dawn till dusk in venues all across Cheltenham.

Jazz it up

Come along and support local young musical talent, as well as school and Jazz bands from across the country as they take to the Free Stage to entertain you at the heart of the festival.

The Family Tent

From Jazz skills workshops and Beatbox Adventures to marching bands and mysterious flutes, most of the sessions in the family tent are, as the name implies, perfect for families of all ages. Tickets start at just £6 for adults, with kids tickets starting at just a solitary pound

Waves II, Montpellier Woods

This free performance is sure to intrigue and fascinate anyone, with it’s blend of music and physics as eight different pendulums work in tandem to create a beautiful, complex pattern of sight and sound

How we’re keeping it clean

Cheltenham Jazz Festival have made a pledge to become a more sustainable event. Here’s what this promise entails and how you can do your part.

by Ashleigh Poole

As a part of Cheltenham Festivals, Cheltenham Jazz Festival has signed up to Powerful Thinking’s Festival Vision 2025 Pledge. This is a shared vision for the industry of outdoor events. Powerful Thinking is an organisation that brings together festivals, suppliers and environmental groups to explore ways to reduce costs and carbon through alternative methods and efficiency. It aims to provide guidance to festival organisers about how they can choose sustainble resources when it comes to organising festivals and outdoor events.

The pledge was a result of The Show Must Go On report, which was a response of festivals to the 2015 global climate change talks. Cheltenham Festivals have signed up to the pledge, alongside other festivals and outdoor events, with an aim to achieve a 50% reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions (related to the festivals) by 2025.

Because of this incredible vision, it’s being ensured that at all Cheltenham Festivals’ events that:

- 0% of Cheltenham Festivals’ waste goes to landfill

- Single-use materials are reduced and reused on site

- Speakers and audience members are asked to reduce travel-related emissions by opting for public transport, car sharing, cycling and using

How can you be a sustainable festival-goer?

It’s important that we all do our partin creating better world. Here’s just a few ways you can be sustainable as a visitor of Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Use the correct bins. It’s important that we all recycle as much as possible at the festival. If atendees can act responsibly and recycle whatever they can, they will be a huge factor in reducing the impact of festivalgenerated waste.

Bring resuable bottles or cups to reduce single use plastic. Bringing a reusable bottle is so much better for the environment, and it’s really handy for you! Lots of festivals will have refill stations or simply ask them to refill the bottle for

Plan your travel. If you live locally, why not take a stroll down to the festival? Or you can share a car with other atendees living nearby. Public transport is of course always better than using a car, too.

New Kids on W

ith all your favourites performing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year, you might have missed some of the younger artists debuting this year. The youth are the lifeblood of jazz, bringing fresh new ideas and brand new takes on existing styles that keep the creativity flowing for generations to come. Here are four of these new artists performing this year that we here at Tempo think you’ll be interested in.

Tamzene

At just 24 years old, this singer-songwriter from the Highlands of Scotland first picked up an instrument aged 8 and has never looked back. Hailing from Cromarty, a town with less than 1,000 people, she has impressed many in the industry with her mature yet eccentric style taking inspiration from Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys and Eva Cassidy.

Hailing from Kent, Immy is a phenomenal young artist that has been in heavy demand in the last few years. With influences ranging from Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis and Julie London, Immy has played with many notable artists, all whilst being only 18 years old.

on the Block

Georgia Cecile

This astonishingly talented Glaswegian is at the helm of the new wave of UK jazz crossover artists. Having opened four sell-out shows for Gregory Porter at Royal Albert Hall, she continues to make waves across the Atlantic and was recently crowned UK Jazz Act and Vocalist of The Year at the Jazz FM Awards. Inspired by Nancy Wilson, Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder, she’s taking to the stage this year for the first time at the Jazz Festival.

Fergus McCreadie

We here at Cheltenham Jazz Festival have the privilege of hosting this amazing young pianist for this year’s extravaganza of music. With his self-released first album Turas, he has gone on to be a mainstay young talent in the UK jazz scene. Shortlisted for a Mercury Award in 2022, he will be joined on stage by David Bowden and Stephen Henderson for a performance that’s guaranteed to play the house down.

What’s on Daily?

Here are some of our top picks throughout the festival and what else you can’t miss over the 6 day festival period.

Rosie Frater-Taylor

Wenesday 26th April

Performing on Wednesday from 7pm at The Daffodil resturant Rosie will open the festival in style. With two albums and a European tour already in the bag, Rosie combines her subtle and melodic voice with playful guitar and jazz harmonies to create youthful, uplifting folklore.

Also performing and one to watch is Mika, perfomring from 8pm at the Big Top (the main Jazz Festival site in Montpellier Gardens) Mika is bringing a world of gritty romance amidst the joy and playfulness of technicoloured alternative pop.

Thursday’s line up from 7pm brings on Denny Ilett. Not only is he a well known vocalist, he will also be playing guitar along side his trio. Performing an intimate and heartfelt selection of Great American Songbook classics made famous by Frank Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole.

Also perfoming is Connor Selby from 7pm at the Jazz Arena. releasing an album in 2021 Selby draws on influences ranging from Eric Clapton, Free, Van Morrison and B.B. King,but keeps to his own style and range. Another performance to keep a look out for on the Thursday is The Soul Jazz Summit with the BBC Concert Orchestra from 8.30pm at Big Top in Montpellier. the Soul Jazz Summit brings together the very best of jazz, funk and soul, including special guests Kurt Elling, Madeline Bell, Mica Millar, Ashton Jones, Vanessa Haynes, Mica Paris, Tommy Blaize and Ian Shaw.

Will Young

Thusday 27th April

Denny Ilett

Friday 28th april

Friday 28th welcomes Will Young. from 8pm at the Big Top in Montpellier, Will kicks off the bank holiday weekend with two decades of experience in the forefront of pop with 4 UK number one singles, definetly one to not miss.

Also performing are Mica Miller from 6.30 pm and Sklla from 7pm at the Parabola Arts Centre, both popular in the UK and are definitely worth a watch for rising talents.

Van Morrison

Saturday 29th Arpil

Birmingham Conservatoire

Sienna Exchange

On the Saturday from 11.00am Parabola Arts Centre Rising stars from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire join students from the prestigious Sienna Jazz-Accademia Nazionale del Jazz in Italy to showcase a programme of wide and varied jazz. A must-see favourite for first-timers and experienced Festival goers.

Also perfomrming are Lucy Anne Daniels from 1pm at the Hotel du Vin and also Emberlight from 12.15am from the Family Tent area of the festival, both must watches.

Sunday 30th Arpil

Performing Sunday 30th april is none other than Van Morrison and our pick of the day. One of the most unique and celebrated musicians of a generation due to his distinctive blend of R&B, Soul and Celtic melodies make Van a must watch on Sunday.

Also performing and ones to look out for are Stanley Clarke N’4EVER from 5.30pm Cheltenham Town Hall, Main Hall and also returing to their late night takeover sessions, Kansas Smitty’s - Giacomo Smith’s Hot Five on from 11.00pm at The Daffodil Restaurant both a fantastic watch.

Monday 1st May

Gregory Porter

Closing off the festival on the Monday is Gregory Porter, festival curator and icon of jazz, know for winning not one but two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Gergory Porter is know internationally as one of the big current faces of Jazz. From 8.30pm at the Big Top in Cheltenham this is one show that is a must watch.

Also on the Monday are Squeeze dubbed ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’from 4.30 at the Big Top and also Homelands Damien Lewis from 2.30pm at the Jazz Arena, once in a life time events and must watch performances that will leave you chilled and relaxed.

The world

CHELTE NHAM

HAVANA

NEW ORLEANS

Being the iconic birth place of jazz over 100 years ago, New Orleans lives and breathes jazz. However Jazz is heavily influenced by elements of European and African music, such as the rhythm and blues from Africa, and the harmony from Europe. Being a port city, New Orleans was the perfect place for all of these influences to come together. It became a meeting place for people of different ethnic groups, and a city with a nightlife where artists could play together, learn from each other, blending all of these elements as they go.

Home to the Havana Jazz Festival, Cuba is home to Afro-Cuban Jazz, the earliest form of Latin Jazz. Latin jazz blends rhythms and percussion instruments of Cuba and the Spanish Caribbean and is also recognisable due to its fusion of European and African musical elements.

by Natalie Cooper

world of jazz

Cheltenham is the hometown of one of the most loved jazz festivals in the UK, and it’s jazz scene is booming. Attracting around 20,000 music lovers each year, Cheltenham has hosted some of the greatest artists such as Gregory Porter, Paloma Faith, and Emeli Sandé.

JAKARTA CAPE TOWN

With the largest jazz festival in the Southern Hemisphere happening here every year, 100,000 jazz fans flock to see many iconic national and international artists. The city comes alive and is arguably the most anticipated weekend of the year.

Not only is Cape Town the home to the fourth largest jazz festival, it is also the birth place of cape jazz. A genre of jazz with heavy influence from American jazz, cape jazz features instruments that can be carried in a street parade, such as brass and percussion instruments, banjos, guitars.

Experimenting

Elvis may not have played Sax and Pink Floyd may not be known for their over the years. We look at five famous

by Ashleigh

Pink Floyd

Lead vocalist Rick Wright would incorporate jazz textures into Pink Floyd’s music. An example is the chord progression of the song Breathe. Drummer Nick Mason’s early drumming has a hint of a blues-rock structure with slightly more of a free flowing style.

Amy Winehouse

Winehouse’s influences included Sarah Vaughan, the American jazz singer known as ‘Sassy’ and Dinah Washington, “Queen of the blues,” who recorded in styles such as blues, R&B and pop music - primarily being a jazz vocalist.

The Beatles

Jazz was an important part of the rise of rock music in the 60s. The Beatles are a great example of this as a band who truly were inspired by jazz. This is evident in the cover tunes they played. Duke Ellington’s “I Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” was a major was one of the Beatles most covered songs.

Experimenting with jazz

brass bands, but jazz music has influenced some of music’s biggest names famous faces who have taken inspiration.

Ashleigh Poole

David Bowie

In Bowie’s experimental works, the alto sax is clearly an integral part to his music, and jazz is spread throughout his work. On the album Blackstar, he collaborated with a jazz quartet led by saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Bowie was known for being influenced by unknown artists and distant genres.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was heavily influenced by jazz artists. His music was laced with hints of both blues and country, as well as gospel.

Presley’s deep, soulful voice and outlandlish, bold dancing was iconically influenced by the genre.

Rolling Stones

Most of Rolling Stones’ influences came from the blues. Howlin Wolf and Elmore James were among many of those who influenced the rock band. Drummer Charlie Watts’ taste was heavily rooted in jazz music.

Ezra Collective h y

by Ashleigh Poole

The group pioneering for a new era of jazz

Ezra Collective are the driving force behind the revolutionary success of jazz music in the modern world. With their funky beats and experimental melodies, they’re truly the group to beat when it comes to the genre.

They’re the group that are truly rebranding jazz music, with over 640,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The talented quintet came under the spotlight four years ago with the release of their debut LP You Can’t Steal My Joy and have since completely transformed the modern jazz scene. Blending the key elements of the genre with a mix of others, from hip hop to grime, Ezra Collective are bringing a whole new meaning to jazz. The scene is already filled with forward thinking, risk-taking musicians who combine the melodic, joyous elements of classical jazz with the more modern hard-hitting beats of newer genres, and Ezra Collective are certainly no exception.

The group were formed in 2012 through Tomorrow’s Warriors, a jazz programme committed to championing diversity and inclusivity in the arts through music.

Femi Koleoso, the drummer of the quintet, puts down their success as being able to express their musical influences, stemming from their youth. Ezra collective has credited both Robert Glasper and Kedrick Lamar in particular, for giving

them inspiration for their template as a band.

In 2019, prior to the release of You Can’t Steal My Joy, Ezra Collective’s instrumental single Quest for Coin was branded a Hottest Record in The World by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1. This threw the group into the spotlight in time for the release of their debut LP. The album features household names Loyale Carner and Jorja Smith who offer some incredible vocals over the laid back, grooveladen beats provided by the jazz band. These R&B and hiphop features begin to path the way for their discography of experimentation.

Last year, Ezra Collective release their second LP, Where I’m Meant To Be. The album was recorded during lockdown and it combines both instrumental tunes with more artist collaborations. The group has branded the album as ‘a thumping celebration of life’ in which ‘the songs marry cool confidence with bright energy.’ And it certainly is thumping. The whole album is a blend of genres, experimenting boldly with Afrobeat, hints of salsa and, of course, jazz. Life Goes On featuring Sampa the Great is the very first track you’re met with. It’s vibrant, exciting energy is

made clear throughout with catchy beats and roaring saxophone melodies. The album continues in a similarly upbeat fashion, featuring artists like Kojey Radical, Emeli Sandé and Nao. Welcome To My World truly does transport you to Ezra Collective’s world of music. The flamboyant melody of the track connotes a sense of magic and surrealism.

It was announced in March of this year that the group will be performing at Glastonbury Festival this year, which takes place from 21st to 25th June. We can’t wait to see what else is to come from these revolutionary young jazz artists, as they rise in success year after year. They truly are the epitome of a fearless music group.

The jazz band has just finished the American leg of their 2023 tour, in time to come back to the UK ready for Cheltenham Jazz Festival (we can’t wait to have them here!) and later Glastonbury. Ezra Collective will be performing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in the Town Hall on the Main Hall stage on Saturday 29th April from 9pm. Their colourful harmonies are sure to be even more powerful and joyous on stage and in person, so this isn’t one you’d want to miss.

Jazz Bars in the South west

Jazz has had an influence on many different aspects of life. The cool laid back relaxing 1920’s aesthetic has been loved by many different people and has been adopted by many different industry and companies. One successful adaptation of the jazz genre is with in restaurants and bars. When jazz first took off in the 1920s different bar owners took advantage of both the craze for the music and the small up and coming bands, and saw this as a money making opportunity, as in the 20’s jazz was the most popular, but even today bars around the UK use this jazz influence and aesthetic to entice customers into their bars, making them stand out and show respect to the genre of music and way of life. Here are a few different Jazz bars in the south west of the Uk and a little about them.

The Bootlegger

One bar in particular is the Bootlegger. This chain of jazz bars can be found all around the Uk and is one of the more successful jazz bars in the UK. situated in Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter these jazz bars first opened the doors to there first bar on Gloucester Road in Bristol and have since expanded.

The Old DUKE

Another popular Jazz bar in the south west of the UK is The Old Duke found also in Bristol. The bar is situated on the cobbled King Street in the heart of Bristol and is named after Duke Ellington. The pub has become world famous for its live traditional, New Orleans inspired Jazz music. With jazz being originally founded in New Orleans in the 1920’s this is the perfect place to sit relax and listen to some good old jazz music.

Moon Jazz & Blue Club

One jazz bar set up like no other is the Moon Jazz & Blues Club. Moon Jazz takes place on the third Thursday of the month (except August), now in its seventh year. Situated in Devon the Moon Jazz House Band (MJHB) usually hosts 8 of the eleven nights each year and the remaining nights are offered to jazz combos to do the hosting. Encouraging young musicians to join and help the event this bar and event is one you don’t want to miss.

Smokey Joe’s

Smokey Joe’s in Cheltenham is the place to be if you want fabulous food, drinks, entertainment, pop culture and great customer service as well as some laid back 1920’s music magic. Being a fourth generationally run business. In 2013 it has a reopening as a vintage retro diner/ bar embracing their family heritage and also bringing fabulous food, drinks, entertainment, pop culture and great

Green Park Brasserie

Green Park Brasserie in Bath, the South West of the UK have been around for the past near 30 years. With both food and drinks the brasserie is know for its live music. Hosting live music 4 nights a week the brassiere hosts a number of different bands including hot club jazz bands for a acoustic soul and swing style. The music is pitched to suit the restaurant atmosphere and is the perfect place to relax eat locally sourced food and listen to some relaxing jazz.

Food For The Soul

Diving deep into the origins of Soul Food and a look at some Jazzy recipes to keep you grooving through the festive season

Soul food originated from the mid 1960’s when the Black Church became a gathering place for the black community and impacted and helped develop what is now known as ‘Soul Food’. The term ‘soul’ was commonly used to described AfricanAmerican culture, it is represented by downhome cooking. Its roots belong in the rural South and has been passed down through many generations. A collection of states is referred to as the Deep South including Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and South Carolina. The term was used to label those states that were the most

dependent on plantation and slavery prior to the American Civil War.

The most common dishes that were served in the black church in the late 19th century included, fried chicken, fried fish, sweet potato pie, red drinks, black eyes peas and many more. In the 20th century from 1910-1970 millions of southern black people migrated from the south due to poor economic conditions as well as intense racial oppression. Taking their belongings and their great culinary traditions with them to the urban Northeast, Midwest and West. This surge of movement is also known as ‘The Great Migration’.

Today soul food can be seen all over the world,

although still a large presence in the deep south. The traditions and culinary skills have been shared immensely and have adapted some modern twists along the way. Soul food has become one of the most recognisable and most popular forms of cooking that has originated from the US. New Orleans, Louisiana has become a popular place to indulge in soul food due to being known as the blues and Cajun capital of the world. Nowadays you can find cooking shows centred around it including ‘The great Soul Food cook off’. Today some of the most popular soul food dishes include fried chicken, mac and cheese, sweet tea, peach cobbler, collard greens. Have you ever tried

Ever wanted to try some of the United States most popular cuisine? Here are three of the top-rated recipes for some soul food favourites.

Soul Mac and Cheese

Prep time: 10 mins

total time 45 mins

servings: 16

Ingredients -

500g macaroni

6 cups chicken broth

225g strong chedder

225g monterey jack

cheese

225g mozzarella

225g american cheese

125g cream cheese

250ml semi milk

250ml single cream

4g smoked paprika

3g garlic granulas

Heart of soul, Sweet Tea

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 3 hours 30 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients -

1 pinch baking soda

2 cups boiling water

6 tea bags

3/4 cup white sugar

6 cups cold water

DirectionsIn a pitcher, sprikle the bakle soda.Pour in boiling water and add tea bags. Cover and alow to steep for 15 minutes.

Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Pour in cold water; refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe by cookincode3 on allrecipes.com

3g onion powder

2 large eggs

DirectionsPreheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease cooking tray ready for use. Fill a large pan with chicken stock and add in macaroni, cook until al dente.

In a large bowl mix together the single cream, milk and half of all the cheeses and all the cream cheese. Add in all the seasonings.

Once combined add in the macaroni and the two eggs and mix well. Add the mixture to your greased tray. Top with more cheese and bake for 35 mins until bubbly. Let cool for 10 mins before serving.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe by Eden Westbrook on sweetteaandthyme. com

Box Office: 01242 850270

The Ultimate Peach Cobbler

Prep time: 10 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Servings: 8

Ingredients-

2 cups bisquick

1 cup milk

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup melted butter

Filling-

4 cups peaches

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

1/4 cup cold water

2 tablespoons constarch

Directions-

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Melt the butter in baking dish ready for use. Next, peel and slice the peaches into cubes.

In a bowl combine the filling for the peaches; peaches,brown sugar and the spices. Add the cornstarch to the cold water and then add to the mixture.

In a seperate bowl combine the batter mixture. Add the mixture to the buttered dish. Pour the peach mixture ontop. Bake for 35-45 mins until golden.

Serve with ice cream or cream and enjoy!

Recipe by Shaunda Necole on thesoulfoodpot.com

IMMY STROUDY’S LIFE

Bristol-based artist Immy Stroudy is Cheltenhams’ youngest artist at this year’s Jazz Festival. With a pop-funk sound, Immy takes inspiration from books, people, films and poetry around her.

Kent-born singersongwriter Immy is one gifted artist. The experience that started it all was growing up in a house where both parents were part of their very own choir groups, always practising downstairs when Immy was asleep. She says “I’ve always just naturally been surrounded by music, my whole family is very musical.” When talking about what sparked her interest in making music Immy says, “I discovered artists such as Billie Eilish and Eloise I would listen more than the average listener and listen to it quite deeply – I enjoy their music. I would break down the lyrics of their songs by analysing the lyrics until I understood every line, understanding the use of the instrumentation and production skills. This then developed into me writing my music and I slowly developed my own sound.”

Immy’s career went off with a bang during the first peak of lockdown in 2020. “I wrote a song about grieving and death and I think people related to the song because of what was happening around the world at the time.”

Listen to Immys song ‘Cloud Gazing’ on all streaming platforms.

The response Immy received from her first song was what she describes as ‘crazy’. She goes on to share, “From that point onwards I wanted to make music that moved people in the same way that my favourite artists move me.” When asked why music is important Immy says “Music makes the world go round, everyone listens to music in films, pubs, cars, clubs, shops, adverts, and on the radio. It’s everywhere and pretty much unavoidable!

When expanding on what inspires her besides her favourite artists Immy says “The world inspires me. Experiences, people, films and nature – you can write about anything, anywhere.

“Music brings strangers together and helps people through life. I think we all need it in some way or another.”

You can put yourself in any situation and write about it from any point of view.”

Immy goes on to say “I love performing live, watching people dance, I want to continue to do that.” Immy managed to sell out of her first gig in Bristol at the Crown labelling this “my favourite performance to date”, with all her friends and family in attendance she describes the moment everyone was singling along to her songs as “lifechanging” and said to herself “I want this to be my life.”

Aside from music, Immy shares her love for ‘skateboarding’ and says “I like to always be outside and be active.” If she’s not outside she says “You’ll find me either in the cinema, shopping or writing down my thoughts and relaxing.” When asked what makes her happiest in life she says “My friends, family, going to concerts, making memories and laughing with people. These are the things I live for.” Seeming like a very lovable person, Immy Describes herself as a ‘Golden Retriever’ and says “I get on with mostly everyone, although I can be quite loud at times.” As well as signing, Immy also plays three instruments, “I can play Bass, Guitar and Piano. I learned all of them myself from just watching YouTube videos, learning other artists’ songs and watching people play.” Immy goes on to say that her gift with instruments is what sets her aside from other artists. “When I play live I sing and play bass, I’d say that

makes me unique compared to a lot of artists nowadays.”

Expanding on her originality she says “Not many young artists listen to old fashion jazz as I do. I love it! No one writes music like that anymore so I think I’m unique.”

Immy describes her music to be like the food ‘fajitas’, she says “ A mix of really great flavours!”When describing her music she says

black but it depends on what the song is about. I can see these colours when developing the song.”

are five words I would use to describe my songs and me.” Taking art literally Immy speaks about when she makes music she can visualize the colours of the songs “My music portrays pastel pink, purple and blue. Lately, it’s been a bit red and

When speaking about her plans and goals for the future she says “I hope to have enough listeners so that I can tour all around the country and make a living from it. I want to get big enough that I have a large following and people get excited and riled up for my next release.” When asked if she could perform anywhere in the world Immy replied “Lafayette in London. It’s only 600 capacity but it’s where I’ve seen all my favourite artists perform so it would be a full circle moment for me, it would be a dream.”

Find Immy performing alongside Tamzene in the Jazz Arena on Saturday 29th April at 12.30 pm

“Funky, loving, happy, relatable and danceable”

Did you know - On February 26, 1917, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band released the world’s first jazz record.

The two songs ““Livery Stable Blues” and “Dixie Jazz Band One Step, became huge hits which showed a completely new genre of music.

Jazz quickly became popular due to it’s fast beat bringing crowds to learn a new style of dance called the Charleston.

Early Jazz

1917

A timeline

Bepop jazz stemmed from Swing jazz with faster tempos and far more complex harmonies. It is best described as being hot and loud.

Fun fact! -The word “bebop” isn’t a word but the spelling of the musical sounds heard in its melodies.

1940 Bepop

1930

Swing jazz

Swing Jazz dominated a massive part of American music.

During The Great Depression, businesses began to go bust and people became jobless.

However, people still attended dance halls, dancing the jitterbug to Swing music.

Larger bands than usual performed a smoother beat and this is when the saxophone became strongly identified with jazz.

1950

Cool Jazz

After World War 2, Cool jazz formed which is a more modern form of jazz.

There is a massive difference between Bepop and Cool Jazz. Bepop has a faster style, whereas Cool jazz is calmer and more relaxed.

The term ‘Cool’ came from how journalists perceived the music. It influenced later music styles like modal jazz and bossa nova.

The father of Hard bop was Art Blakey.

Hard bop was a mixture of gospel, soul and R&B, which serves as the foundation of soul music and funk.

Hard bop has a bluesy feel to it, due to the simpler melodies that are used. This makes this type of jazz more danceable.

Hard bop

1960

Smooth jazz peaked in 1980. Artists relied on singing the melody line over a pop or R&B.

The ‘father’ of smooth jazz was Grover Washington, Jr working as a prominent songwriter and talented saxophonist.

Smooth Jazz had massive air time on the radio.

Smooth Jazz

1980

1970

Avant garde/fusion

Popular artists within this type of jazz was Sun Ra Arkestra. Saxophone legend John Coltrane became popular in this time as well.

People believe that this type of jazz is different to other types of jazz as it attempted to change jazz conventions such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes.

Present day

Jazz today is still enjoyed all around the world. However, it isn’t as popular as it once was. It still has mass following from places such as New Orleans, Havana, New York, and Paris.

People today still recognise the importance of jazz, being the cultural heritage rooted in the African American experience.

There is a difference from jazz then to what it is now, with the older style using softer tones whereas today it is faster and harsher.

Flapper era fashion

by Natalie Cooper

hen we think of 1920’s America, we think of flapper girls, the American dream and underground speakeasys, at a time of liberation and social revolution as economies boomed after the first world war. Along with this, it was also a time where jazz blossomed in opposition to the mood of the first world war, bringing along the popularity of the flapper: a young woman with bobbed hair and short skirts who drank, smoked, and said ‘unladylike’

Wthings. The flapper girls could be identified by their iconic wardrobe, with shorter hemlines and dropped waistlines. Shorter hemlines rose in popularity to make moving around, driving cars and dancing to jazz music easier, something which had never been a factor in women’s fashion before. In essence, the 1920’s helped women come into their own in terms of fashion.

Before the time, women’s fashion was still typically governed by the male gaze, wearing outfits which they did not feel comfortable in just to impress the

opposing sex. But with the introduction of the rebellious flapper girl, fashion started to change. Women started to wear clothes for themselves, and women decided that the 1920s was the decade they would come into their own, and they did that while using jazz as their background music. As a result, their choices based on their new lifestyle started influencing mainstream fashion. More women began wearing brighter colours, beaded clothing, loose dresses, and shorter hemlines. Dresses became shorter than the

traditional dresses which originally went down to the ankle, which were now hemmed up to the knee. Along with the new clothes, they would now wear their hair in a short, bobbed style which brought out their facial features. The women remained fashionable, but utilising these flapper girl elements made them feel happier and most importantly, free.

It wasn’t only women’s fashion which was influenced by the rise in jazz, men’s fashion did too. Prior to the jazz age, typical clothing included fitted

and formal suits, full of monochrome colours. The 1920s turned this upside down with the introduction of baggier, informal attire. The cuts began changing shape, materials became more modern, leading to the popularity of the zoot suit rocketing. The 1920s made felt and tweed hats more favourable, but it was shoes however, that changed the most. Because it was the jazz age, men began to favour the wingtip style above others and began looking for more colours in shoes. Men began to

wear a shoe style that had a perforated flap added over the lace, the iconic shoe we all associate with jazz today. The 1920’s jazz age had an iconic impact on the fashion of its time, changing the way we dress today. Music and fashion are interconnected. As times change, we’ll continue witnessing the impact of the arts on every little thing in our lives. And no doubt, we’ll remember how even back in the 1920s, it was the different forms of art that inspired generations to change their ways for the better.

The Pianoman

Jazz

Jamie Cullum is an English jazz and pop singer songwriter from Rochford UK. Through his 20 year long career the multi talented artist has won many different awards and has definitely made his mark in the jazz industry. In 2003 he became the UK’s biggest selling jazz artist of all time it not a lie to say that Jamie Cullum is at the forefront for UK jazz. Cullum has released nine studio albums, three compilation albums, one live album and twenty four singles over his career so far. Currently Cullum is touring across 3 countries and has 9 upcoming concerts across the US, UK and Germany.

The singer songwriter is still very up to date and in love with the jazz/ pop music genre as he releases music still including his recent Christmas album ‘The Pianoman at Christmas’. This being the first Christmas album for Cullum it made reminisce about his previous Christmas experiences, as he told The Independent in 2020 “I thought about how sad I’ve been at Christmas thinking about the people who aren’t in my life anymore.” Sad words for what is seen as a happy time of year, he went on in the interview to say however the album is very much a feel good album.

The jazz musician tries his best to keep in contact with his fans through his social media. With a following of 220 thousand on instagram, Cullum regularly posts videos of him performing live, photos of live shows and tributes to previous shows that he enjoyed. He also engages with fans on posts and gathers support and feedback with many fans saying how much they loved his shows or wanting him to make the trip to their own country. He also uses his social to promote up and coming concerts and events and keep his fans up to date on the latest event of tease something special coming up, definitely worth a look to keep and eye on what Cullum is up to next.

The singer songwriter has also made way into film by making music and sound for multiple different films such as Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood and The Pursuit. He has been recognised and awarded for his work by winning an MOBO award for best Jazz act as well as being nominated for a golden globe in 2009 with the song Gran Torino. When talking about the award winning Clint Eastwood film Grand Torino, Cullum said this “The song I wrote for the Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino…it was a turning point for me. I was really pleased with the song and the way it went down, and how it came together, that gave me an awful lot of confidence and it felt like the songwriting gods we’re tapping on my skull going ‘come on, write more songs, be confident about it.’ he told song writing magazine. Happy with his work on Gran Torino and having it seeing it success in the cinema Cullum reaps the rewards.

Jamie Cullum has certainly made his mark on the jazz and pop industry and continues his love into his 20 year long career. Keeping in contact with his fans as much as possible and making sure they’re up to date, keeps the tours and tickets selling along side with his work in film and successful awards Cullum really is at the fore front of his career and has made a name for himself over the past two decades, the singer songwriter after his award winning career reel will be asking for a Time Machine to relive his dreams.

Lights Camera Action

Dive into the world of cinema and the influence jazz has had on big box office films popular even in todays day in age.

The film industry has always had its influences on everyday life but has had its fair share of being influenced by trends music and whats ‘in fashion’ at the time. We can see evidence of this in films both 30 years ago and modern day films today. Films such as the Avengers and Marvel cinematic universe using things such as TikTok and incorporating certain cameos for popular music stars that are trending at that time is an example, or for instance films such as Straight outta Compton, Black Panther and the Creed series are all influenced heavily by black culture and rap music to show the heritage and love for the music genre. music and modern day trends

have its effect on films and this is no exception or different for the music style, genre and vibe of Jazz.

With the jazz genre first being founded in the early 1920’s the passion and love for jazz music is still as strong as ever and people would say jazz isn’t just a music genre, its a life style and has its own look and feel too it. The theme has taken over many different parts of everyday life, such as clothing, bars, nightclubs and even TV and film.

The jazz theme and aesthetic has been evident and can quite clearly be seen in many different films throughout the years. Film such as The Great Gatsby, Chicago and more they all have an element of jazz influence in the film. looking into the film ‘The Great Gatsby’ being an adaptation of the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald the film is set in the 1920’s America where a writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbour, Jay Gatsby. Fitzgerald love the genre and embraced jazz when writing The Great Gatsby, in his novel he wrote how the music of jazz was everpresent, whenever there was music playing in the background.

Fitzgerald would frequently refer to saxophones, horns and iconic instruments of the jazz genre and this is echoed throughout the film itself, it was often described in the Gatsby and the jazz genre being omnipresent and this feel throughout the novel and was mirrored when in 2013 they released a in person depiction of the jazz influenced novel with Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The film features roaring jazzy orchestras to capture the films the books atmosphere and party life and now a more common term people use is a Gatsby like party when describing a 1920’s themed party.

Many critics of the film described the use of the jazz genre as “In a way a narrative, it moved the action along

and set the scene throughout the film.” - Craig Armstrong ( composer ) The film summarily is about Fitzgerald’s impression of the jazz ages and serves as a critique thereof. He used the novel in a way to express this (due to the lack of film technology in the 1920’s) and this was then brought to life in film in 2013. The laid back look of tailored unbuttoned suits, parties, alcohol and the ever so present jazz music in the background is the perfect recipe for the whole round depition of the theme look and feel of jazz.

Another film that adopts this genre and feel is the film Chicago. Made in 2002 the film it follows two death-row murderesses that develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer’s attention. [ IMDB plot line ] even here the ever stylish look of jazz is present with the lighting elements, cigarette and suits swagger and the music used in the film. Songs like ‘All that Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’ and ‘Nowadays’ can be heard throughout the whole film and are of the jazz genre.

The main theme and colouring of the film I based with red and black colours mixed in with almost bulb and neon lighting for things such as bar and club signs. Almost giving it a vegas 1920’s theme. The dim lighting and on stage feel throughout the film still give omage to the actual history of the story for Chicago (being an adaptation of a play) but also adds a element of on stage nightclubs 1920’s jazz music. The film is set in the jazz age of songs and music and its set plot is as described, ‘amerian musical satire film adapted from a stage musical of the same name exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal and corruption in jazz age chicago. Again being set in the 1920’s its in the perfect key time zone when jazz had its influence.

Overall its eveident that jazz had its influence on film when set around the 1920’ era. wether talking about Fitzgerald’s idea of jazz and putting his vision of the genre to life by creating a novel then taht being brought to light with the help of Leonardo DiCaprio or the 2002 adaptation of Chicgo with teh lighting and more styalistic elements, when it comes to films and the 1920’s it nothing but jazz jazz jazz.

Spark Membership

Want to attend all our upcoming festivals? Become a Spark member today, it’s free!

Our spark membership is available for 18s-30. Spark, besides being free, has a large range of benefits.

These include:

- Priority booking.

- Purchase of up to two tickets per event during priority booking.

- Exclusive 18-30s discount.

- Four festival brochures posted directly to you Be one of the first to hear about our cheltenham festival news including first look at our voice box lineups and festival announcement.

- To become a member email us at boxoffice@cheltenhamfestivals.com.

- Join the fun today!