Scarborough Jazz Festival is returning in 2023, celebrating its 20th Anniversary!

We are delighted to announce that Day, Afternoon and Evening tickets are now available to purchase for this years Jazz Festival!

Download the Scarborough Jazz Festival 2023 programme on the button above!

Full Line-Up + Timings

Compere: 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 was compere at our very first festival in 2003 and is always impressive with his jazz erudition and his sharp, spontaneous wit.

Friday 22nd September

Afternoon

11:30am

Jamil Sheriff’s Five Gold Rings

Jamil has been a regular favourite at Scarborough Jazz for many years and has a reputation for pulling together exceptional bands. Five Gold Rings brings the classic sound of the Blue Note quintet, with driving, swinging melodies and solos performed by outstanding musicians.

JamilSheriff.co.uk

1:15pm

Tori Freestone & Alcyona Mick

The duo, which was formed in 2015, has a very spontaneous, interactive approach. Both players are very much in demand on the London Jazz scene.

‘The no-hiding place exposure of an improvising sax/piano duo is a tough call but the British pairing of pianist Alcyona Mick and tenor saxophonist Tori Freestone makes light of it.’ The Guardian

‘Elegant, engaging and original music played with magnificent panache.’ All About Jazz

www.torifreestone.com

3:00pm

Jonny Mansfield Quintet

Jonny on vibraphone has a great line-up with Dominic Ingham, violin, Midori Jaeger, cello, Will Sach, bass, Jay Davis, drums.

‘There's something of a Mike Gibbs feel to Mansfield's compositions with some Loose Tubes sensibility thrown in for good measure, but none of these allusions detracts from the sheer originality his music exudes. A promise of magnificent things to follow.’ All About Jazz

‘A musical vision beyond his years.’ Evan Parker

6:00pm

Ivo Neame’s Dodeka

The live performance drought that resulted from the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 was a kick in the teeth for all musicians – Ivo Neame decided to nurse his teeth by writing and recording music for a virtual big band. He was able to produce a critically acclaimed work during an extremely difficult time. Post pandemic we are able to present the band live in the Grand Hall.

‘‘If these dark times can produce such brilliance who knows what comes next” Kind of Jazz

7:45pm

Brandon Allen Groove Band

Australian/UK musician Brandon Allen is one of the country’s most in demand saxophonists. This exceptional group performs brand new contemporary jazz/groove compositions. Expect funky baselines, otherworldly drum grooves, soaring synthesisers and intricate and intoxicating sax/guitar melodies.

'...a superb blend of diverse improvisation and stellar ensemble interaction...' ‘…a saxophone heavyweight, at the height of his powers…’ Blues and Soul Magazine

9:30pm

Clare Teal Seven

Expect exhilarating swing from award-winning jazz vocalist and long-time Radio 2 & Jazz FM broadcaster Clare Teal who returns with a fabulous new show, The Clare Teal Seven – a truly exciting collaboration between Clare and her regular trio led by world-class pianist Jason Rebello and three key members of Kansas Smitty’s.

Clare’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.

Saturday 23rd September

11:30am

Alex Clarke Quartet

Alex is one of the most versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the jazz scene. The quartet features some of the finest names in UK Jazz: Dave Newton (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Clark Tracey (drums).

Equally adept on alto and tenor saxophones, an unusual ‘doubling’ combination, Alex is also an accomplished clarinettist and flautist. Her versatility and her willingness to work across a variety of musical genres ensures that she is a musician who is constantly in demand.

1:15pm

Mighty Like The Blues

This is a new intergenerational collaboration between five of the UK’s leading jazz soloists. The band explores the deep and powerful legacy of the blues. Legendary guitarist Jim Mullen is joined by the well-known and respected front line of alto saxophonist Sam Braysher and trumpet player Pete Horsfall. One of the UK’s great keyboard players Mike Gorman is on organ making up the rhythm section alongside celebrated drummer Shaney Forbes.

3:00pm

Adam Glasser Quartet

South African virtuoso Adam Glasser’s harmonica can be heard on countless sessions notably the title track of Abdullah Ibrahim's album 'The Balance'. On piano and harmonica, Adam has worked with Dudu Pukwana, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sting, The Eurythmics, Joe Zawinul, Incognito, Pino Palladino and Hugh Masekela. Adam is supported by some marvellous musicians: Ant Law, guitar, Steve Watts, bass, and Corrie Dick, drums.

6:00pm

Graham Costello’s ‘STRATA’

A great combination of tenor sax, bass clarinet, piano (Fergus McCreadie), guitar, electric bass and Graham Costello as composer and drummer.

“Raw-noise excursions, infectious minimalist loops, lyrically meditative short interludes and chord-punching rock, thrilling drumming from the leader...” Jazzwise (Editor’s Choice)

“Dedicated, artful...fantastic” - Sunday Times

“Graham Costello’s STRATA can justifiably be classed amongst the very best of the British jazz revolution. ‘’ Louder Than War

7:45pm

Emma Rawicz Quintet

Emma Rawicz is a multi-award winning young saxophonist and composer. She is a natural performer. Her music has a unique sound, fusing all her many influences, and her compositions range from lilting Afro Cuban inspired grooves to hard hitting modern jazz and funk numbers. And what a line up with Ivo Neame, piano, Ant Law, guitar, Conor Chaplin, bass, and Asaf Sirkis, drums.

"An astonishing new talent" (Jamie Cullum)

'A force to be reckoned with' (Jazzwise)

‘A fast-rising star' (London Jazz News)

9:30pm

Randy Brecker with Tod Dickow & Charged Particles

Randy Brecker is an internationally acclaimed American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B.

Director Mike Gordon says: “I am delighted I have managed to book Randy for this year’s festival. He has performed with many jazz legends including George Benson, Jaco Pastorius, Horace Silver, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and often with his brother Michael Brecker.

He has also played and recorded with Blood, Sweat and Tears, Donald Fagen, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, Spyro Gyro and Dire Straits. Randy will perform with saxophonist Tod Dickow and the band Charged Particles and he will be the highlight on Saturday 23rd September.”

Sunday 24th September

12:30pm

Doncaster Jazz Alumni

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, DJA are welcoming back many of their former members who are some of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the UK. DJA specialises in re-creating the music of the masters - Ellington, Basie, Herman, Rich etc. – and the challenging arrangements of contemporary international and UK composers.

The DJA will give a centenary performance in honour of the great Thad Jones - a virtuoso trumpeter, cornetist, composer and arranger -celebrating why Jones’ music remains some of the most important ever recorded in jazz.

2:15pm

Art Themen/Dave Barry Quartet

Tenor and soprano saxophonist Art Themen’s early influences were Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon, but he also imbibed the styles and musical vocabulary of Coleman Hawkins, Parker and Coltrane. He has played with such major figures as Stan Tracey (for over 20 years), George Coleman, Al Haig, Bud Shank, Charlie Rouse and Nat Adderley. Drummer Dave Barry joined Mike Westbrook in 1979 and worked with his various ensembles and big band touring Europe and Australia. And the backing can’t come any better than Gareth Williams (piano) and Dave Green (bass).

4:00pm

Rory Ingham’s Trombone Assembly

Rory Ingham (British Jazz Awards Rising Star) brings together Mark Nightingale (eighteen times winner of Best Trombonist in British Jazz Awards), renowned trombonists Trevor Mires (Sir Tom Jones), David Higham (Kansas Smitty’s) and legendary recording artist Andy Wood (Stevie Wonder).

‘Expect big, brassy riffs, beautifully buttery melodies, toe-tapping grooves, energetic swing and complete mastery of the instrument, effortless virtuosity’. Jazzwise

7:00pm

An Adventurous Dream with Ian Shaw & Tony Kofi

Ian and Tony are joined by Barry Green, piano, and Dave Green, bass, in a celebration of the songs of two pivotal jazz giants: bandleader, pianist and composer, Duke Ellington; and lyricist, pianist, and composer Billy Strayhorn. These four UK jazz superstars, will perform a memorable concert of some of the best swinging tunes and stunning ballads ever written, from the composers of ‘Take The ‘A’ Train’, Sophisticated Lady’ and the seminal ‘Lush Life’

‘Shaw . . . smart and soulful’ Guardian

‘There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi’ Jazzwise

8:45pm

Mark Nightingale & Alan Barnes Sextet

Two multi-award winning giants of British Jazz - Mark Nightingale on trombone and Alan Barnes on saxophones. – Front an amazing sextet.

‘Mark Nightingale tells the trombone what to do and does not allow it to set the parameters for his improvisations… tremendous fluency and flair’ Leonard Feather

‘Alan Barnes stylistic range is quite phenomenal… He has a wonderful capacity for suggesting a given style without actually imitating anyone’ Dave Gelly