Academy Jazz Orchestra with Leon Foster Thomas: Expressions of Caribbean Jazz at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London.Martin Taylor at All Of The Above Music, Widcombe Social Club, Bath.Kings Place Jazz Orchestra and Claire Martin OBE, ‘Love in Full Swing’ at Hall One, Kings Place, London.Simon Spillett & Kim Cypher Present ‘Unification’ at St. Michael’s Church, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts.Chris Bowden with Lichfield House Jazz Band at Lichfield Jazz, The Cathedral Hotel, Lichfield, Staffs.Jules’ Jazz Jam feat. Julian Martin at Ardour Academy, Cardiff.Dave O’Higgins at Swansea Jazz Club, The Swigg, Swansea.Eddie Gripper/Elijah Jefferey Quartet at Swansea Jazz Club, The Observatory, Swansea.The Jukebox Rhythm Orchestra at Jazz Coventry, The Albany Club, Coventry.Let Spin at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.Fugue & Groove Trio at Corn Exchange Jazz Club, The Corn Exchange, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.Pat Metheny Side Eye III at The Barbican Centre, London.Sullivan Fortner Trio at Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York City, USA.John Medeski and Kirk Knuffke ’ The Angelic Brothers’ at Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York City, USA.Exhibition ; The Jazz Photography of William Ellis at The Capstone Theatre Foyer, Liverpool.Jo Harrop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey.Denny Ilett & Pete Long’s R & B.Bop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey.Steve Waterman Trio at Guildford Jazz,The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey.Chris Gibbons Band, lte afternoon event at Southbound, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.The Classic Blues Show at The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.The Aspyrian Trio at Cheltenham Jazz Club, Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Glos.Sungrass at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.Martin Bonventre Album Release Show at Laurie Beechman Theater, New York City, USA.The Pocket Ellington at Derby Jazz, at Chapel Streets Arts, Derby.Josephine Davies’ Satori with Alcyona Mick at Derby Jazz, Chapel Street Arts, Derby.The Ayoub Sisters at St. Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, Shropshire.Esther Bennett Quartet at The Verdict Jazz Club, Brighton.Ian Shaw’s Piano Bar with Vanessa Haynes, Polly Gibbons, Esther Bennett, Andy Williamson at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London.Jean Guyomarc’h Hot Club Trio at Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon.Joe Masterson Trio at The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Shropshire.Naissance at The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Shropshire.Terence Collie at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London. Matt Skelton presents The Blackhawk Quintet: Celebrating Shelly Manne at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.Small Blue at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire. Ben Crosland’s All Star Band Play the Ray Davies Song Book at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire. Josephine Davies’ Satori Quartet at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita Suba Trio at Union Chapel, Islington, London.Makaya McCraven at Union Chapel, Islington, London.Yttling Jazz at The Jazz Cafe, Camden, London.The Herbaliser Band, official album launch at 229, London.Eastside Jazz Festival at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), Birmingham.Jonny Nash + C.Haddow + M.Sewell matinee performanceat Sy ; Gigs, The Darwin Room, Shrewsbury Library, Shrewsbury.Mark Lockheart Shapeshifter Trio at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.Alicia Gardener-Trejo Quartet at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.Abacus at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.Brass Band Bychan at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke Duo at Union Chapel, Islington, London.Branco Stoysin: Recital for Nikola Tesla at The Stables, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Bucks.Branco Stoysin, ‘Recital for Nikola Tesla’ at Goldsmiths, University of London, London.Andy Abbott at Weirdshire, Upstairs at The Jam Factory, Hereford.Dorian Ford - Köln Concert 51 — 51st Anniversary Concert at The Hex Hall For All, Acland Burghley School, London NW5.Buxton International Jazz Festival, various venues, Buxton, Derbyshire.The Hans Koller ‘Monk’ Quartet at Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Victory Club Ballroom, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, Glos.Alex Hitchcock Quartet at Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Glos.Monmouth Big Band with William Byrne & Laura Hayward, @Down Lover’s Lane’ Valentines’s concert at Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.Ana Popovic at The Jazz Cafe, Camden, London.Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio at Guildford Jazz, The Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey.Ankora at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.Detroitwich Funk Machine at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.Yetii ’ Inner World’s ’ Album Tour at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival, various venues, Southwest Michigan, USA.Burghausen International Jazz Week, Burghausen, Germany.MILES at Southwark Playhouse, Borough, London.Sparks & Visions Jazz Festival at Theater Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.Abel Selaocoe’s Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend at Barbican Centre / Milton Court Concert Hall, London.Yetii at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.Zoe Gilby Trio at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.The Inscape Jazz Quartet at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2026 at The Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.Brick Lane Jazz Festival, various venues, London.Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy, album launch at 229, London.Booker T. Jones at Koko, Camden, London.Kodo at Royal Festival Hall, London.Mabel Matiz at Royal Festival Hall, London.Yasmine Hamdan at , EartH (Theatre), Hackney, London.Aynur at The Barbican Centre, London.The Bad Plus with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn at The Barbican Centre, London.Nearly Dan at The Jazz Cafe, Camden Town, London.Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival 2026, Moseley Park, Birmingham,Fugue and Groove Jazz Trio at Fentham Hall Jazz Club, Marsh Lane, Solihull. | Gigs & Events

Academy Jazz Orchestra with Leon Foster Thomas: Expressions of Caribbean Jazz at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London.

Date: Wednesday, February 04, 2026

More details

Bronte Skey of RAM writes;

It’s a very exciting time for the Jazz Department at the Academy. Following the Grammy Awards on 1 February, at which the Academy Jazz Orchestra has been recognised in the ‘Best Large Jazz Ensemble’ category, we are looking forward to welcoming Leon Foster Thomas for a debut performance of his brand new arrangements. This upcoming concert features the premieres of some of Leon’s classic works scaled up for large ensemble, based on his research on the roots, rhythm and reach of Anglophone and Francophone Caribbean jazz.

This concert will take place in the Susie Sainsbury Theatre on Wed 4 Feb at 7.30pm. More information can be found here:
https://www.ram.ac.uk/whats-on/academy-jazz-orchestra-with-leon-foster-thomas-expressions-of-caribbean-jazz

Susie Sainsbury Theatre
Royal Academy of Music,
Marylebone Rd,
London NW1 5HT
020 7873 7373

Martin Taylor at All Of The Above Music, Widcombe Social Club, Bath.

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026

Featuring: Martin Taylor

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

After the roaring success of the 6th annual Bath Jazz Weekend, our next gig is another coup for AOTA - the incomparable, exceptional, internationally renowned guitarist Martin Taylor at WSC on Saturday 28 February.

Whatever your taste in music or music genre, Martin Taylor’s extraordinary combination of harmony, melody and unparalleled skill is guaranteed to delight and bring a glow of pure musical warmth and pleasure.

Added to the musical attraction, AOTA and WSC now offer the option (so popular with film audiences) of a pre-concert supper.

MARTIN TAYLOR
Saturday 28 February
Widcombe Social Club
Doors and bars open 7.00pm (6.30pm for Pre Concert Suppers)
Show begins at 8.00pm

Collaborations with artists including Jeff Beck, Stephane Grappelli, Tommy Emmanuel, Jamie Cullum, Martin Simpson and Bill Wyman have seen Martin Taylor garner two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 14 British Jazz Awards and in 2002 he was appointed MBE ‘For Services to Jazz Music’ .

Also as one of the world’s most recognized online guitar teachers Martin’s innovative online guitar school headquartered in California has been featured on BBC and the LA Times and is subscribed to by guitarists in over 58 countries.

“One of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument”
– Pat Metheny

Website link: https://martintaylor.com

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/c/MartinTaylorMBE

PRE-CONCERT SUPPER:
Before the gig why not enjoy a delicious Mixed Cheese or Vegetarian Mezze Platter, served with with bread and salad, in the downstairs Waterside Bar? Increasingly popular with audiences for the Off The Wall Film series, WSC’s pre-concert suppers are now a feature of AOTA gigs, extending the evening’s pleasure. £10.50 per person, bookable alongside gig tickets.

BOOK MARTIN TAYLOR TICKETS ONLINE HERE
https://ticketscandy.com/e/aota-presents-martin-taylor-in-concert-12912

All Of The Above Music,
Widcombe Social Club,
Widcombe Hill,
Bath,
BA2 6AA.

Kings Place Jazz Orchestra and Claire Martin OBE, ‘Love in Full Swing’ at Hall One, Kings Place, London.

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Featuring: Claire Martin

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

On Saturday 14th February we have the second Kings Place Jazz Orchestra concert. They’ll be presenting Love In Full Swing featuring special guest vocalist Claire Martin OBE. Led by Founder Callum Au, the group will perform orchestral jazz featuring music made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Richard Rodney Bennett and more.

The Kings Place Jazz Orchestra was founded last year by Callum Au alongside programmer and producer Hannah Hutton and Sam McShane who is Artistic Director of Kings Place. The idea of the KPJO is celebrate the depth of jazz tradition while pushing boundaries of contemporary large ensemble writing. The group is a handpicked project-based ensemble made up of the UK’s finest jazz and big band musicians alongside rising-star young artists. For every concert the group will also offer a free open rehearsal for young musicians.

https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/jazz/kings-place-jazz-orchestra-presents/

Kings Place,
90 York Way, London N1 9AG.

020 7520 1440

Simon Spillett & Kim Cypher Present ‘Unification’ at St. Michael’s Church, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts.

Date: Saturday, February 07, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kim-cypher/t-ejkordp

Simon Spillett & Kim Cypher Present ‘Unification’
St. Michael’s Church, Swindon, SN67AD
Saturday 7th February 2026 7:30PM

SIMON SPILLETT & KIM CYPHER PRESENT ‘UNIFICATION’
In collaboration with Highworth Jazz Festival

2026 marks a milestone anniversary for tenor saxophonist and bandleader Simon Spillett; 30 years on the UK jazz scene. To celebrate this incredible achievement, Simon joins forces with saxophonist, vocalist and composer Kim Cypher to present ‘Unification’ – an exciting collaborative project, merging creative minds as a united force to create music combining different styles and demonstrate that compatibility can be found in the most unlikely of places. Ultimately, creating a greater musical experience for all.

SIMON SPILLETT

“Straight-ahead, high-energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb”
The Guardian

Since his debut in the 1990s he has risen to become one of Britain’s most prominent jazz figures. An instrumentalist with a powerful, straight-ahead style, drawing on the best of the jazz tradition and in particular the inspiration of an illustrious forebear, the late great Tubby Hayes, he is highly popular playing sold out gigs at the best jazz clubs (Ronnie Scott’s) and at virtually every festival of consequence (including the EFG London Jazz Festival) with both his regular quartet and his star-studded big band.

As a recording artist he has released five well-regarded albums, with his big band debut CD ‘Dear Tubby H.’ (2023) garnering a much deserved five-star award in ‘Jazzwise’ magazine.

He’s also picked up a clutch of awards; BBC Rising Star (2007), Album of the Year (‘Jazz Journal’ 2008), Top Tenor Saxophone (British Jazz Awards 2011) and ‘Services to British Jazz’ (2016).

A charismatic performer, gifted with a dry observational wit, he’s never lost sight of the fact that jazz is entertainment as much as art and whether playing, writing or articulately holding forth on his favourite subject – UK jazz history – he’s an infectiously passionate communicator.
Indeed, between playing, he has found time to pen a widely praised biography of Tubby Hayes (‘The Long Shadow of The Little Giant’), write sleeve notes to over 150 albums, contribute articles to magazines including ‘Jazzwise’ and ‘Record Collector’ and act as an anchor interviewee on documentaries for the BBC and Jazz FM.

KIM CYPHER

“Kim Cypher is a force of nature, a glamorous and entertaining performer who is agreeably down to earth. But behind the glitz is a highly talented and focussed saxophonist, vocalist and songwriter whose hard work and commitment to the jazz cause have won her a loyal nationwide following”
The Jazz Mann

Kim Cypher is one of the UK’s most exciting and exuberant saxophonists, vocalists and composers renowned for her vivacious style, passionate energy, charismatic stage presence and warm connection with all audiences.

A regular performer on the London and UK jazz circuit, with success of four highly acclaimed albums, award-winning music videos, performance in New York and sellout shows at world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Kim has firmly secured her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary jazz and a much-loved artist on the UK jazz circuit.

Inspired by the funkier side of jazz and having studied alongside US saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard, Kim will captivate you in a spellbinding performance, sharing positive energy through her music and audience repartee.

Kim has performed and recorded with some of the country’s finest jazz musicians including Pee Wee Ellis, Ray Gelato, Liane Carroll, Antonio Forcione, Ashley Slater, Peter Lemer, Clem Clempson, David Newton…

“Kim Cypher is a rare musical treasure”
David Freeman Jazz FM

“Hat’s off to a true heart and soul performer”
Pee Wee Ellis

LINE UP
Simon Spillett - Tenor saxophone
Kim Cypher - Saxophones & Vocals
Alex Steele - Piano
Mike Green - Bass
Mike Cypher - Drums
Event Details
Doors Open at 7:30PM
Starts at 7:30PM

Location
St. Michael’s Church, Swindon, SN67AD

Chris Bowden with Lichfield House Jazz Band at Lichfield Jazz, The Cathedral Hotel, Lichfield, Staffs.

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

More details

Nick Dewhurst of Lichfield Jazz writes;

I’m delighted to say that this Wednesday 21st Jan, Lichfield Jazz returns to the Cathedral Hotel (62 Beacon St, Lichfield WS13 7AR).

The gig will feature the brand new Lichfield Jazz House Band (this month featuring Nick Dewhurst on Trumpet & Guitar, Tom Morgan on Guitar, and Tom Marsh on Double Bass) supporting saxophone superstar guest Chris Bowden.

Doors open at 7pm, music starts at 7.30pm, and as a special offer for our first gig back, tickets will be £10, and available exclusively on the door.

Jules’ Jazz Jam feat. Julian Martin at Ardour Academy, Cardiff.

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

More details

From;
https://ardouracademy.com/p/jazz-221/

Jules’ Jazz Jam – 22nd January
£6.00
The Julian Martin trio will be hosting a new Jazz Jam session on Thursday at the Ardour Dance Academy on Wellfield Rd, Cardiff.
Music starts at 8.30 til 11.00. £6 entry (online) or £7 on the door.
A limited number of tickets available:(while stocks lasts)
Numbers are limited for this event, so book early to avoid disappointment

Julian Martin has been performing as a jazz pianist for longer than he cares to mention, running ensembles, playing cocktail piano in hotel.
Supporting many of the great canon of British jazz musicians including Guy Barker, Alan Barnes, Peter King and Jim Mullen.
He also worked for many years as MD for the Radio Wales comedy show “The LL files”, and now spends his time writing music for film and TV whilst still performing and teaching.
In recent years he has taken up the Trumpet much to the dismay of his immediate family.

Dave O’Higgins at Swansea Jazz Club, The Swigg, Swansea.

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

More details

Dave O’Higgins
WEDNESDAY January 28th, 8pm @THE SWIGG
Dave is justifiably one of the most popular saxophonists on the UK and international jazz scene for 30 years and has 24 albums as leader under his belt.

https://www.swanseajazzland.co.uk/

Eddie Gripper/Elijah Jefferey Quartet at Swansea Jazz Club, The Observatory, Swansea.

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Featuring: Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper

More details

Eddie Gripper/Elijah Jefferey
WEDNESDAY January 21st, 8pm @THE OBSERVATORY
Rising star vocalist & Pianist making Big Waves on the UK Jazz scene

https://www.swanseajazzland.co.uk/

The Jukebox Rhythm Orchestra at Jazz Coventry, The Albany Club, Coventry.

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

More details

Thurs 12th February, 2026 8.00pm, The Jukebox Rhythm Orchestra - 8pm Jazz Coventry The Albany Club, CV5 6EG.

Let Spin at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026

Featuring: Let Spin

Venue

The Hive, Shrewsbury

5 Belmont,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire.
UK

More details

From;
https://events.hiveonline.org.uk/

Apr
11
Sat
19:00

Let Spin
Tickets from £12
Saturday 11th April (Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start)
https://events.hiveonline.org.uk/whats-on/let-spin-2026/

Let Spin are an egalitarian four-piece whose members Chris Williams (saxophones & flute), Ruth Goller (bass & vocals), Moss Freed (guitar), & Finlay Panter (drums) are active contributors to the fertile London, UK and European jazz scenes. The result is an explosive mixture of stylistic influences. Their collaborative way of working, with a focus on improvisation, leads to incendiary live performances as experienced at the Hive in 2023. The performance will be based on material from their fifth album ‘I am Alien’ which sees an expansion of their sound worlds and explorations with the additions of Ruth Goller’s vocals and Chris Williams’ baritone saxophone and flute. This has taken the band’s interplay and fusing of composition and improvisation to a whole new level, with spectacular results. Be ready!

“Electrifying live band whose grooves could wake the dead” ....The Guardian

Fugue & Groove Trio at Corn Exchange Jazz Club, The Corn Exchange, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

CORN EXCHANGE JAZZ CLUB
ROSS ON WYE
PRESENT
FUGUE AND GROOVE TRIO
THURS. 12th FEBRUARY 7:30pm - 9:30pm
DOORS OPEN 6:45pm
(tickets available here)
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vidlerhospitalityltd/2003769

Take a selection of hits from the piano classical repertoire, from the tuneful and beautifully evocative Meditation by Massenet to the fast and energetic Solfeggio by Bach.

Mix up the ingredients and add a bit of spice in the form of inventive improvisation and creative arrangements. Then add in generous helping of swinging jazz and driving funky/latin stylings…

…and enjoy listening to the seasoned, dynamic and dexterous experts – Rich Hughes (piano), Simon Smith (bass) and Steve Street (drums) – as they deftly chef up all the ingredients to create a unique and exciting fusion of classical and jazz in a wonderful and entertaining presentation.

With solos showcasing their individual virtuosity, improvisational brilliance, and seamless interplay, they create a dynamic experience that is both lyrical and high-energy, ranging from evocative ballads to fast, driving swing.

Individually, they have worked with an impressive roster of renowned artists and established jazz musicians, including Alex Clarke, Greg Abate, Simon Spillett, B.D. Lenz, Ray Gelato, Kenny Ball, Idina Menzel, Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart.

What a joy to hear your innovative and well produced show. Delightful and Entertaining’ – John Hellings (Presenter for BBC Radio)

Last Night’s performance was one of the best at the club. The three of your have something special’ – (Promoter of Pershore Jazz)

Absolutely excellent gig this evening and – believe me – I’m a good judge of audience satisfaction, and it was 100%’ – Frank Pizzey, Promoter of Bonded Warehouse

Corn Exchange
8 High St, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5HL.

Pat Metheny Side Eye III at The Barbican Centre, London.

Dates: Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Sunday, July 19, 2026

Featuring: Pat Metheny

Venue

Barbican Centre

Silk Street,
London.
EC2Y 8DS

More details

We have received the following press release;

Pat Metheny takes over the Barbican on 18 & 19 July with three special concerts
Tickets on-sale Friday, 9 January
Buy Tickets Here
https://serious.org.uk/summer-jazz-series-2026

Part of the Summer Jazz Series 2026, a celebration of world-class music across London this summer from the producers of the EFG London Jazz Festival, Serious

Twenty-time Grammy Award–winner Pat Metheny, one of the most influential and celebrated musicians of his generation, returns to the Barbican for a special weekend takeover in July with three shows across two days on 18 and 19 July 2026. In a career spanning more than five decades, Metheny has continually redefined the possibilities of jazz, blending lyricism, innovation and genre-crossing ambition to create a body of work that has inspired generations of artists and audiences alike. A tireless and prolific performer, he has sold out major London venues in recent years, including the Barbican and Hammersmith Apollo, affirming his enduring connection with UK audiences and his reputation as one of the most compelling live performers in contemporary music.

This Barbican residency places Metheny centre stage, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience his music in depth across a concentrated series of performances. Renowned for his restless creativity and openness to collaboration, Metheny continues to balance landmark solo projects with bold ensemble work, championing both emerging talent and long-established voices while pushing his own artistry forward.

As part of this weekend, Metheny presents the latest evolution of his ongoing SIDE EYE project. SIDE EYE III sees him joined by Chris Fishman (piano and keyboards), Jermaine Paul (bass) and Joe Dyson (drums), a dynamic lineup that reflects Metheny’s long-standing commitment to mentoring the next generation of jazz innovators. Featuring new music alongside reimagined classics, the project embodies Metheny’s fearless approach to exploration, tradition and collaboration.

A bandleader since the 1970s and an artist who has often performed more than 100 concerts a year, Pat Metheny remains a vital creative force, continually evolving, questioning and redefining what modern jazz can be.

Sullivan Fortner Trio at Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York City, USA.

Date: Saturday, March 07, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.millertheatre.com/events/sullivan-fortner-trio

Jazz
Sullivan Fortner Trio
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7:30PM
Miller Theatre at Columbia University

Grammy winner and recipient of the 2026 Bell Jazz Artist Award, pianist and bandleader Sullivan Fortner makes his Miller debut with his trio, named “Rising Star Jazz Group” in the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll. Known for his deep musical roots in New Orleans and celebrated collaborations with artists like Cécile McLorin Salvant and Roy Hargrove, Fortner brings a fresh approach to the jazz trio, offering innovative takes on standards alongside striking original compositions.

Sullivan Fortner
piano

Tyrone Allen
bass

Kayvon Gordon
drums

“Fortner’s bandleading, demanding of precocity from his players, lends a raw, unpredictable sound to the group as it digs into what is essential in the music they’re performing.”
— DownBeat

Columbia University | Miller Theatre
MC 1801
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Box Office
212-854-7799

John Medeski and Kirk Knuffke ’ The Angelic Brothers’ at Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York City, USA.

Date: Saturday, February 07, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts continues its 2025-26 Jazz series with;

John Medeski and Kirk Knuffke
The Angelic Brothers
The masterful duo joins forces for music inspired by the Sun Ra Arkestra
Saturday, February 7, 7:30PM
Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)
Tickets starting at $25; Students with valid ID starting at $10

Saturday, February 7, 2025, 7:30PM
John Medeski and Kirk Knuffke
The Angelic Brothers
Legendary keyboardist John Medeski and acclaimed cornetist Kirk Knuffke join forces as The Angelic Brothers, a masterful collaboration that mixes jazz, experimental sounds, and improvisation—drawing inspiration from the visionary work of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Their first Miller appearance promises an electrifying fusion of craft and invention.
Artists:
John Medeski, piano
Kirk Knuffke, cornet

John Medeski, piano
http://www.johnmedeski.com
Equally comfortable behind a Steinway grand piano, a Hammond organ, or any number of vintage keyboards, John Medeski is a highly sought-after improviser and bandleader whose projects range from work with John Zorn, The Word (Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars), Phil Lesh, Don Was, John Scofield, Coheed and Cambria, Susana Baca, Sean Lennon, Marc Ribot, Irma Thomas, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and many others. Classically trained, Medeski grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where as a teenager he played with Jaco Pastorius before heading north to attend the New England Conservatory. He released his first solo piano record, A Different Time, on Sony’s Okeh Records in 2013, and current projects include a new album in the works with his band MadSkillet (Terrence Higgins, Kirk Joseph, Will Bernard), and HUDSON (a collaboration with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, and Larry Grenadier), and a documentary on Medeski Martin & Wood.

Kirk Knuffke, cornet
http://www.kirkknuffke.com
A prolific, lauded record-maker, cornetist-composer Kirk Knuffke has made over twenty albums as a leader or co-leader over the past two decades. His 2022 release, Gravity Without Airs (TAO Forms) with pianist Matthew Shipp and bassist Michael Bisio, earned a review of 4 ½ stars from DownBeat magazine as well as a critic’s playlist pick in The New York Times. As an in-demand sideman, Knuffke tours and records with some of today’s leading jazz musicians, from vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and guitarist Mary Halvorson to drummer Matt Wilson and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. He has also performed with Tootie Heath, Frank Kimbrough, Karl Berger, Myra Melford, Billy Hart, and William Parker, among others. Knuffke is an ongoing member of the Matt Wilson Quartet, drummer Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom sextet, and guitarist Charlie Hunter’s Quartet. A recent highlight of the cornetist’s discography as a leader is Brightness: Live in Amsterdam (Royal Potato Family, 2020), which included his hip, soulful vocals. Praise for Knuffke’s earlier work includes NPR’s Jazz Album of the Year Cherryco (SteepleChase, 2017), his homage to Don Cherry. He has been recognized with a Jerome Foundation Composers Grant, a second-place ranking in Europe’s El Intruso Critics Poll for trumpet (2016), and as a “Rising Star” in the DownBeat Critics Poll (2015).

QUOTES:

“...beauty, melancholy, and a dash of impressionism merge in Medeski’s hands…”
— All About Jazz

“Kirk Knuffke is a true individual whose playing is both searching and expansive. Seems he’s always up to something new and never fails to surprise.”
— Mary Halvorson

About Miller Theatre
http://www.millertheatre.com
One of New York City’s most vital music venues, Miller Theatre at Columbia University is a thriving home for contemporary and early music that serves audiences, composers, and musicians. Founded in 1988, Miller’s mission is to develop new audiences; foster enthusiasm for the arts by pioneering new programming approaches; educate the public by presenting specialized programs to a broad audience; discover diverse repertoire and commission new works; and share the University’s intellectual riches with the public. Led by Executive Director Melissa Smey, Miller Theatre sparks engagement and personal connections to music through distinctive live performances and is deeply committed to fostering collaborative relationships with the composers and musicians who make this possible.

Miller Theatre’s 2025-26 Season is supported by The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation.

Support for contemporary music at Miller Theatre is provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the Amphion Foundation, and the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program with funding from the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund.

Columbia University’s Miller Theatre is located north of the Main Campus Gate at 116th St. & Broadway on the ground floor of Dodge Hall.

Directions and information are available online at http://www.millertheatre.com or via the Miller Theatre Box Office, at 212/854-7799.

Exhibition ; The Jazz Photography of William Ellis at The Capstone Theatre Foyer, Liverpool.

Dates: Tuesday, February 03, 2026 - Wednesday, April 15, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release;

The Jazz Photography of William Ellis to be Celebrated in Liverpool

NB: This photographic exhibition will run in The Capstone Theatre Foyer from Tuesday 3rd Feb - Sun 15th April 2026, coinciding with Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2026. There will be a Private View event on Thursday 26th February 2026 at 6pm with the photographer, William Ellis, in attendance.

An internationally celebrated music photographer from Liverpool will be exhibiting work in his home city this February.

William Ellis’ photographs of iconic artists have appeared in The Times, The Guardian, New Statesman and on the BBC, magazines and record covers and he is a co-author of the forthcoming book Rethinking Miles Davis published by Oxford University Press.

His work has been exhibited in the United States, Canada, Cuba, South Africa, Europe, China and the Far East. They are in numerous private collections and those of National Portrait Gallery, London, the Archive of Contemporary Music, New York, The American Jazz Museum, Kansas City MO, and on display at Birdland, New York.

His reggae project One Love, produced in his role as Visiting Research Fellow in Photographing Popular Music Culture at Birmingham City University is in the archives of the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

From 3rd February to 15th April 2026, Ellis’ images of musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie will be exhibited at The Capstone Theatre, coinciding with the Liverpool International Jazz Festival. Visitors will be able to see photographs of these music legends on stage, in rehearsal spaces, even in their own homes, revealing details about performance practices, instrumentation, fashion and interpersonal dynamics.

Creative Director of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, Neil Campbell said: “Jazz is an art form rooted in improvisation and spontaneity - photography shares this instantaneous nature of creation in capturing for us an in-the-moment impression which provides a visual context that enriches our understanding and appreciation of the music’s cultural and social environment.”

There will be a Private View event on Thursday 26th February at 6pm with William Ellis in attendance. All are welcome to attend and pre-booking is not required. For more details please visit The Capstone Theatre website.
https://capstone.hope.ac.uk/whatson/lijf-2026-song-for-my-father-the-jazz-photography-of-william-ellis.html

The Capstone Theatre
Liverpool Hope University
Creative Campus
17 Shaw Street
Liverpool
L6 1HP

Jo Harrop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey.

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

More details

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz writes;

Jo Harrop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
More details
Jo Harrop
Thursday 26 Feb from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
A welcome return to the Pavilion for world-class jazz vocalist Jo Harrop, renowned for her achingly beautiful music delivered in a warm, smoky voice that’s said to be
able to “melt even the chilliest of hearts” Jo has received rapturous reviews for her first four albums, including winning ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2023 Parliamentary
Jazz Awards, and has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including The Royal Albert Hall and The Lincoln Centre in New York.
For more details and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Denny Ilett & Pete Long’s R & B.Bop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey.

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

More details

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz writes;

Denny Ilett & Pete Long’s R & B.Bop at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
More details
Denny Ilett & Pete Long’s R & B.Bop
Wednesday 11 Feb from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
Guitarist/vocalist Denny Ilett has worked with leading US & UK stars, such as James Brown’s saxophonist Pee-Wee Ellis and members of Goldfrapp, Portishead &
Mannfred Mann. Saxophonist/singer Pete Long’s CV includes work with Jools Holland, Tom Jones and Lionel Richie. These master musicians join forces in a new and exciting band, blending the Bebop of Charlie Parker with the Rhythm & Blues of T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan to produce a treasure-trove of captivating rhythms and intoxicating melodies.
For more details and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Steve Waterman Trio at Guildford Jazz,The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey.

Date: Monday, February 02, 2026

More details

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz writes;

Steve Waterman Trio at Guildford Jazz,The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Monday, February 2, 2026
More details
Steve Waterman Trio
Monday 2 Feb from 14.00 to 15.00 (doors open 12.00) at the Guildford Institute, Ward St, Guildford GU1 4LH
This year marks the centenary of the birth of Miles Davis and our featured guest is Steve Waterman, one of the UK’s top jazz trumpet players and for whom Miles was a critical influence. The winner of numerous British Jazz awards, Steve has worked with such jazz luminaries as John Surman, Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Tony Coe and Don Weller and has also recorded many critically acclaimed CDs. Joining Steve will be Alex Hutton on piano and Marianne Windham on bass.
For more details and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Chris Gibbons Band, lte afternoon event at Southbound, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Date: Sunday, February 01, 2026

More details

Sunday 1st February
4.00pm - 6.00pm
Free in (Collection)

Chris Gibbons Band
Chris Gibbons guitar
Jay Riley sax
Matt Ball keys
Adrian Litvinoff bass
Tom Voce drums

Southbound
12 Neilston Street
Leamington Spa
CV31 2AZ

The Classic Blues Show at The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Venue

The Hive, Shrewsbury

5 Belmont,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire.
UK

More details

From;
https://events.hiveonline.org.uk/

Apr
18
Sat
19:00

The Classic Blues Show
Tickets from £14
£14 (or £17 on the door)
Doors at 7pm
Show starts at 7.45pm
Seated gig
https://events.hiveonline.org.uk/whats-on/the-classic-blues-show/

Spend an evening in the company of this fine six-piece band to celebrate the British Blues explosion of the 1960s. From Muddy Waters to John Mayall and Peter Green, The Classic Blues Show recaptures the authentic sound of British Blues musicians and the artists who inspired them. The band’s engaging commentary weaves a narrative through the performance, providing a fascinating journey through the history of the Blues.

“A true journey through the history of blues by EXCELLENT musicians. If you’re a blues music fan then this is the band for you. Check them out, go see them live, a MUST SEE BAND.”
LIVE N LOUD

“A highly enjoyable and entertaining evening for classic blues fans! Professionally put together and played by experienced musicians…The first event was a sell-out and we’re delighted that the Classic Blues Show is returning”
Ludlow Brewery

“We look for variety but above all quality. I went to see the Classic Blues Show before I booked them and was very impressed. Individually and collectively they are excellent musicians and masters of their genre. I can heartily recommend working with them or just going to see them.”
Shrewsbury Abbey Event Manager

The Aspyrian Trio at Cheltenham Jazz Club, Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Glos.

Date: Monday, April 13, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/jazz-in-the-studio/

The Aspyrian Trio
Mon 13th Apr

2 album releases, 2 national tours and recipients of 2 awards from Help Musicians, ‘Aspyrian’ are fast gaining a reputation as one of the most ambitious new acts to emerge on the UK jazz scene. As well as drawing inspiration from many contemporary jazz artists, the London-based trio are influenced by an eclectic mix of soulful songwriters and alternative bands, resulting in an ensemble sound that is captivating and truly unique. The band features:
Robin Porter – Saxophones and Effects
Jack Gillen – Guitar
Matt Parkinson – Drums

The Everyman Theatre
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ

Box Office:
01242 572573

Sungrass at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026

More details

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/event/sungrass/

Sungrass
March 12 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
£15

Trumpet led explorations through a rich world of soulful hooks and improvisation leaning into gospel, fusion and soul
Box fresh Bristol and London based 4-piece Sungrass are ready to cook up a storm with their first appearance in Worcester. Drawing inspiration from the melodic sensibilities of contemporary jazz artists such as The RH Factor, Pat Metheny and Butcher Brown, their original music also leans into influences from Gospel, Fusion, and Soul. At times sincere and heartfelt, at others blistering with energy, this group is not one to miss.

The band released their debut single “Intention” in November 2025 with an EP due out this year. The lineup includes Matthew Hill on trumpet, who appeared on our program in March 2023 with Laimu, Lucian McCauley on keys, Ollie Hatch on bass and George Milnes on drums. As a new band they have already played gigs in Bristol, Bath and London, and individually are involved in various other projects that have performed at Forwards Festival, Trinity Centre, Bristol Beacon, 91 Living Room, 606 club, Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott’s and EFG London Jazz Festival.

TICKETS
Admission for this event is complimentary for Music Spoken Here Club Members.
Non-members are welcome – just show up and pay £15 cash or card on the door.
You can find out more about our admission and membership options at A New Approach
https://musicspokenhere.club/a-new-approach/

Venue
The Marr’s Bar
12 Pierpoint Street
Worcester,
Worcestershire,
WR1 1TA.

(01905) 613336

Martin Bonventre Album Release Show at Laurie Beechman Theater, New York City, USA.

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

Vocalist Martin Bonventre Album Release Show January 31 at Laurie Beechman Theater NY

Vocalist Martin Bonventre Moves Boldly into Jazz on his Debut Album Swingin’ in a New Dimension

Album Release Show on
Saturday, January 31, 7PM
The Laurie Beechman Theater, NYC
Tickets Available Online
https://www.thebeechman.com/events/lbt25-martin-bonventre

Featuring Jason Yeager (piano), Boots Maleson (bass), TonyTedesco (drums), Greg Ruvolo (trumpet, flugelhorn), Geoff Burke (flutes, saxophones)

Available January 23, 2026, on Vinyl, CD, and all Streaming Platforms via Splendido Productions

” Martin Bonventre has learned from the whole history of swingin’ singers from Crosby to Marvin Gaye, and he makes music all his own. He’s a swinger for the bold and unexpected new ways things swing today.” – David Hajdu, author of Love for Sale: Pop Music in America

“At 34, Martin has a lot of future ahead of him—and from where I stand, all of it looks great.” – Will Friedwald, Author and Jazz Journalist

“Bonventre is a strong cabaret and theater vocalist, who has picked several perfect songs for his style.” – Making A Scene

A love of dance, rhythm and storytelling marks the arrival of an original new voice in jazz as the dynamic and versatile vocalist Martin Bonventre pivots from his musical theater world and releases his debut EP, Swingin’ in a New Dimension. on January 23, 2026, via Splendido Productions.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TPzbCYaEtKE

www.MartinBonventre.com

https://www.facebook.com/martin.bonventre/

https://www.instagram.com/martinotheshowman/?hl=en

As the title of the recording describes, Bonventre is putting his distinctive swinging jazz touch on eight of his favorite songs culled from film and Broadway theater classics and pop. Joined by a stellar New York City quintet, and with musical arrangements and production by his esteemed voice teacher, Jackie Presti, Bonventre breaks new ground with his bold baritone and his love of dance energizing this eclectic cache of songs.

What began in 2024 as a four-song recording project, with Presti producing and arranging, has now emerged as an eight-song glistening debut album. Presti, an acclaimed vocal teacher and jazz vocalist (she was in the original Broadway production of City of Angels, and has sung on numerous movie soundtracks and commercials), stepped into the shoes of arranger and producer, bringing a lifetime of jazz acumen to the project.

The band that Presti assembled plays with intense musicality. It features rising star pianist Jason Yeager, along with seasoned pros: bassist Boots Maleson, drummer Tony Tedesco, and a duo of dazzling horn players—Greg Ruvolo on trumpet and flugelhorn and Geoff Burke on soprano and tenor saxophones, as well as flutes. “They all have such a wide array of artists that they worked with,” says Bonventre. “Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone, and they also were in the orchestras of numerous Broadway shows. They’ve worked with the best, and they elevate me.”

A veteran of regional and summer stock theater as well as theatrical tours, Bonventre, at age 34, is a newcomer to the jazz scene bringing with him a fresh and contemporary approach. “It’s the right time to take my earlier musical theater experiences and apply them to the art of jazz,” he says. “I’m singing music I’ve always loved and the difference is that now, instead of singing from a character in a show’s point of view, I’m singing as ‘me.’ I get to play myself now and my approach is that of a storyteller.” This was how he approached his performance at a recent show at the Green Room 42 in New York. “I remember thinking I need to pull people in, I need to do every song like a monologue in a cinematic piece.”

The dance-friendly opening track, from the 1963 rom-com show tune “She Loves Me,” and the Johnny Mercer song “Something’s Gotta Give,” originally composed for dancer Fred Astaire’s starring role in the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs, provide the perfect setting for Bonventre to infuse his rhythmic mastery from years of dance training and performances.

Did one member take him to a special place during the recording? “That has to be with Geoff Burke, who by the way plays for Harry Connick Jr.,” Bonventre says. “It was on the track of ‘Sometimes a Day Goes By.”’ Written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, it was from the show Woman of the Year, starring Lauren Bacall. “We took this song in a different direction than the original,” Bonventre says. “When I heard the way Geoff was playing flute with that Brazilian sensibility, he took me to a higher emotional level.”

One of the most profound tunes on the album is the Michel Legrand ballad “You Must Believe in Spring,” from the 1967 film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. Yeager’s lush and haunting solo piano sets the mood for Bonventre’s vocal entrance and the lyrical hopefulness of the song. Even though the song, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, has been recorded over 350 times, Bonventre takes the song to a new level of meaning. “When Jackie and I were delving into the material for the album, we came across the Bill Evans/Tony Bennett version. I felt so strongly about how it relates to what is going on in our modern world right now and believing that something positive will come along despite it all.”

The group vibrantly takes on the exhilarating “Oh! Look at Me Now,”once recorded by vocalist Lee Wiley with a classic trumpet intro and solo by Bobby Hackett. “We decided to pay homage to Hackett by not changing the intro or solo, and Greg Ruvolo captures the musical vibe of the whole thing,” says Bonventre. “He’s one of the best players around today.”

The soul-searching ballad “She’s Out of My Life,” was written by Tom Bahler with Sinatra in mind. Bahler brought the song to Quincy Jones, who ended up producing it for Michael Jackson. The angst and regret that the song conveys is heartbreaking and delivers a message everyone can relate to.

The EP also includes the sparkling jazz waltz “I’m All Smiles” (from the 1965 Broadway dud The Yearling) and closes with the trumpet-fired “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” by Broadway composer Frank Loesser. Bonventre says, “Loesser didn’t like that people were singing it around Christmas because the whole point of the song is that it can be sung at any time of the year. It was actually written in July. The twist is that this guy is dreaming of the future and wants to be the first to ask that gorgeous girl out for the big night. We love the song no matter what the season. The arrangement, which Jackie wrote with the interesting key changes and a trumpet intro, sets a poignant mood.”

While Bonventre describes himself as a traditional showman, the album, though nods to jazz traditions, was carefully assembled for him to combine his showmanship, musicality and silky vocals to make each song his own.Taking them all Swingin’ in a New Dimension.

Martin Bonventre · Swingin’ in a New Dimension
Release Date: January 23, 2026

The Pocket Ellington at Derby Jazz, at Chapel Streets Arts, Derby.

Date: Friday, March 13, 2026

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

FRIDAY MARCH 13th
The POCKET ELLINGTON with Tony Kofi, Alan Barnes & Dave Green
Chapel Street Arts
Chapel Street DE1 3GU
£25 tickets available on the door.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra was one the pillars on which the house of jazz was built. Born out of saxophonist Tony Kofi and pianist, arranger Alex Webb’s shared love of that music, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns and a rhythm section. But with the help of Alan Barnes, veteran bassist Dave Green and powerhouse drummer Winston Clifford this band delivers. Great charts from the 1930s and 1940s – Main Stem, Rain Check, Cotton Tail, Chelsea Bridge and others – are presented in clever new arrangements which evoke the period but also offer solo space to these top-flight musicians. The repertoire also includes pieces from artists and arrangers who were influenced by the Duke – Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Gil Evans. It’s a big sound from a pocket band.

Alex Webb (piano)
Tony Kofi (tenor sax)
Alan Barnes (alto and baritone saxes, clarinet)
Simon Finch (trumpet)
Davis Lalljee (trombone)
Dave Green (bass)

Tickets via;
https://mjazz.co.uk/derby-jazz-whats-on/

Josephine Davies’ Satori with Alcyona Mick at Derby Jazz, Chapel Street Arts, Derby.

Date: Friday, February 13, 2026

Featuring: Josephine Davies

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13th
Josephine Davies SATORI with Alcyona Mick
Chapel Street Arts
Chapel Street DE1 3GU
£15 tickets available on the door.

SATORI (Josephine Davies; tenor saxophone, Dave Whitford; bass, James Maddren; drums) with the addition of Alcyona Mick; piano is an exciting and dynamic band with exceptional abilities of collaborative free-play and improvisation. They have a great advantage over many bands in the exceptional beauty of Josephine’s compositions
The band’s live sets currently feature music from their fourth album 2024’s “Weatherworks”. Compositions inspired by her roots in the Shetland Islands.

“Definitely a band to watch.” ★★★★1/2 (Downbeat Magazine)
“Winning immediacy.” ★★★★ (Mojo Magazine)
“Refreshingly imaginative and invigorating.” (All About Jazz)
“Inventive, Lyrical.” (Jazzwise Magazine)
“Spiritual, Spiralling, Joyful.” (UK Vibe)
“Fluent, Imaginative.” ★★★★ (The Jazz Mann)
“Irrepressible Tunefulness.” (Downbeat Magazine)
“Highly recommended.” (Culture Jazz FR)

Tickets via;
https://mjazz.co.uk/derby-jazz-whats-on/

The Ayoub Sisters at St. Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, Shropshire.

Date: Friday, February 06, 2026

More details

From;
https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/the-ayoub-sisters-2026-uk-tour

The Ayoub Sisters: 2026 UK Tour

Scottish-Egyptian instrumentalists and composers The Ayoub Sisters celebrate their 10-year anniversary with an evening of transformative music which blends Western classical, Arabic and Celtic traditions.

Since rising to stardom when their debut album premiered at No.1 in the Official Classical Charts, The Ayoub Sisters have captivated audiences worldwide – from the Royal Albert Hall and Cairo Opera House to Glastonbury, the BBC Proms and beyond. With their onstage chemistry and masterful instrumentation, they are redefining classical crossover for a new generation.

Part of their 2026 UK tour, this milestone show is a breathtaking celebration of their musical journey to date.

Classical, World, Arab, Orchestra
Duration:: 90 mins

06 Feb 2026 - 19:30 @ St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow - (opening time 19:00) The Ayoub Sisters: 2026 UK Tour

Tickets;
https://ludlowassemblyrooms.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873679006/events/129634626

Esther Bennett Quartet at The Verdict Jazz Club, Brighton.

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026

Featuring: Esther Bennett

More details

From;
https://www.estherbennettmusic.com/event/the-verdict-brighton/

THE VERDICT BRIGHTON

Really looking forward to returning to this fabulous jazz venue in Brighton excellently run by drummer Tristan Banks
With
Mark Edwards on piano
Richard Sadler on double bass
Tristan Banks on drums

Date And Time
20-03-2026 , start 08:00 PM

Location
The Verdict 159 Edward Street, Kempton, Brighton and Hove BN2 0JB

Ian Shaw’s Piano Bar with Vanessa Haynes, Polly Gibbons, Esther Bennett, Andy Williamson at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London.

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

Venue

Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London

Pizza Express Jazz Club,
Dean Street,
Soho,
London,
W1D 3RW.

More details

From;
https://www.estherbennettmusic.com/event/ian-shaws-piano-bar/

IAN SHAW’S PIANO BAR
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/ian-shaws-piano-bar-2
FRIDAY JANUARY 30th 8pm

Ian’s hugely popular ‘Pianobar’ returns to the iconic Soho basement. Creating the atmosphere of the gigs he started out with, Ian is joined by three dynamic singers, the soulful Vanessa Haynes and Polly Gibbons and the adventurous and unique (and very witty) Esther Bennett. Powerful saxophonist, Andy Williamson (Tom Robinson, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas), completes this sparkling guest line-up around the piano. Unmissable and will sell fast.

Jean Guyomarc’h Hot Club Trio at Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon.

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Featuring: Jean Guyomarc’h & Friends

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

Tues 20th January @ 8pm - Muse
Jean Guyomarc’h Trio

Guitarist Jean is joined by brilliant Welsh musician Gareth Evans and lyrical double bassist, Ashley-john Long
Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/breconjazz-jazzlivecymru/t-yzaqxye

Based in Tours, France, and a leading figure in contemporary manouche and jazz guitar, Jean Guyomarc’h is celebrated for his lyrical playing, rhythmic precision, and deep roots in the European jazz tradition. Self-taught before formal study, his career has taken him from festival stages to prestigious French jazz conservatoires, performing alongside and learning from some of the genre’s most respected musicians. Jean’s work spans manouche swing, modern jazz, and cross-cultural collaborations, making his performances both virtuosic and warmly accessible. Our presentation at BJC comprises a very special HOT CLUB set comprising many familiar melodies, brilliantly played:

“dazzling, virtuostic solos” - the jazzmann.com

Have a look at some of the many video clips that Jean has on his channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6AmheaRlKPWkTL_t-gt8Jg

At BJC, we’re trying to keep prices affordable whilst balancing running costs, so cheapest tickets are available up to 3rd Jan:
Tickets: £14 early bird / £16 standard / £17 on the door / PWYC/Youth
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/breconjazz-jazzlivecymru/t-yzaqxye

http://www.breconjazz.org
CONTACT: Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

BRECON JAZZ CLUB
MUSE ARTS CENTRE
Glamorgan St.
Brecon, LD3 7DW

Joe Masterson Trio at The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

More details

From;
https://edgeartscentre.com/?page_id=14

Friday 18 September 2026

The Joe Masterson Trio

Described by many as a rising star of the UK Jazz scene, Joe Masterson, a 2020 graduate from Leeds Conservatoire is a Birmingham based pianist making his mark on the Birmingham and Midlands Jazz scene. After playing to sell-out crowds across the midlands, and performing at the likes of Cheltenham and Birmingham Jazz Festival, Joe is also known for Jazz at Fletchers – a monthly jazz club in Kings Heath, Birmingham running for over the past 3 years. Here, along with his trio of Miles Levin and Simon Smith, he has collaborated with the likes of Simon Spillet, Chris Bowden, Suzi Woods, Steve Ajao, Alex Clarke, Ade Wakelin and many more.

Influenced by the likes of Monty Alexander, Oscar Peterson and Eddie Higgins, the trio play a variety of music, always looking to groove.

Simon Smith is one of the UK’s most in demand bassists. He has worked extensively as a freelance musician throughout the UK, Europe and the US, including a five year stint based in Los Angeles. Simon’s recording credits include Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan, Wilson Phillips, Glen Ballard and Dave Stewart. He has worked in the live touring bands of artists as diverse as Idina Menzel, Linda Perry, Carl Barât and Carina Round performing at venues and events including Lincoln Center (New York), Ambassadors Theatre, Glastonbury Festival, South by Southwest and La Bâtie Festival (Geneva) amongst many others.

Miles Levin is simply one of the finest jazz drummers in the whole of the UK, respected and admired nationally. He has performed all over the UK and internationally with many of the UK’s leading artists.

Doors 18.30 Show 19.30
Tickets: £15
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/edgeartscentre/the-joe-masterson-trio/2026-09-18/19:30/t-oejvanp

Naissance at The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

More details

From;
https://edgeartscentre.com/?page_id=14

Naissance
in concert

The duo of pianist John Law and saxophonist Jon Lloyd is called Naissance. They play beautiful and emotionally engaging music which blends jazz, classical, minimalist and European folk music into a seamless whole. The European “ECM” record label best represents this genre of music. Their work has been described as “Music of contemplation and renewal”.

“Beautifully conceived and often haunting music… positively ECM.”

Friday 30 January 2026
Doors 18.30 Show 19.30
Tickets: £15
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/edgeartscentre/naissance-in-concert/2026-01-30/19:30/t-pqjdvop

Event Details
Doors Open at 6:30PM
Starts at 7:30PM

Location
The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, TF13 6NB

Robert Shore, Jazzwise, September 2024

Terence Collie at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London.

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026

Featuring: Terence Collie

More details

From;
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/terence-collie-quartet

Terence Collie Quartet
PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Join MOBO Amplified Award winner Terence Collie, with support from Help Musicians, for a special evening of dynamic music. At the piano, Collie leads an outstanding quartet featuring Ted Carrasco (drums), Nick Lenner-Webster (double bass) and Cosimo Keita (percussion).

Following two sold-out shows, this performance offers an exclusive first look at brand-new material from Collie’s forthcoming album, recorded at Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios and set for release in mid-2026. Expect rich interplay, lyrical melodies and deep grooves from one of the UK’s most inventive jazz voices in the intimate surroundings of PizzaExpress Live Soho.

£30.00

19 April 2026 6:30pm 8:00pm PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)
Available
£30.00

Full Biography

Born in Croydon and growing up in Cambridgeshire, Terence Collie knew that making music would be his career path. A self-taught keyboard player with a keen ear for pop tunes, he joined his first professional band in Jersey at 17. Between 1988 and 1995, Collie performed regularly in the Island’s hotels, pubs and nightclubs, and developed a deep passion for jazz at the Blue Note Jazz Bar, learning from experienced musicians and studying jazz piano alongside private classical lessons. During this period, he had the opportunity to support artists such as Teddy Edwards, The Average White Band, Georgie Fame, Andy Sheppard, Jason Rebello and Digby Fairweather.

In the late 1990s, Collie returned to the UK mainland and secured a six-day-a-week residency at PizzaExpress in Cambridge, performing solo and in duos. This intensive schedule enabled him to develop a substantial jazz repertoire and refine his improvisational skills.

In 2011, Collie formed the jazz-fusion group Prison Break, recording two albums of original compositions and gaining experience in self-recording and production. Two years later, he co-founded Mood Indigo Events, curating high-quality jazz concerts, including five TW12 Jazz Festivals. This platform allowed him to perform regularly with leading jazz musicians at events such as Riverside Arts Jazz and Jazz on the Plaza.

Collie has performed at a host of leading jazz clubs and festivals, including Cadogan Hall for the EFG London Jazz Festival, PizzaExpress Live, The 606 Club, Brecon Jazz Festival, and The Stables in Wavendon.

In 2025, Collie was awarded the MOBO Amplified Award with support from Help Musicians.

Band Lineup
Terence Collie (piano)
Ted Carrasco (drums)
Nick Lenner-Webster (bass)
Cosimo Keita (percussion)

Matt Skelton presents The Blackhawk Quintet: Celebrating Shelly Manne at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.

Date: Friday, July 03, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-at-progress/?future=true

Jazz at Progress | Matt Skelton presents The Blackhawk Quintet: Celebrating Shelly Manne | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 3 July 2026| Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
James Davison trumpet
Mark Crooks tenor saxophone
Leon Greening piano
Conor Chaplin bass
Matt Skelton drums
This will be a night of ‘cool jazz’ and a tribute to multi-poll winning drummer, Shelley Manne, one of the greats of the West Coast scene of the 1950s An extraordinary and selfless artist, Shelley (1920-1984) – band leader, Contemporary Jazz record label house musician, studio orchestra drummer for countless films and television and owner of ‘Shelley’s Manne Hole’ jazz club – has left an immense legacy of collaborations and recordings, which have enriched the lexicon of jazz percussion with virtuosic alacrity.
This project, masterminded by Matt Skelton, celebrates Shelley’s Quintet – Joe Gordon, trumpet; Richie Kamuca, tenor sax; Victor Felman, piano; Monty Budwig, bass and Shelley Manne, drums – and their particular contribution to the Manne canon, inspired by a clutch of golden performances, captured live at the Blackhawk Jazz club in San Francisco between September 22-24,1959.
Tonight’s ‘stellar’ line-up has been hand-picked for the way they connect with, and are inspired by their corresponding original artists. They will aim to express the band’s own originality and collective inspiration with the Manne Blackhawk quintet as their DNA framework.
Matt Skelton’s Blackhawk Quintet has taken the UK jazz club scene by storm and by the time they make their Progress appearance will have completed a lengthy tour of Scandinavia.
You can expect the fireworks to be flying tonight!
‘An evening of pure jazz joy. Thank you Matt for giving us the opportunity to hear and be part of this important and uplifting music. Jazz night’s don’t come any better than this. We are still smiling.’ – Watermill Jazz Club – Dorking

Progress Theatre
progress theatre - jazz in reading
http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk | The Mount, Off Christchurch Road, Reading RG1 5HL
Bar at all gigs from 7:00pm. Drinks may be taken into the auditorium during performances.
Progress Theatre is a self-governing, self-funding theatre group founded in 1947, maintained by volunteers. The Theatre itself is an intimate 95-seat venue. It is the oldest operating theatre in Reading and has a fully licensed bar. There is wheelchair access to the Theatre with a space for disabled patrons. In 2011 Sir Kenneth Branagh became the Patron to Progress Theatre.

Small Blue at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.

Date: Friday, March 27, 2026

Featuring: Small Blue

More details

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-at-progress/?future=true

Jazz at Progress | Small Blue
Friday 27 March 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Martin Pyne drums / composition
David Beebee piano
Marianne Windham double bass
Percussionist, composer and improviser Martin Pyne, when not working with contemporary dance or as a silent film accompanist, performs solo sets, leads bands, and collaborates with a range of musicians and other artists.
Formed in 2023, the jazz trio Small Blue is a result of just such a collaboration, with David Beebee on piano, and Marianne Windham on double bass.
Small Blue is a piano trio in the classic modern jazz tradition, featuring material including straight ahead swinging tunes and beautiful ballads , as well as African inspired grooves – but always with a twist.
Martin says that most of the tunes he composes have a back story, often being inspired by novels or poems he’s read, movies or art he’s seen, or places he’s visited.
The result is music that is intimate but ranges far and wide in tempo and mood – by turns lyrical, atmospheric, groovy, and mischievous – and takes in heartfelt ballads, mysterious grooves, evocative atmospheres and melodic swing along the way.
The trio’s second album, Furrow, has – like their debut album, The Stealthy Moon – been received with enthusiastic critical acclaim…
“Superb contemporary jazz” – Jazz Views
“Small Blue might be led by a drummer but this is one of the best ‘piano trio’ albums that I’ve heard in a long time” – THE JAZZMANN
“… high grade Bill Evans Trio territory … each track has its own picture, each track turns its own curve, put all together and Small Blue have themselves a minor masterpiece.” – Steve Day
“Pyne has written twelve exceptional compositions for the new group that immediately gives the trio an identity and repertoire that marks them out as rather something special … a composer of rare talent” – Jazz Views
“In terms of percussion improvisation, try to imagine something that runs from the Zen sound-painting of Frank Perry to the light swing of Billy Higgins. There’s nothing loud, nothing showy, nothing esoteric. Just a delight in the deft touch of a stick, a mallet, a finger or a wire brush on metal, skin or wood, and in the process of transforming sound into a sense of movement.” – Richard Williams, The Blue Moment
Sample the music here: https://tinyurl.com/ua6p5ndm

Ben Crosland’s All Star Band Play the Ray Davies Song Book at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026

Featuring: Ben Crosland

More details

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-at-progress/?future=true

Jazz at Progress | Ben Crosland’s All Star Band Play the Ray Davies Song Book
Friday 20 February 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Theo Travis reeds | Ben Crosland bass | Steve Lodder keyboards | | John Etheridge guitar | Buster Birch drums
Those of us who were growing up at the time of the swinging 60s need no introduction to the music of The Kinks. However, for those not acquainted, the band’s website will tell you all you need to know. Not that the band and leader, composer Ray Davies, stopped developing and influencing rock and popular music in the 60s. Far from it.
Whether Ray ever thought that his tunes would one day be performed and rearranged as jazz band material is possibly unknown, but he has approved in writing Ben Crosland’s and his musician’s treatment of his compositions. See here
Ben was commissioned by Marsden jazz festival in 2014 to write arrangements of Ray Davies tunes, which duly done and performed, in 2015, resulted in an album “The Ray Davies Songbook” followed in 2018 by Volume 2.
Reviewers rated the results highly…
“…the album swings consistently…with this sharp, cogent collection, a dedicated follower of Ray Davies has made him a well-respected jazz composer too.” – The Times
“…a lot of affection, a lot of respect for those unforgettable melodies and a whole lotta damn fine playing…these well respected men have done Mr. Davies proud” – Jazzwise
Whilst the line up has changed from the albums, Ben, John Etheridge and Steve Lodder remain, and with the addition of Theo Travis form the since well-honed core of the band. They have performed many times over several years and never fail to hit the spot.
Just read this review of the band in January 2025 at Fleece Jazz.
Theo Travis and John Etheridge play together in Soft Machine. So, although a different genre, they express a close musical wavelength in Ben’s band. John has been described by the great Pat Metheny as “one of the best guitarists”. Theo is fantastically busy musician, composer, arranger-you name musical tasks and he does it. Two wonderful versatile musicians who have both appeared at Progress and it will be good to have them back.
Ben Crosland has been immersed in Jazz since the 1980s and played with anyone who is anyone on in the UK scene. This is apart from running his own bands, doing jazz promotions and of course arranging, composing. For unknown reasons this his first appearance at Progress.
Buster Birch is again a much in demand musician, composer, arranger, author, educator and much more. He was last with us with Steve Waterman. An unknown fact; he created his own critically acclaimed show which features the Buster Birch jazz quartet playing live to the screening of different classic Buster Keaton silent movies, for which he has arranged and scored over 4hrs of music to sync. In 2023 it won the Audience Award at The Chichester International Film Festival.
Please join us for another fine night of the music we love.

Josephine Davies’ Satori Quartet at Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire.

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

Featuring: Josephine Davies

More details

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-at-progress/?future=true

Jazz at Progress | Josephine Davies’ Satori Quartet
Friday 30 January 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Josephine Davies tenor & soprano saxophones
Alcyona Mick piano
Dave Whitford bass
Jay Davies drums
Winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Award ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the year’, Josephine Davies is a saxophonist, composer and bandleader at the forefront of the UK contemporary music scene. She has four album releases on Whirlwind Recordings with her trio/quartet Satori, and is known for her melodic focus, versatility and unique style as an instrumentalist.
Now becoming equally known as a composer, her unique sound is a blend of jazz, folk and classical music, creating an intensely dynamic sound infused with the Nordic quality of her Shetland roots.
Josephine was resident composer and tenor player for the London Jazz Orchestra from 2012-2018, leaving at that time to form her own 17 piece orchestra, The Enso Ensemble. She was chosen to be one of the South Coast Radar Jazz Composers in 2020 and commissioned at that time by NYJO to write a piece for their album ‘She Said’, featuring music solely by female composers.
Returning to the studio for the much-anticipated 4th album from her band Satori, Josephine Davies has composed an exquisite album of pieces inspired by her Nordic roots in the Shetland Islands. The superb partnership of bassist Dave Whitford and drummer Jay Davies once again creates the perfect bedrock for Josephine’s sinuous saxophone lines. Joining the original trio to become the current quartet is the innovative pianist Alcyona Mick.
The intricate compositions, coupled with the thrilling interplay between these four musicians, evokes the interconnection of Shetland sea, land, sky, and ever-present wind. At times stark and unsettling, and at times light and joyous, their latest album “Weatherwards” is a unique and magical offering from one of the UK’s most dynamic ensembles.
“Satori is among the most engaging young bands on the British scene… Cerebral, nuanced and reflective.” All About Jazz
“Davies weaves a continuous thread of shifting feelings through the set.” London Jazz News
“The powerful combination of fearless free improvisation and melodic empathy from these gifted players creates a powerful and timely statement.” Jazz in Europe
“A terrifying level of proficiency with an insatiable appetite for improvisation.” Rhein Main Magazine

Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita Suba Trio at Union Chapel, Islington, London.

Date: Friday, May 08, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.seetickets.com/event/omar-sosa-seckou-keita-suba-trio/union-chapel/3535169

Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita Suba Trio
Union Chapel, London. Friday 08 May 2026

AGMP Concerts presents

OMAR SOSA & SECKOU KEITA SUBA TRIO with Gustavo Ovalles

The Atlantic Ocean separates Cuba and Senegal, the respective birthplaces of piano virtuoso Omar Sosa and kora maestro Seckou Keita, a distance diminished by their shared ancestral connection to Africa. When the pair met in 2012, Seckou loved Omar for his musical spirituality, whilst Omar saw in Seckou a rare ability to collaborate but not lose his identity. Their debut album Transparent Water (2017) was hailed as “beautiful, rhapsodic… spiritual” (Songlines) and “mesmerising, evocative and sophisticated” (World Music Central).

Omar Sosa has released over 30 albums during an incredible career that has included nominations for seven GRAMMY or Latin GRAMMY awards; Seckou Keita is a multi-award winner, most recently as the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year (2019). Recorded during lockdown and released in 2021, Sosa and Keita’s second album SUBA is a hymn to hope, to a new dawn of compassion and real change in a post-pandemic world, a visceral reiteration of humanity’s perennial prayer for peace and unity. Joining Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita in the studio and for live performances is the inimitable Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles.

Union Chapel, London N1 2UN
Friday 08 May 2026 at 19:00.
Performing
Omar Sosa Seckou Keita

Makaya McCraven at Union Chapel, Islington, London.

Date: Wednesday, May 06, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.seetickets.com/event/makaya-mccraven/union-chapel/3556812

Makaya McCraven
Union Chapel, London. Wednesday 06 May 2026

MAKAYA McCRAVEN - in concert

“Balances jazz’s precious tradition and its present and future.” The Guardian

“Makaya McCraven has quietly become one of the best arguments for jazz’s vitality.” The New York Times

Direct from the USA, master drummer and producer Makaya McCraven brings his group to London for an exclusive ocncert in 2026.

Makaya McCraven was raised in a vibrant, creative community in the Northampton, Massachusetts area, where his father often played with artists like saxophonist and ethnomusicologist Marion Brown, multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef, and saxophonist Archie Shepp. After co-founding a jazz-hip hop band called Cold Duck Complex that ultimately opened for The Pharcyde, Digable Planets, and the Wu-Tang Clan, he moved to Chicago in 2006. Within five years he’d established a name for himself, gigging alongside Willie Pickens, Marquis Hill, and Jeff Parker.

Makaya McCraven released his debut LP ‘In The Moment’ in 2015 followed by ‘Highly Rare’ (2017), ‘Where We Come From’ (2018), ‘Universal Beings’ (2018), ‘Deciphering The Message’ (2021), ‘In These Times’ (2022), and ‘Off The Record’ (2025).

Makaya McCraven has recorded or shared the stage with artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, Kamasi Washington, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Brandee Younger, Theon Cross, Joel Ross, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and many more.

An AGMP Concerts presentation.

Union Chapel, London N1 2UN
Wednesday 06 May 2026 at 19:00.
Performing
Makaya McCraven

Yttling Jazz at The Jazz Cafe, Camden, London.

Date: Monday, March 02, 2026

More details

Serious have provided the following information regarding this event;

Monday 2 March, Jazz Cafe
Yttling Jazz

Best known as the bassist of Swedish indie trio Peter Bjorn and John and a producer for Lykke Li and Primal Scream, Björn Yttling brings his Yttling Jazz project back to the stage, blending cinematic atmosphere with sharp, swinging modern jazz.

Tickets;
https://serious.org.uk/events/yttling-jazz

Mon 02 March 2026
Stage time / 7:30pm
Doors / 7:00pm

Jazz Cafe,
5 Parkway
NW1 7PG

£20 - £30 + booking fee

Björn Yttling brings his Yttling Jazz project back to the stage, blending cinematic atmosphere with sharp, swinging modern jazz.

Best known as the bassist of Swedish indie trio Peter Bjorn and John and a producer for Lykke Li and Primal Scream, Yttling draws on influences from Charles Mingus to Brian Eno on the 2025 album Illegal Hit. The music moves between shadowed textures, bold horn lines, and restless grooves, performed by a heavyweight Swedish ensemble.

At the piano and Hammond organ, Yttling steers the group through tightly composed themes and open improvisation — a rare, immersive jazz set where every player is given room to stretch.

The Herbaliser Band, official album launch at 229, London.

Date: Saturday, May 09, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

THE HERBALISER BAND - Official Album Launch

Way back In 1995, Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry AKA The Herbaliser, a sample-based beatmaking duo from Twickenham, South West London, released their debut 12” single ‘The Real Killer’ on UK label Ninja Tune.

They soon followed up with their first LP, ‘Remedies’ Establishing themselves as one of the main features of the Ninja Tune crew, as they expanded their roster of eclectic artists and DJs. The following year, as they were recording their second full length release, ‘Blow Your Headphones’, they extended their output to include an 8 piece live band.

The Herbaliser Band, (which would count among it’s members, the likes of Easy Access, Chris Bowden and Kaidi Tatham) continued on, touring internationally, to great reception, from diverse audiences and would become regulars at a multitude of electronic, dance, dub and jazz festivals, worldwide, for the next 2 decades or so.

Now, after something of a hiatus, The Herbaliser Band have reformed with a lineup that currently includes Easy Access AKA Ralph Lamb (trumpet/flugelhorn) & Andrew Ross (tenor/baritone sax-flute), James Morton (alto sax), Micah Moody (drums), Patrick Dawes (percussion) & Ollie Teeba on the turntables.

Tickets;
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-herbaliser-band/229/3432592

229 London
229 Great Portland St, London W1W 5PN

Eastside Jazz Festival at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), Birmingham.

Dates: Thursday, February 12, 2026 - Friday, February 13, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

More details

We have received the following press release;

Brand new jazz festival for Birmingham announced
EASTSIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL
12 & 13 February 2026

Brings together international musicians, leading innovators, grassroots promoters TDE Promotions and Digbeth Jazz, and RBC’s graduates and students.

Takes place across Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s concert halls and purpose-built Eastside Jazz Club with wall-to-wall music in the foyers.

Roaming ticket gives access to all the events.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) is to host a brand new jazz festival for Birmingham taking place over two days, 12-13 February 2026, across the multi-venue building.

Eastside Jazz Festival will bring together internationally-renowned musicians with some of today’s most interesting and innovative talent, alongside grassroots promoters and exciting local and student musicians showcasing Birmingham’s thriving and creative jazz scene.

Among headline artists are the internationally-acclaimed US saxophonist Chris Potter with the Pablo Held Trio, a significant force on the contemporary European jazz scene, giving the first gig of their extensive 20th anniversary tour. Pianist Rebecca Nash, whose career has soared in recent years, makes a prestige trio with Henrick Jensen and Dave Smith. BBC Big Band, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading jazz orchestras, are given free rein for an evening which includes collaborations with RBC vocalists Julie Claire and Poppy Baker. And the Olie Brice Quartet – masters of original music and free improvisation – includes Rachel Musson, current recipient of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer award, on tenor sax.

Headliners include Chris Potter, Pablo Held Trio, Rebecca Nash, BBC Big Band, Olie Brice with Rachel Musson.

Programming for Eastside Jazz Festival is being led by Jeremy Price (Head of Jazz at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), along with Tony Dudley-Evans (TDE Promotions) and RBC’s Ed Puddick, Shanti Jayasinha, Nicholas Gebhardt and Libby Surplice.

Jeremy Price, Head of Jazz, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said:
“The brand new Eastside Jazz Festival aims to celebrate Birmingham’s ever-growing and diverse jazz scene and strengthen the city’s position as a European centre for contemporary jazz. It’s a two-day focus on year-round programming: alongside musicians of the highest calibre, and leading innovators in contemporary jazz, we’re also working with grassroots promoters Digbeth Jazz (named 2025 Parliamentary Awards’ Venue of the Year) and showcasing RBC’s own graduates and students. Our courses at RBC are predicated on students sharing professional platforms with world class leading artists and this jazz festival embraces that exact same spirit. In this multi-venue event, we’ll be making full use of RBC’s Bradshaw and Recital Halls, purpose-built Eastside Jazz Club, and populating the foyers with wall-to-wall music. And we’re introducing a roaming ticket so audiences can dip into the many and varied sessions to ensure an immersive festival experience.”

Graduates and current students of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire are a cornerstone of the Eastside Jazz Festival, cementing the legacy of the Jazz Department. Trombonist and alumni Dave Sear – now a visiting tutor at RBC – plays with his quartet, while the Tony Levin Drum Prize, which commemorates the celebrated Midlands drummer, seeks out an exceptional student with US saxophonist Jean Toussaint and UK bassist Arnie Somogyi. Big bands including Banda Brasiliera and RBC Jazz Orchestra are also involved.

Other highlights include pianist Ben Shankland (BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician winner), RBC bassist Macy Wright & Indo Jazz, with more to be confirmed.

Eastside Jazz Festival is at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 12-13 February 2026. Tickets and details at http://www.bcu.ac.uk/concerts

Artists confirmed to date [as of December 2025]:

Thu 12 Feb
Chris Potter with Pablo Held Trio
Banda Brasiliera
RBC Jazz Orchestra play Miles Davis/Gil Evans Porgy and Bess Suite
Digbeth Jazz Presents
Ben Shankland & Poppy Baker

Fri 13 Feb
BBC Big Band
Rebecca Nash Trio with Henrick Jensen and Dave Smith
Olie Brice Quartet with Rachel Musson
Macy Wright & Indo Jazz
Birmingham Jazz Orchestra
Digbeth Jam

Tickets:
Two-day Festival Ticket: £40 advance (£45 on the door) | £25 students / over 60s
Day Ticket: £30 advance (£35 on the door) | £20 students /over 60s

Box Office http://www.bcu.ac.uk/concerts | 0121 331 5909

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, 200 Jennens Road, Birmingham, B4 7XR.

Jonny Nash + C.Haddow + M.Sewell matinee performanceat Sy ; Gigs, The Darwin Room, Shrewsbury Library, Shrewsbury.

Date: Sunday, February 01, 2026

More details

Chris Taylor of Sy ; Gigs writes;

Season 4.0 - Event 1.0
Feb 1 @ The Darwin Room, Jonny Nash + C.Haddow + M.Sewell
There are still tickets available for this intimate venue, but numbers are limited due to its size. All Adult Early Bird tickets have now sold out.

Ticket prices for Season 4.0 have increased by £2.

Physical tickets will still be available at Glou Glou (Castle Gates and The Market Hall), which remains the most cost-effective way to purchase without incurring booking fees.

Jonny Nash is the perfect artist to open Season 4.0 at Shrewsbury Library’s Darwin Room. His music is spacious, comforting, and profoundly human, holding listeners close while gently inviting inward reflection. He will be joined by his close friend Tomo Katsurada, and together you can expect drifting, swelling, transportive soundscapes that pull you into subtle, immersive worlds.

Jonny has spent a lifetime travelling the globe in search of new experiences and inspiration. His musical journey has been equally winding and nomadic, from early explorations in cosmic disco to deeper atmospheric excursions inspired by his love of enveloping soundscapes, acoustic music, and the sonic possibilities of the humble guitar. Today, he is recognized as one of the most distinctive voices on the ambient and new age scene.

Support comes from Glasgow-born guitarist and composer Christopher Haddow, who experiments with guitar, field recordings, and tape loops. His minimal, layered approach embraces the serendipity of sound-on-sound looping, creating evolving atmospheres that feel alive, unpredictable, and compelling.

The matinee will be bookended by our dear friend, supporter, and local polymath Matt Sewell, whose unique DJ sonic palette will complete what promises to be a truly memorable afternoon.

Mark Lockheart Shapeshifter Trio at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Featuring: Mark Lockheart

Venue

The Hive, Shrewsbury

5 Belmont,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire.
UK

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

Mark Lockheart Shapeshifter Trio
Mar 14 £25/£12 U22
* Saturdays at 7pm. Performance area opens 6:30pm.

Shapeshifter is a new trio featuring three very special creative voices of the UK jazz scene: Mark Lockheart (saxes, bass clarinet & electronics), Huw V Williams (bass) &
Jay Davis (drums & percussion). The star- studded musical CV of these musicians is far too extensive to list here. Creating a unique sonic experience, the trio shifts moment to moment, gracefully and spontaneously stitching together sound landscapes and grooves. The three members share the writing credits alongside a few carefully chosen works by Bill Frisell, Joe Henderson and Paul Motian.

Alicia Gardener-Trejo Quartet at Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury.

Date: Saturday, February 07, 2026

Venue

The Hive, Shrewsbury

5 Belmont,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire.
UK

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

Alicia Gardener-Trejo Quartet
Feb 7 £25/£12 U22

As part of a tour showcasing her debut album ‘Home/Lands’ Alicia Gardner-Trejo (baritone sax, flute, bass flute) brings her exciting quartet to SJN at the Hive. Featuring the individual voices of Andrew Woodhead (piano), Brodie Laird-Jarvie (double bass) and Jonathan Silk (drums) their music plays with the sonic possibilities of low woodwinds & double bass, experimenting with fresh ideas of melody & bassline responsibilities. With strong influences from the world of jazz and folk, ‘Home/Lands’
features intricately crafted melodies and strong improvisations.

‘A very engaging piece with attractive melodies and strong solos.’ Tony Dudley Evans

* Please note that this gig will be presented as a single set performance starting at 8.00 and ending around 9.30.

Abacus at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

More details

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/event/abacus/

Abacus
February 26, 2026 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
£15

Four-horn fronted sextet of familiar faces on the Birmingham scene combining concepts from small group to big band jazz.

ABACUS is a project run by Birmingham based Saxophonist, Composer and Improvisor Liam Brennan. Formed in 2022, the project concept was heavily influenced by Omer Avital’s Asking No Permission which featured a 4-horn frontline. The music aims to combine concepts from both the Jazz small group tradition as well as the Big Band lineage. It features some of the most exciting improvisors from Birmingham and London.

The band fuses influences from composers such as John Hollenbeck, John Taylor and Oliver Nelson, also incorporating techniques from Scandinavian folk music and contemporary classical composition. Liam is currently studying a masters in composition and improvisation, and is currently based in Oslo, Norway. Their debut album will be released in early 2026, which is a live recording from a performance in Birmingham in 2023.

The sextet are Liam Brennan and James Romaine (alto sax), James Borland (trumpet), Simeon May (tenor sax/bass clarinet), Josh Vadiveloo (bass) and Kai Chareunsy (drums).

Venue
The Marr’s Bar
12 Pierpoint Street
Worcester,
Worcestershire WR1 1TA .

Brass Band Bychan at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk/event-details/brass-band-bychan

Brass Band Bychan
Sun 29 Mar | The Melville Theatre

Time & Location
29 Mar 2026, 20:00 – 23:00
The Melville Theatre, 4 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK

About the event

Black Mountain Jazz Club welcomes Brass Band Bychan to Abergavenny this March for an unforgettable night of bold brass, deep groove and high-energy creativity.

Hailing from Wales’ vibrant jazz scene, Brass Band Bychan brings together four outstanding musicians all familiar to us here at BMJ:

Gareth Roberts (trombone),
Gethin Liddington (trumpet),
Alistair Stewart (sousaphone)
and Mark O’Connor (drums).

Led by award-winning composer Gareth Roberts, the band is renowned for its powerful blend of jazz, funk and street-band swagger - delivering a sound that is both rhythmically infectious and richly melodic.

Their live performances are full of personality - tight horn lines, driving sousaphone bass and irresistible drum grooves combine to create a small ensemble with a truly big presence.

Join us at Black Mountain Jazz Club for a night that promises joyous original music, fearless improvisation and the unique energy only a powerhouse brass group can deliver.

Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £9.50 to £19.00

Standard
£19.00

Friends of BMJ’s
£17.00

Under 18’s
£9.50

Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke Duo at Union Chapel, Islington, London.

Date: Monday, March 23, 2026

More details

We have received the following information regarding this event;

Monday 23 March, Union Chapel
Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke

Don’t miss these two musical giants, guitarist Lionel Loueke and bassist Dave Holland, unite their individual talents into one harmonious show, igniting creativity, honouring cultural roots, and showcasing music’s powerful role in fostering unity amidst societal division.

Tickets;
https://serious.org.uk/events/dave-holland-and-lionel-loueke

Two musical giants, guitarist Lionel Loueke and bassist Dave Holland, unite their individual talents into one harmonious recording, igniting creativity, honoring cultural roots, and showcasing music’s powerful role in fostering unity amidst societal division.

United is an inspiring testament to the power of collaboration, blending Loueke’s masterful guitar work with Holland’s deep, resonant bass. Both musicians have profoundly impacted the global jazz scene—Loueke, known for his innovative fusion of West African traditions Rider im Archiv!with modern jazz, has played with a who’s who of virtuosic and celebrated artists, most notably serving as Herbie Hancock’s guitarist for over 15 years, and collaborating with legends like Wayne Shorter, Sting, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Miller, and Esperanza Spalding.

Holland, one of the most influential bassists and composers in jazz, has shaped contemporary jazz since the late 1960s, performing with icons like Miles Davis, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Sam Rivers, and Jack DeJohnette. Though Loueke and Holland have worked together many times in various groups, this album marks their first collaboration as a duo. The result is nothing short of extraordinary.

Line Up
Dave Holland, bass
Lionel Loueke, guitar

Mon 23 March 2026
Stage time / 7:30pm
Doors / 6:30pm

Location
Union Chapel,
Compton Terrace
N1 2UN
https://unionchapel.org.uk/

Tickets
£35 + booking fee

Branco Stoysin: Recital for Nikola Tesla at The Stables, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Featuring: Branco Stoysin

More details

From;
https://stables.org/event/branco-stoysin-recital-for-nikola-tesla#event-handling-fee-text

Branco Stoysin: Recital for Nikola Tesla
Thursday 14 May 2026 8:45pm

Guitarist/composer Branco Stoysin, life-long aficionado of Nikola Tesla, will be performing his epic new music/video project Aurora Tesla, that in the most lyrical, illuminating and concise way tells the story about Nikola Tesla, Serbian born genius of electricity. It’s a poignant tribute, marking 170 years since the birth of Nikola Tesla and 130 years since the birth of modern civilisation with the implementation of Tesla’s Polyphase Alternating Current System on The Niagara Falls in 1896. Every pylon, everywhere around the world, carries Tesla’s blood, The Electricity, to lighten your existence.

Branco will also play tunes from his previous eight CD albums and from his recent, triple anniversary, the ninth CD album, Whispers From The Sun, which marked 40 years of art-music making, of those 30 years in London. As an avid photographer and naturalist, for the finale of recital, Branco will perform special three music/video projects depicting the beautiful natural world right on our doorsteps. A recital for an audio and visual delight.

“A musical journey to warm the soul.” Sarah Ward, Jazz FM.

“Music of great delicacy and charm.” Chris Parker.

“The sound of a master craftsman at work.” Ian Mann.

http://www.brancostoysin.co.uk

Tickets;
https://stables.org/boxoffice/ticket/507801

box office 01908 280800

The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU.

https://www.brancostoysin.co.uk

Branco Stoysin, ‘Recital for Nikola Tesla’ at Goldsmiths, University of London, London.

Date: Friday, March 06, 2026

Featuring: Branco Stoysin

More details

Recital for Nikola Tesla
By Branco Stoysin
Sun Recordings

Goldsmiths, University of London, London, England
Friday, Mar 6, 2026 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm GMT
Tickets;
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recital-for-nikola-tesla-tickets-1977494647724

Overview

A poignant tribute to Nikola Tesla > Aurora Tesla, the epic new music/video project, marking 170 years since birth of Nikola Tesla.

RECITAL for NIKOLA TESLA, London Premiere at Goldsmith’s University of London, Richard Hoggart Building - The Cinema Room

Branco will also play the tunes from his previous eight CD albums and from his recent, triple anniversary, the ninth CD album, Whispers From The Sun, which marked 40 years of art-music making, of those 30 years in London. As an avid photographer and naturalist, for the finale of recital, Branco will perform special three music/video projects depicting the beautiful natural world right on our doorsteps. A recital for an audio and visual delight.

“A musical journey to warm the soul” Sarah Ward, Jazz FM.

“Music of great delicacy and charm” Chris Parker.

“The sound of a master craftsman at work” Ian Mann.

https://www.brancostoysin.co.uk

Andy Abbott at Weirdshire, Upstairs at The Jam Factory, Hereford.

Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

More details

Weirdshire have forwarded the following information regarding this event;

At the end of January, we have Andy Abbott, who I saw in Sheffield recently, weaving his mesmerising music into field recordings of his nature Yorkshire. Andy is a great story teller and will draw you in…

Tuesday 27th January, Jam Factory, 7.30pm

A bit more about Andy: Andy Abbott is an artist, musician and writer who lives in West Yorkshire, UK. We love him for his music, his philosophy, and his community arts activism. His acoustic compositions were described last year in the Quietus as “spectral and woozy soundscapes inspired by the “derelict hinterlands” of Bradford where he lives, and with more than a nod to the American primitivism of John Fahey… hypnotic undulations”

In 2024 and 2025 he released an album of recordings influenced by his time as a musician in residence in acute psychiatric wards across Yorkshire under the alias ADRA. His current set is a long-form fluid composition for 12-string and baritone acoustic guitars layered over field recordings that aims to reflect the light and shade of the Calder valley.

“A minor 21st century folk masterpiece … Abbott ignores the comfort of pure folk structures and bluesy scales, twisting his lush folk guitar into something brimming with potent pangs of a serrated kind of poetic discontent.” - The Quietus

“This is another gorgeous release from Andy who has taken an imaginary place as a theme but has clearly used the inspiration on his doorstep in real life and added a little musical fairy dust to transport the listener and the landscape to another place. The everyday, everywhere becomes somewhere special and memorable in Andy’s hands.“ - The Terrascope

“a beautifully structured hour of ambient music; reflective and calm with endlessly unravelling layers.”
- Uncut, 2024

Tickets
https://wegottickets.com/event/682928

Again, this one is upstairs at the Jam Factory - best to buy in advance, and when it has sold out, that’s it…

Here’s a bit of Andy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3STd_lwEHbg

HEREFORD: The Jam Factory
40 Widemarsh St
Hereford
Herefordshire
HR4 9EP

Dorian Ford - Köln Concert 51 — 51st Anniversary Concert at The Hex Hall For All, Acland Burghley School, London NW5.

Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026

Featuring: Dorian Ford

More details

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

Köln Concert 51 — 51st Anniversary Concert
Sunday 25 January 2026 at 6.30pm
The Hex Hall For All, Acland Burghley School, London NW5

On Sunday 25 January 2026, internationally acclaimed British pianist Dorian Ford will present Köln Concert 51, a live tribute and reimagining of Keith Jarrett’s landmark 1975 Köln Concert — the original event became the bestselling solo piano album in history and one of the most influential works of improvised music.

This performance follows the triumph of Köln Concert 50, which Ford performed in Cologne in January 2025 on the exact anniversary of the original concert; the event sold out, drew audience members from the 1975 performance itself, and received major acclaim in the press. In the months that followed, this important and exciting tribute was staged at the Liverpool International Jazz Festival and the Aberdeen Jazz Festival, building on its earlier success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, where critics hailed it as “one of the true glories of the Festival.”

Köln Concert 51 continues this artistic journey — not as a recreation, but as a living improvisational response to a piece that has shaped half a century of musical history.

Back to Where It Began — Acland Burghley Alumnus Supporting Hall for All

Dorian Ford’s passion for supporting music-making in Camden stems back to his studies at both Acland Burghley School and WAC (now Collage Voices).

Acland Burghley is now the London home of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, a partnership that has transformed the school into one of the capital’s most vibrant musical hubs. Presenting Köln Concert 51 here — as Ford’s first UK performance since the anniversary concert in Germany — highlights the school’s growing cultural significance and the role it plays in nurturing musical creativity.

This performance will support the local community and young musicians across Camden, with a number of free tickets reserved for local music students and a generous donation to Hall for All at Acland Burghley.

A Living Tribute — Not a Re-enactment

Ford’s approach is rooted in the spirit of the original Köln Concert: spontaneous invention shaped by melody, time and touch. Rather than reproduce Jarrett’s performance note for note, he blends recognisable passages with his own improvisations, allowing the music to evolve anew:

“From the first note, it was clear that Ford was not merely playing the piano; he was telling a story, channelling the spirit of Jarrett while infusing his own unique flair.” — Performance China, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

This creative philosophy echoes Ford’s comments in a recent Deutsche Welle interview:
“In a way, I’m advocating for this piece to be part of the concert repertoire of the solo piano world — like a Beethoven sonata.”

The result is a performance that honours the original while looking firmly forward — improvisation as dialogue rather than imitation.

The Enduring Story of the 1975 Köln Concert

The story behind Jarrett’s Köln Concert remains one of the most extraordinary in modern musical history. Scheduled for 24 January 1975 at the Cologne Opera House at 11:30pm, the performance was beset with disasters: Jarrett arrived after a 430-mile overnight drive from Switzerland, exhausted, hungry and suffering from severe back pain. The wrong piano had been placed on stage — a rehearsal Bösendorfer with limited volume and faulty pedals — and Jarrett initially refused to play.

Only the pleading of the 18-year-old promoter, Vera Brandes, convinced him to perform. What followed was a completely improvised, hour-long outpouring that blended jazz, gospel, classical and folk influences into a cohesive and transcendent whole.

The recording released later that year went on to sell more than four million copies, becoming the bestselling solo piano album of all time and influencing generations of musicians across genres.

Today, with Jarrett no longer performing after his 2018 strokes and two forthcoming feature films revisiting the origins of the concert, the Köln Concert continues to inspire reinterpretation and reflection.

Critical Acclaim for Dorian Ford

Ford’s Köln Concert project has earned exceptional praise from audiences and critics alike:

“Never before has a concert and its aftermath moved me as much… my head just won’t let go.”
— Klaus Erich Haun, audience member at both the 1975 concert and Köln Concert 50

“Dorian Ford’s reinterpretation was quite stunning in its execution and intensity… I was totally engrossed from start to finish.” — Liverpool International Jazz Festival

Beyond this project, Ford has enjoyed a long-established and widely respected career:

“It is gratifying to see a pianist of Dorian’s calibre present the heart and soul of the music so eloquently and so authentically.” — Ronnie Scott, after Ford’s performance at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

“An incandescent piano trio.” — John Fordham

“Some kind of genius… an intelligent improviser.” — Hugh Wood, composer

Dorian Ford
Dorian Ford studied with jazz innovator Ian Carr at WAC in Camden, and later at Berklee College of Music, where he twice won the Chick Corea Jazz Masters Award. His career spans performances at Ronnie Scott’s, Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh Festival, and major venues across Europe, Australia and Japan. His music has appeared in film, television and radio.
Ford first encountered the Köln Concert more than 40 years ago and has since explored it through transcription, performance, and now, creative reinvention. His 50th anniversary performance in Cologne — described in the press as deeply atmospheric and emotionally powerful — marked a significant milestone in this lifelong engagement.
Köln Concert 51 represents the next step in that journey.

Date and Time: Sunday 25 January 2026 at 6.30pm
Running Time: 75 minutes
Location: The Hex Hall For All, Acland Burghley School,
93 Burghley Road, London NW5 1UJ
Tickets from: http://www.dorianford.co.uk
Performed by: Dorian Ford (piano)
Original performance: Keith Jarrett, Cologne Opera House, 24 January 1975

For further information, please contact:
Graham & Townley Productions Ltd

Stephen Graham
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
07768 497658

Hilary Townley
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
07941 698214

Buxton International Jazz Festival, various venues, Buxton, Derbyshire.

Dates: Thursday, July 09, 2026 - Sunday, July 26, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

More details

Multi-disciplinary arts festival that includes the twelve gigs of the Jazz Weekender event from 9th to12th July.

For full programme please visit ;
http://www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

Jazz Weekender programme: View here.
https://buxtonfestival.co.uk/whats-on/jazz-weekender

The Hans Koller ‘Monk’ Quartet at Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Victory Club Ballroom, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, Glos.

Date: Monday, March 23, 2026

Featuring: Hans Koller

More details

From;
https://www.cheltenhamjazz.co.uk/

THE HANS KOLLER “MONK” QUARTET
WHEN: 8.00 pm, Monday 23rd March 2026
WHERE: The Victory Club Ballroom, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham.
Tickets: CJ Members £19.00, non members £22.00
Hans Koller – Piano, Tony Kofi – Saxophones, Calum Gourlay – Bass, Noah Ojumu – Drums
Well-established pianist/composer Hans Koller is a highly respected musician on the UK jazz scene. With over 16 critically acclaimed albums his sparkling cv includes work with a host of high-profile international artists, including the likes of Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow, Bob Brookmeyer, Mike Gibbs and Kenny Wheeler. Tonight Hans joins forces with the multiple Award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi (World Saxophone Quartet, The Jazz Warriors, Gary Cosby’s Nu Troop) to perform music celebrating the great US pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. Along with these two master musicians, the bassist/composer/arranger Calum Gourlay, widely considered to be one of the leading bass players of his generation, and the amazing young drummer Noah Ojumu will complete this superb quartet. The band will explore some of the lesser known Monk tunes, and will offer their fresh take on this iconic music.
Tickets available on the door or online at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk

Alex Hitchcock Quartet at Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Glos.

Date: Monday, February 23, 2026

Featuring: Alex Hitchcock Quartet

More details

From;
https://www.cheltenhamjazz.co.uk/

THE ALEX HITCHCOCK QUARTET
WHEN: 8.00 pm, Monday 23 February 2026
WHERE: The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Tickets: £20.00
Alex Hitchcock – Saxophone, Will Barry – Piano, Joe Downard - Bass, Luke McCarthy – Drums
London-born Alex Hitchcock is an instantly recognisable improviser and a leading international voice on the saxophone. An Ivor Novello-nominated composer, his innovative collaborations highlight his reputation as a catalyst for boundary-pushing musical encounters. He lives in London, UK and regularly performs at jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals in the and throughout Europe, leading groups at Umbria Jazz Festival, Love Supreme Festival, and Ronnie Scott’s also performing at North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz à Vienne and Glastonbury Festival amongst many others.
“Already a big presence on the British scene as an astonishingly quick thinking virtuoso.” - Jazzwise
Click here for the Alex Hitchcock website https://www.alexhitchcock.co.uk/
Tickets available from the Everyman Theatre Box Office 01242 572573 or http://www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Monmouth Big Band with William Byrne & Laura Hayward, @Down Lover’s Lane’ Valentines’s concert at Savoy Theatre, Monmouth.

Date: Friday, February 13, 2026

Featuring: Monmouth Big Band

More details

From;
https://monmouth-savoy.co.uk/whats-on/live/

Down Lovers’ Lane: Monmouth Big Band
Show Dates: Friday February 13th at 8:0pm
Tickets: £16 and £12 Concessions (over 65 and under 16)

A Valentine’s concert featuring the honey-toned vocals of the incredible William Byrne, and his soon-to-be-wife Laura Hayward. William has several West End and Dublin credits to his name, including Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ Superstar) Arbiter (Chess) Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) Emcee (Cabaret) Danny (Grease). He also has several TV credits, and has appeared as a soloist with the National Concert Orchestra for the RTE proms.

Monmouth Big Band is pleased to present a program of luscious love songs from the era that epitomises romance, with these two lovers only days from their upcoming wedding.

Love is in the air…

The Savoy Theatre,
Church Street,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 3BU

01600 772467

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ana Popovic at The Jazz Cafe, Camden, London.

Date: Monday, March 30, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

Direct from the USA, ANA POPOVIC announces exclusive London concert.

“One Helluva a Guitar-Player”
Bruce Springsteen

Ana Popovic blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine vocals.

Nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, Ana was added as the only female guitar-player to the 2014 -2018 all star Experience Hendrix lineup; a tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix with Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, & Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Aside from that tour Ana Popovic has also shared the stage with B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Beck, & Gary Clark Jr.

https://www.seetickets.com/event/ana-popovic/jazz-cafe/3564533

Jazz Cafe, London NW1 7PG
Monday 30 March 2026 at 19:00.
Performing
Ana Popovic

Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio at Guildford Jazz, The Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey.

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

Featuring: Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio

More details

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz writes;

Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio
Fri 30 Jan from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at The Stoke Hotel, 103 Stoke Rd, Guildford GU1 4JN
Join multi-award-winning trombonist Dennis Rollins for an evening with his simmering jazz funk trio, featuring Hammond organ virtuoso Ross Stanley and Joel Barford on drums, playing a brilliant marriage of refined contemporary jazz arrangements and smokin’ grooves or, as the BBC Music Magazine has expressed it: “This group produces genuine fireworks”. Dennis is a previous winner of the BBC Jazz Best Band Award, the Parliamentary Jazz Education Award, and the Ronnie Scott’s Best Trombone
Award.
For more details of the event and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Ankora at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

More details

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/event/ankora/

February 12, 2026 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Ankora
The Marr’s Bar 12 Pierpoint Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, United Kingdom

8-piece ensemble featuring the future stars of British jazz

Eight ambitious young musicians that met through Tomorrow’s Warriors – a London-based artist development organisation – were selected to perform as the Tomorrow’s Warriors Frontline ensemble, under the direction and tutelage of drummer, composer and educator Romarna Campbell.

Ankora is the exciting new step the ensemble are taking to launch into the London jazz scene. The name is derived from the Latin word for ‘anchor’ (anchora): a symbol of groundedness, hope and a connection to roots. These connotations are expressed through their repertoire of both originals and covers of powerful jazz tunes. The name links to an alternative meaning in Italian, ‘again’, marking the momentum of their rebirth as they continue their musical and artistic journey.

The band, whose average age is just 20, features 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Klara Devlin on trumpet and drummer Miranda Radford, who both appeared on our stage when Miranda brought her quartet up in February 2025. Mali Sheard (sax), Keira Chakraborty (flute), Hannah Clifton (trumpet), Tami Adebanjo (guitar) Kezia Abouma (piano) and Holly Reinhardt (bass) complete the line-up of exceptional young players at the start of promising careers in the British jazz scene.

The band’s influences include the legacies of Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter, while branching out to the more contemporary mastery of Esperanza Spalding, Geri Allen, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Kenny Kirkland. The ensemble takes inspiration from the spark and power of these jazz legends, compositionally and in their playing.

Collectively, the members of ‘Ankora’ have already made their mark on the jazz scene through performances at venues such as Love Supreme Jazz Festival, We Out Here, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Jazz Club (NYC), The Vortex, Brick Lane Jazz Festival and The Jazz Café. Ready for more, the unique, powerful voice of the ensemble is excited to embrace the wonder and diversity of today’s jazz scene.

Detroitwich Funk Machine at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester.

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

More details

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/event/detroitwich-funk-machine/

January 22, 2026 @ 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
Detroitwich Funk Machine
The Marr’s Bar 12 Pierpoint Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, United Kingdom

The music of James Brown, Tower of Power, Herbie Hancock, The Brecker Brothers, Blood Sweat and Tears, Kenny Garrett and more brought to life by an amazing 9-piece local band.

Co-led by Droitwich-based Californian bassist Tom Clarke-Hill and saxophonist Andy Shillingford from Stourbridge, Detroitwich Funk Machine have raided the archives of 70s and 80s funk, jazz-funk and fusion to deliver an outstanding and entertaining show featuring the music of James Brown, Tower of Power, Herbie Hancock, The Brecker Brothers, Blood Sweat and Tears, Kenny Garrett, Mike Stern and many more.

Tom Clarke-Hill features on vocals, bass and entertaining banter while Andy Shillingford heads up the top-shelf West Midlands horn section that sees the return of saxophonist Chris Bowden and trombonist Dave Sear who both appeared in April 2025 (Chris with his Hypnos Files band and Dave with The Boom Yeh), along with saxophonist Pelham Wood and trumpeter Alex Astbury (of the Digbeth Jazz team). On the polyphonics are Tom Morgan (guitar) and Arran Shanghavi (keys), with Andy Brotherton completing the lineup on drums.

If you enjoyed Hoop (Nov 2023), FNUK (Jan 2024), Steve Taylor’s Fusion Phew (May 2024), Impossible Conversations (Feb 2025) or The Boom Yeh (Apr 2025), you are going to love Detroitwich Funk Machine!

Yetii ’ Inner World’s ’ Album Tour at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026

Featuring: Yetii

More details

From;
https://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk/event-details/yetii-inner-worlds-album-tour

Yetii: ’ Inner World’s ’ Album Tour
Sun 22 Feb | The Melville Theatre

Time & Location
22 Feb 2026, 20:00 – 22:30
The Melville Theatre, 5 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK

About the event

We welcome Yetii to Black Mountain Jazz for this very special one-off gig as part of their UK ‘Inner Worlds’ Album Tour.

Yetii released their debut album ‘Live at The Greenbank’ to widespread critical acclaim and have since played at jazz clubs, festivals and arts centres across the UK, as well as supporting ‘The Bad Plus’ on their recent UK Tour.

The trio play original compositions combining flowing melodies with expansive group improvisations, interlocking grooves and evolving soundscapes.

The band have built their following with a sold-out monthly residency in Bristol, including collaborations with Iain Ballamy, Ant Law and Arun Ghosh.

Alex Veitch – piano
Ashley John Long - double bass
Alex Goodyear - drums

“a performance that both enthralled and delighted the audience ★★★★★”- Ian Mann, TheJazzMann

“Impossible to ignore” - Jazzwise

“a trio of fluent and wildly inventive improvisers” UK Jazz News

Video Link - https://youtu.be/rSRrT5kb8ZM

Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £9.75 to £19.50

Standard
£19.50

Friends of BMJ
£17.50

Under 18’s
£9.75

Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper at Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny.

Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026

Featuring: Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper

More details

From;
https://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk/event-details/elijah-jeffery-eddie-gripper

Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper
Sun 25 Jan | The Melville Theatre

Time & Location
25 Jan 2026, 20:00 – 22:30
The Melville Theatre, 4 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK

About the event

Black Mountain Jazz Club is delighted to welcome back two Cardiff-based musicians well known to BMJ audiences.

Vocalist–songwriter Elijah Jeffery and award-winning pianist Eddie Gripper join forces to present their acclaimed new CD (self-entitled, ‘Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper’ ) currently on a UK wide tour, with a striking blend of original songs and a bold reimagining of Purcell’s 17th-century aria, praised for its imaginative, genre-defying approach.

Their live performance weaves together progressive pop, indie folk, and alternative jazz, taking audiences on a captivating musical journey. From the folk-inspired ‘Shifting Seasons’ to the introspective jazz ballad ‘Because of You’, the art-pop energy of ‘Close Your Eyes’ and a fresh take on ‘Dido’s Lament’, Elijah and Eddie showcase their flair for storytelling and innovative composition.

With a shared passion for pushing musical boundaries, their performance promises an intimate yet adventurous experience that resonates across genres, making this a must-see evening for lovers of inventive, genre-defying music.

Hampshire-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Elijah Jeffery brings influences ranging from the Great American Songbook to contemporary folk, whilst English pianist Eddie Gripper - hailed for his melodic charm and already compared with the greats - adds a distinctive blend of jazz, folk and modern classical colour.

“These are songs that convince both musically and lyrically, there is real musical and emotional intelligence at work here” - Ian Mann, TheJazzMann

“Both halves of the duo excel on this recording, both in their quality and restraint, but it is their joint passion for song writing that shines brightest.” - Neil Duggan, All About Jazz

Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £9.00 to £18.00

Standard
£18.00

Friends of BMJ
£16.00

Under 18’s
£9.00

2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival, various venues, Southwest Michigan, USA.

Dates: Thursday, April 30, 2026 - Sunday, May 10, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

More details

THE 2026 IRVING S. GILMORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL—NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST GATHERING OF KEYBOARD ARTISTS—BRIDGES CLASSICAL AND JAZZ WORLDS IN A GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION OF PIANO ARTISTRY,
APRIL 30-MAY 10

Sullivan Fortner, winner of The Gilmore’s 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award, opens and closes the Festival

A Homecoming Moment: Joshua Bell and Shai Wosner Celebrate the Stulberg Competition’s 50th Anniversary in a Special Pre-Festival Recital

2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow’s first Festival appearance

Duo collaboration by Brad Mehldau and 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein

World premieres of Gilmore commissions include American Sputnik, a monodrama co-commissioned by The Gilmore and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, as well as a new work for Eighth Blackbird by Clarice Assad

U.S. premiere of The Kalamazoo Flow by Anders Hillborg performed by Alexandre Kantorow

2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein Plays and Conducts Three of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos

Gilmore Festival Fellows Return for a 10-Day Immersive Residency Fostering the Next Generation of Pianists

KALAMAZOO, MI — The Gilmore has announced details of the 2026 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival taking place Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, across multiple venues in Southwest Michigan. Drawing thousands of fans to the Kalamazoo region, this year’s Festival showcases the world’s preeminent classical and jazz pianists and artists in 75+ events including a world premiere monodrama, exclusive artist collaborations, Gilmore commissioned works, and family-friendly performances as well as master classes, film screenings, and more. Scroll down for a complete schedule of festival events.

“The Gilmore Piano Festival has established itself as a highlight for music fans. Over 11 days, thousands of patrons from around the world will transform Kalamazoo into a vibrant hub of creativity, culture and connection. For over 30 years, our Festival has brought together incredible artists, emerging talents, and enthusiastic audiences. Building on this success, as well as the Gilmore Artist Awards and this year’s inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards, we’re excited to begin this exciting chapter shifting from a biennial Festival to an annual one that presents the top pianists of both classical and jazz music.”
- Pierre van der Westhuizen, Executive & Artistic Director

The 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival bridges classical tradition, contemporary innovation, and the evolving landscape of jazz. Anchored by world premieres, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards, the Festival celebrates the piano as a catalyst for creative exchange across genres, generations, and cultures. Its programming highlights both legacy and discovery—pairing iconic artists such as Joshua Bell, Brad Mehldau, Kirill Gerstein, and Alexandre Kantorow with rising classical and jazz talents, while commissioning new works that reflect the piano’s vibrant role in today’s musical ecosystem. With performances spanning historic concert halls, intimate clubs, family offerings, and community spaces across Southwest Michigan, the 2026 Festival envisions the piano not merely as an instrument, but as a unifying force that transforms the region into a dynamic hub of artistic exploration, storytelling, and shared human experience.

The 2026 Festival coincides with the naming of The Gilmore’s first-ever Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awardee, Sullivan Fortner, as well as the Bell Young Jazz Artist Award recipients Esteban Castro and Tyler Bullock — all scheduled to perform at the 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival. Mirroring the Gilmore Artist Award for classical pianists, the Jazz Artist Awards were bestowed on jazz pianists selected by an anonymous committee. Since its founding in 1989, the Festival has taken place at venues in Kalamazoo and across West Michigan, a region characterized by rolling countryside—filled with orchards, wineries, art galleries, and farmers markets—and the natural beauty of nearby Lake Michigan. Building on the success of its 30-year history, the biennial Festival shifts to an annual one for the first time in 2026. The Gilmore is allowing more space for creativity, more audience goers and a plethora of multi-genre artists.

2026 GILMORE PIANO FESTIVAL ARTISTS
Aaron Diehl · Aaron Goldberg · Alexandre Kantorow · Ali Jackson · Allison Miller · Ambrose Akinmusire · Andrew Rathburn · Armando Gola · ARTEMIS · Bill Charlap · Bob Mervak · Brad Mehldau · Cameron Carpenter · CeciléMcLorin Salvant · Charlotte Hu · Christian Sands · Chuco Valdés · Cyrus Chestnut · Daniela Liebman · Eighth Blackbird · Elliott Wuu · Esteban Castro · Horacio El Negro Hernandez · Ingrid Jensen · Inon Barnatan · Jackson Symphony Orchestra · Janice Carissa · Joseph Lattanzi · Joshua Bell · Julian Kuerti · Justin Snyder · Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra · Kandace Springs · Kayvon Gordon · Keith Hall · Kent Philharmonic Orchestra · Kirill Gerstein · Lara Downes · Libor Ondras · Lisa Kaplan · Lori Sims · Marc-André Hamelin · Matthew Aubin · Matthew Natalie Tenenbaum · Nicole Glover · Nicole Zuraitis · Noriko Ueda · Omer Avital · Raquel González · Renee Rosnes · Richard Goode · Roberto Vizcaino Jr. · Sara Davis Buechner · Sean Hickey · Shai Wosner · Southwest Michigan Symphony · Stanislav Khristenko · Stewart Goodyear · Sullivan Fortner · Timo Andres · Tyler Bullock · Tyrone Allen · Vicki Chow · Yes! Trio

THE GILMORE’S LEGACY OF COMMISSIONING NEW WORKS

The Gilmore has a distinguished history of commissioning new works, continuing its mission to support the creation and performance of new music for the piano. Over the years, the Gilmore Piano Festival has become known for its commitment to expanding the repertoire through significant commissions from renowned composers. The Gilmore has commissioned, on its own and via Gilmore Artists and Gilmore Young Artists Award funds, more than 40 new works from composers including Matthew Aucoin, Michael Brown, Elliott Carter, Christopher Cerrone, Michael Gordon, Stephen Hough, Oliver Knussen, Brad Mehldau, Nico Muhly, Frederick Rzewski, and Tyshawn Sorey, among many others.

The commissioned works of the 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival include the U.S. premiere of The Kalamazoo Flow, a new work by leading Swedish composer Anders Hillborg, which Alexandre Kantorow commissioned through his 2024 Gilmore Artist Award (world premiere scheduled for January 2026 at Le Piano Symphonique Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland). The contemporary music ensemble Eighth Blackbird premieres a new work written by Clarice Assad whose music is deeply rooted in the early, folkloric rhythms of Brazil.

Co-commissioned with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, The Gilmore is thrilled to present the world premiere of American Sputnik, a one-act monodrama for baritone, piano and an orchestral ensemble by composer Evan Mack and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell. American pianist Van Cliburn instantly shot to superstardom after winning the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. Exploring the impact of Cliburn’s historic win on his own life and on global culture, American Sputnik features baritone Joseph Lattanzi and Cleveland International Piano Competition-winning pianist Stanislav Khristenko dually portraying the role of Cliburn, joined by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra under Music Director Julian Kuerti.

THE GILMORE FESTIVAL FELLOWS PROGRAM

The Gilmore Festival Fellows program, a career-advancement initiative for both classical and jazz pianists aged 18 or older, continues during this year’s festival. The immersive program blends the festival experience with a curriculum designed to develop the diverse skills—artistic, business, and personal—needed to build a successful career as a pianist. The 12 Festival Fellows take part in workshops and career coaching sessions focused on the business side of an artistic career and the personal and interpersonal challenges of life as a concert pianist.

This year’s Fellowship is a 10-day residency from May 1-10, 2026, including a May 8th public performance by select Classical Fellows. Jazz Fellows will perform on May 1-2 and 7-8 at the Crawlspace Theater. This season’s residency is overseen by Artist Teachers: Sara Davis Buechner, Bill Charlap, Stewart Goodyear, Marc-André Hamelin, Charlotte Hu, Renee Rosnes, and Lori Sims.

Festival artists share their talents and wisdom with Festival Fellows, who perform and learn from their teachers at Gilmore Festival master classes. The general public is invited to witness the creative process in action and gain insight into the dedication required to become an exceptional pianist. All master classes are free and open to the public. Scroll down for a complete schedule of classes. Visit Gilmore.org/education to learn more.

The Gilmore Festival Fellows program is made possible through the generous support of the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne.

2026 GILMORE PIANO FESTIVAL LINE-UP

When: April 30 – May 10, 2026

Where: The 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival will unfold across more than a dozen venues throughout Southwest Michigan, from historic theaters and concert halls to intimate clubs, churches, and community spaces. This wide variety of locations activates the region as a network of stages, offering audiences exceptional musical experiences in settings of every scale and underscoring the Festival’s commitment to bringing world-class music to the broader community.
Tickets: Donor presale access begins November 20 at 10:00 a.m. ET for supporters who contribute $100 or more, with all tickets going on sale to everyone on January 29, 2026. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.thegilmore.org.

PRE-FESTIVAL EVENTS

CLASSICAL | CHAMBER MUSIC | SPECIAL EVENT
FRI 4.24 at 7:30 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
JOSHUA BELL
Joshua Bell, violin | Shai Wosner, piano
F. SCHUBERT Violin Sonata in A Major, D. 574 (“Grand Duo”)
E. GRIEG Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45
S. PROKOFIEV Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94

CLASSICAL | CONCERTO
SAT 4.25 at 7:30 p.m. | Harold Sheffer Music Hall, Potter Center, Jackson
JACKSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH 2022 GILMORE YOUNG ARTIST JANICE CARRISA
Matthew Aubin, conductor | Janice Carissa, 2022 Gilmore Young Artist, piano
J. BRAHMS /arr. V. LEIDIG. Academic Festival Overture
R. SCHUMANN Concerto for Piano in A Minor, Op.54
W.A MOZART Requiem, K.626 (Süssmayr)
OPENING NIGHT
THU 4.30 at 6:00 p.m. | Kalamazoo Institute of Arts & Parish Theater, Kalamazoo

SULLIVAN FORTNER SOLO GAME
The 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival opens on April 30, 2025, aka International Jazz Day, with a rare solo performance by 2026 Larry J. Bell Artist Award Recipient Sullivan Fortner. Fresh off receiving the inaugural Bell Artist Award, Fortner revisits the spirit of his GRAMMY®-nominated album Solo Game — a kaleidoscopic journey across acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ, and other keyboards. Blending jazz, gospel, and modern improvisation, Fortner moves fluidly between soulful lyricism and bold harmonic exploration, revealing why he’s regarded as one of today’s most imaginative and expressive voices in jazz.

CLASSICAL | MONODRAMA | CONCERTO | includes WORLD PREMIERE
FRI 5.01 at 7:00 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
FROM CLIBURN TO KANTOROW: A CELEBRATION OF TCHAIKOVSKY
Julian Kuerti, conductor | Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Joseph Lattanzi, baritone | Stanislav Khristenko, piano
Alexandre Kantorow, 2024 Gilmore Artist, piano
The concert will feature the World Premiere of a new one-act monodrama by American composer Evan Mack and Pulitzer-prize winning librettist Mark Campbell, exploring the impact of Van Cliburn’s historic win on his own life and on global culture. Co-commissioned by The Gilmore and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, American Sputnikfeatures baritone Joseph Lattanzi and Cleveland International Piano Competition-winning pianist Stanislav Khristenko dually portraying the role of Cliburn, joined by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra under Music Director Julian Kuerti. Also on the program is 2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow — who followed in Cliburn’s footsteps as a winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition — joining the KSO to perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the concertos that helped Kantorow earn his victory at the competition.
EVAN MACK /libst. MARK CAMPBELL American Sputnik, WORLD PREMIERE
P. TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44

FAMILY CONCERT/FILM
SAT 5.02 at 2:00 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
RIGHT IN THE EYE
Right in the Eye combines 12 short silent films by pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès — containing many special effects — with musical virtuosity, lighting design, and more. Three musicians perform on over 50 different instruments, including rare and unique ones, live onstage alongside the films, in a one-of-a-kind production ideal for children ages five and up.

JAZZ
SAT 5.02 at 4:00 + 7:00 p.m. | Bell’s Eccentric Café, Kalamazoo
CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO
A gifted and innovative jazz pianist, Cyrus Chestnut possesses a soulful style that fuses gospel, classical music, and straight-ahead jazz. With two musical parents who were involved in the church, it was only natural that gospel music would become a major influence on Chestnut’s musical development, showing him not only how to be a better player but also how to connect with audiences. His original compositions are the heart of his latest album, Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony, on which he demonstrates his signature blend of rhythmic precision, emotive expression, and improvisational mastery.

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL | includes U.S. PREMIERE
SAT 5.02 at 8:00 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
ALEXANDRE KANTOROW, 2024 GILMORE ARTIST
The day after performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow returns to give a solo recital. Kantorow will present the U.S. premiere of a new work by leading Swedish composer Anders Hillborg, which Kantorow commissioned through his Gilmore Artist Award; he will premiere the work at the Le Piano Symphonique Festival in Lucerne in January 2026.
J.S. BACH /arr. LISZT Variations on Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen S. 180.
N. MEDTNER Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5
F. CHOPIN Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45
A. SCRIABIN Sonata No. 10, Op. 70
L.v. BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C Minor Op. 111
ANDERS HILLBORG The Kalamazoo Flow, U.S. PREMIERE, commissioned by The Gilmore

FAMILY CONCERT
SUN 5.03 at 12:30 p.m., First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo
BABY GRANDS WITH HEITZIG AND JONES
This Baby Grands will feature The Gilmore’s very own Kory Heitzig on organ, with Dr. Garrett Jones narrating, presenting Rex: The King of Instruments written by Daniel Burton. This lively piece introduces the pipe organ through an energetic blend of organ music and narration. This will be followed by the OrgelKids workshop, an engaging, hands-on experience where kids collaborate to assemble a real working organ. This event is a family-friendly, interactive way to introduce kids to the organ.
Free and open to children of all ages.

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
SUN 5.03 at 2:00 p.m. | First United Methodist of Kalamazoo
CAMERON CARPENTER
In a rare organ performance for The Gilmore, Cameron Carpenter demonstrates the versatility and dramatic power of his chosen instrument. Committed to expanding the repertoire for the organ, Carpenter composes original music and also creates his own virtuosic arrangements of iconic works of classical music, including J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Carpenter is the first-ever organist to be nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for a solo album (for his debut album Revolutionary), and has transfixed audiences worldwide with his dazzling technique and larger-than-life style.
J.S. BACH/arr. CAMERON CARPENTER Goldberg Variations BWV 988
J.S. BACH Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 552 (“St. Anne”)
M. MUSSORGSKY/arr. CAMERON CARPENTER Pictures At An Exhibition

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
SUN 5.03 at 7:30 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
RICHARD GOODE
Pianist Richard Goode is internationally renowned for his interpretations of Classical and Romantic music. His 10-disc recording of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas remains a benchmark in the industry. Goode returns to The Gilmore to perform two cornerstones of the repertoire: Beethoven’s monumental Diabelli Variations and Schubert’s heartrending Sonata in B-flat Major, his final composition for solo piano.
L.v. BEETHOVEN Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120
F. SCHUBERT Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
MON 5.04 at 2:00 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
STEWART GOODYEAR
Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear is renowned for his large, dramatic sound, elegant technique, and omnivorous approach to keyboard music. Goodyear has attracted particular attention for his Beethoven “Sonatathons,” a term he coined to describe his epic performances of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas in one day.
L.v. BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (“Tempest”)
STEWART GOODYEAR Rhapsody
L.v. BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
STEWART GOODYEAR Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
L.v. BEETHOVEN Andante favori, WoO 57
Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”)

Jazz + Classical | DUO PIANO RECITAL
MON 5.04 at 7:30 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
BRAD MEHLDAU & KIRILL GERSTEIN IN DIALOGUE
Grammy Award–winning pianist and composer Brad Mehldau has long bridged musical worlds, shaping modern jazz with performances that blend intellect, emotion, and structure. 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein, equally at home in classical and jazz traditions, is celebrated for his dynamic artistry and curiosity, connecting diverse musical voices with insight and imagination. Their collaboration grew from a shared fascination with the space between composition and improvisation.

JAZZ
TUE 5.05 at 12:00 p.m. | Kalamazoo Civic Theater
ESTEBAN CASTRO TRIO | 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
Esteban Castro began playing piano at age four and at 13, became the youngest-ever First Prize Winner at the Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition. Now 20, Castro is already an in-demand bandleader and sideman. At The Gilmore, Castro and their trio will perform a mix of standards and Castro’s own award-winning compositions.

JAZZ
TUE 5.05 at 12:00 p.m. | Kool Family Community Center, Battle Creek
TYLER BULLOCK TRIO | 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
The regular pianist for the Roy Hargrove Big Band, and with collaborations with Samara Joy, Sean Jones, and Dee Dee Bridgewater already under his belt, Tyler Bullock is one of the most promising pianists of his generation. His original compositions for his trio and other configurations combine the lineage of jazz with his own fresh perspective.

CLASSICAL | CHAMBER MUSIC | includes WORLD PREMIERE
TUE 5.05 at 2:00 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
EIGHTH BLACKBIRD
Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning contemporary music sextet Eighth Blackbird is, according to The Chicago Tribune, “one of the smartest, most dynamic ensembles on the planet.” They perform Four Organs and Piano Phase, two seminal 20th-century works by pioneering American minimalist composer Steve Reich in his 90th birthday year, as well as the World Premiere of a new work written for them by Clarice Assad, commissioned by The Gilmore. A composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Assad creatively fuses elements of classical, jazz, and Brazilian music for a sound that’s completely her own.
ARI SUSSMAN to no end
CLARICE ASSAD WORLD PREMIERE, commissioned by The Gilmore
STEVE REICH Piano Phase
Four Organs
NICO MUHLY Doublespeak

JAZZ
TUE 5.05 at 5:00 + 8:00 p.m. | D. Terry Williams Theatre, WMU
KANDACE SPRINGS
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, jazz pianist and singer Kandace Springs’s natural gifts for lyricism and soulfulness have propelled her to some of the world’s biggest stages. She has performed alongside Prince, Sting and Jack White, Norah Jones, Roy Hargrove, and more, and has released acclaimed albums of acoustic-based jazz. Her Gilmore set will include arrangements from her latest recording, Lady in Satin, a loving tribute to Billie Holiday and her 1958 record of the same name, with Springs on both keys and vocals, joined by her all-female trio.

JAZZ
WED 5.06 at 12:00 p.m. | Kool Family Community Center, Battle Creek
ESTEBAN CASTRO TRIO | 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
See May 5 for event description.

JAZZ
WED 5.06 at 12:00 p.m. | Kalamazoo Civic Theater
TYLER BULLOCK TRIO | 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
See May 5 for event description.

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
WED 5.06 at 2:00 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
LORI SIMS
A pillar of the Kalamazoo musical community, Lori Sims returns to The Gilmore for a recital on piano and harpsichord, demonstrating how the harpsichord and Baroque musical forms can be updated and reworked in a modern context. Opening with J.S. Bach’s Partita for keyboard No. 6, Sims then jumps to works by two of the 20th century’s most important composers, György Ligeti and Sofia Gubaidulina, who both fused traditional Baroque forms—the Passacaglia and the Chaconne—with their distinctly modern musical languages.
J.S. BACH Partita No. 6 in D Minor BWV 830
G. LIGETI Passacaglia Ungherese
Hungarian Rock
Etudes, Book I, No. 5 “Arc-en-Ciel”
S. GUBAIDULINA Chaconne
CLASSICAL | CONCERTO

WED 5.06 at 7:30 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
KIRILL GERSTEIN & KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTOS
Already respected for his solo piano interpretations, 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein unveils another facet of his musical life for Festival audiences: his role as conductor. In one evening with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Gerstein both plays and conducts three of Beethoven’s beloved Piano Concertos. Beethoven himself frequently performed his own concertos while conducting from the keyboard, and Gerstein will offer Gilmore festival attendeesthe opportunity to experience these masterworks in much the same way that audiences would have in Beethoven’s day.
L.v. BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58

JAZZ
THU 5.07 at 12:00 p.m. | Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
NICOLE ZURAITIS
A vocalist, pianist, songwriter, and arranger who originally trained in classical voice and opera, Nicole Zuraitis offers powerful interpretations of jazz, pop, and anything else she sets her mind to. How Love Begins, her album co-produced with Christian McBride, won Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2024 GRAMMY® Awards, making her the first artist to win this award for an album entirely made up of original compositions and arrangements. Zuraitis leads a band of powerhouse artists, using her arrangements to showcase their considerable talents in the best possible light.

CLASSICAL | VOICE AND PIANO
THU 5.07 at 2:00 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
CHOPIN AND VIARDOT: A DIALOGUE
Charlotte Hu, piano
Raquel González, soprano
Pauline Viardot was an accomplished pianist who studied with Franz Liszt, a world-renowned mezzo-soprano, and a talented composer, yet her name is largely unknown today. In their collaborative recital, pianist Charlotte Hu and soprano Raquel González re-introduce Viardot to her rightful place alongside the greatest of Romantic composers, notably her friend and colleague Frédéric Chopin. Their program spans solo piano works by both Chopin and Viardot, Viardot’s piano-and-voice arrangements of Chopin’s mazurkas — which Chopin himself advised on and was pleased with — and some of Viardot’s own original songs for soprano and piano.
F. CHOPIN Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61
Mazurka in E Major, Op. 63, No. 3
Mazurka in F-sharp Minor, Op. 59, No. 3
Mazurka in C Major, Op. 33, No. 3
P. VIARDOT/F. CHOPIN Mazurka Op. 50, No. 2 “Seize ans!”
Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2 “Aime-moir”
Mazurka Op. 6, No. 1 “Plainte d’amour”
Mazurka Op. 7, No. 1 “Coquette”
Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2 “L’Oiselet”
Mazurkas Op. 7, No. 3 and Op. 7, No. 2 “Faible cœur!”
P. VIARDOT Mazurka
Deux airs de ballet
Serenade
F. CHOPIN Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60
P. VIARDOT Original Songs for Soprano and Piano

JAZZ | DUO PIANO
THU 5.07 at 5:00 + 8:00 p.m. | D. Terry Williams Theatre, WMU, Kalamazoo
BILL CHARLAP & RENEE ROSNES
Two of today’s preeminent jazz pianists, Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes have played together in a two-piano setting since the release of their 2010 Blue Note album Double Portrait, a set of duets that traverse their shared musical touchstones. Downbeat declared that “the counterpoint and compatibility are so perfectly balanced, the selections and arrangements so handsome, that Double Portrait is a prize.” On stage, the husband-and-wife duo share their interpretations of jazz standards, Great American Songbook and Broadway tunes, and their own original compositions, inspired by their work together.

JAZZ
THU 5.07 at 7:30 p.m. | Kool Family Community Center, Battle Creek
YES! TRIO featuring ALI JACKSON, AARON GOLDBERG, AND OMER AVITAL
United by three decades of friendship and a reverence for straight-ahead jazz and swing, the members of Yes! Trio are all superstar musicians in their own right. Ali Jackson has played with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 2005. Omer Avital synthesizes American jazz, Israeli, and other Arab styles into something new and vital. And Aaron Goldberg leads his own trio and tours with the Joshua Redman Quartet.

JAZZ
FRI 5.08 at 12:00 p.m. | Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
YES! TRIO featuring ALI JACKSON, AARON GOLDBERG, AND OMER AVITAL
See May 7 for event description.

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
FRI 5.08 at 2:00 p.m. | Cori Terry Theatre, Epic Center, Kalamazoo
GILMORE FESTIVAL FELLOWS SHOWCASE RECITAL
The Gilmore presents top-notch talents of some of this year’s class of Gilmore Festival Fellows, hand selected by The Gilmore’s artistic leadership. Today’s successful artists need to know much more than the music. The Festival Fellows program helps young artists better navigate the industry through mentorships, master classes, Festival performances, workshops, and networking with their peers.

JAZZ
FRI 5.08 at 7:30 p.m. | Kool Family Community Center, Battle Creek
NICOLE ZURAITIS
See May 7 for event description.

JAZZ
FRI 5.08 at 7:30 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
ARTEMIS
Equally beloved by audiences and critics alike, ARTEMIS conjures a powerful collective voice from its five members. Originally assembled by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, the all-female group is distinguished not only by the star power of its individual members, but also by its multi-national and intergenerational lineup. ARTEMIS features Renee Rosnes (piano/Fender Rhodes), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicole Glover (tenor saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass), and Allison Miller (drums). At The Gilmore, ARTEMIS will perform tunes from their three acclaimed Blue Note albums, featuring a vibrant mix of original compositions by all five band members as well as Rosnes’s arrangements of pieces by Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach, and more.

CLASSICAL | CONCERTO
FRI 5.08 at 7:30 p.m. | St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids
KENT PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Pianist Elliott Wuu, 2018 Gilmore Young Artist, returns to Michigan to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Ondras conducting.
B. SMETANA Dance of Comedians
E. GRIEG Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16
A. DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dances, Op. 46

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL | THEATRICAL
SAT 5.09 at 1:00 p.m. | Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo
SARA DAVIS BUECHNER “OF PIGS AND PIANOS”
When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, a young Sara Davis Buechner declared: “A piano player and a pig farmer.” Decades later, the first of those has decidedly come true. Of Pigs and Pianos is Buechner’s one-woman show, recounting Sara Davis Buechner’s life story through dramatic narration, musical performances, and projected visuals. As one of the first transgender women in the industry to transition mid-career, Buechner encountered overwhelming obstacles, and faced them with courage and integrity. The New York Times gave the premiere performance a rave review; Buechner herself calls it “one of the most significant artistic works of my life.” [CONTENT WARNING: Of Pigs and Pianos contains strong adult content and language. Recommended for audiences 16 and older.]

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
SAT 5.09 at 4:00 p.m. | Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College
MARC ANDRÉ-HAMELIN
Marc-André Hamelin, “a performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” according to The New York Times, is revered worldwide for his thoughtful interpretations and utter mastery of the most challenging works in the piano repertoire. His Gilmore recital opens with Haydn’s Piano Sonata in D Major, followed by Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 3, an early work dedicated to Haydn. The second half is devoted to Russian piano works, with short pieces by Nikolai Medtner, a younger contemporary of Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, as well as Rachmaninoff’s moody and intense Piano Sonata No. 2.
F. HAYDN Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI:37
Lv. BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2
N. MEDTNER Improvisation in B-flat Minor, Op. 31, No. 1
Danza festiva, Op. 38, No. 3
S. RACHMANINOFF Étude-Tableau in E-flat Minor, Op. 39, No. 5
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 36 (1931 version)

CLASSICAL | SOLO RECITAL
SAT 5.09 at 7:00 p.m. | Peace Lutheran Church, South Haven
ELLIOTT WUU, 2010 GILMORE YOUNG ARTIST
As part of the South Haven Performance Series, Elliott Wuu gives a solo recital for audiences in South Haven, featuring piano sonatas by Beethoven and Liszt, Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, and Liszt’s Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude.
C. DEBUSSY Suite Bergamasque, L. 75
L.v. BEETHOVEN Sonata Op. 31, No. 3 (“The Hunt”)
F. LISZT Bénédiction de Dieu dans la Solitude
from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. S. 173/3
S. RACHMANINOFF Sonata No. 2, Op. 36

JAZZ
SAT 5.09 at 7:30 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
CHUCHO VALDÉS ROYAL QUARTET
For over six decades, NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés has defined Afro-Cuban jazz through his work as a pianist, composer, and bandleader. A winner of multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Valdés also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and has been inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. His Royal Quartet features virtuosos from the next generation of Afro-Cuban jazz: Horacio El Negro Hernandez (drums), Armando Gola (bass), and Roberto Vizcaino Jr. (congas). They will pay homage to Chick Corea, Mozart, American blues, Cuban folksongs, and more, all with their signature sense of joy and creativity.

CLASSICAL | CONCERTO
SAT 5.09 at 7:30 p.m. | Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY
Matthew Aubin, conductor
Winner of the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition and featured at The Gilmore’s premiere of American Sputnik, Ukrainian pianist Stanislav Khristenko performs Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor with the Southwest Michigan Symphony.
P. TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23

JAZZ | FESTIVAL FINALE
TUE 5.10 at 4:00 p.m. | Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo
FINALE: SULLIVAN FORTNER TRIO featuring CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT & AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
The 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival concludes with an exclusive performance created especially for this occasion, uniting three of today’s most visionary artists. Sullivan Fortner, recent recipient of The Gilmore’s inaugural Larry J. Bell Artist Award, leads his trio alongside GRAMMY® Award–winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and acclaimed trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, whose distinctive sound and compositional depth have earned him international recognition. Joined by Tyrone Allen (bass) and Kayvon Gordon (drums), they will explore new musical terrain where improvisation, storytelling, and collective imagination meet in a singular finale that promises to be both intimate and transcendent.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FILM +
TUE 4.28: MURRAY PERAHIA: NOT OF THIS WORLD
WED 4.29: PIANOFORTE
THU 4.30: OSCAR PETERSON: BLACK + WHITE
FRI 5.01: VAN CLIBURN: CONCERT PIANIST. FILM BY PETER ROSEN.
All showtimes at 12:00 p.m., Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Stryker Theatre

CONNECT WITH FILM SERIES
During this year’s Festival, the music comes to the silver screen with afternoon film screenings at the Stryker Theatre. Movies are free to the public. Tickets are made available at 10:00 a.m. on the day of each screening at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum or its website http://www.kalamazoomuseum.org.

JAZZ +
WED 4.29 + FRI-SAT 5.01-2 + FRI-SAT 5.07-8 | Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, Kalamazoo
GILMORE AFTER DARK
Throughout this year’s Festival, the music continues long into the night with Gilmore After Dark events at venues around Kalamazoo. Grab a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy performances by exciting jazz and classical artists, including this year’s talented class of Gilmore Jazz Fellows. It kickstarts April 29 with pianist, vocalist and songwriter Bob Mervak. On May 1-2, saxophonist Andrew Rathbun will host the Jazz Festival Fellows, followed by drummer Keith Hall on May 7-8.

FESTIVAL FELLOWS EVENTS +
FRI 5.01 at 2:00 p.m. A CONVERSATION WITH SEAN HICKEY, Kalamazoo Public Library, Central Library
SUN 5.03 at 10:00 a.m. STEWART GOODYEAR, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
TUE 5.05 at 10:00 a.m. LORI SIMS, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
WED 5.06 at 10:00 a.m. CHARLOTTE HU, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
WED 5.06 at 4:00 p.m. BILL CHARLAP + RENEE ROSNES, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
FRI 5.08 at 10:00 a.m. SARA DAVIS BUECHNER, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU
SUN 5.10 at 10:00 a.m. MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

MASTER CLASSES
Festival artists share their talents and wisdom with Festival Fellows, who perform and learn from their teachers at Gilmore Festival master classes. Audiences may witness the creative process in action and gain insight into the dedication required to become an exceptional pianist. All master classes are free and open to the public.

CLASSICAL
WED 5.20 at 6:00 p.m. MEIJER GARDENS X GILMORE, Utopia Room at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids
NATALIE TENENBAUM, piano
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and The Gilmore Piano Festival are collaborating on a special evening of entertainment amidst the beauty of the CHIHULY exhibition at Meijer Gardens.

All performances, programs, and performance dates and times are subject to change.

ABOUT THE GILMORE
Created in 1989 to honor the legacy of businessman and philanthropist Irving S. Gilmore, The Gilmore is the premier institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to commissioning, presenting and awarding extraordinary piano artistry. The Gilmore has presented 16 piano festivals, commissioned over 40 new works for piano, and awarded over $3 million as part of its internationally renowned Gilmore Artists Award for both classical and jazz pianists.
Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, The Gilmore hosts its annual (previously biennial) Gilmore Piano Festival April 30-May 10, 2026, and continues to impact the lives of thousands of area children and adults through its year-round community engagement and music education programs including summer camps, music therapy, and much more.

Burghausen International Jazz Week, Burghausen, Germany.

Dates: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - Sunday, March 22, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release;

Press release: 55th International Jazz Week Burghausen, March 17-22, 2026, Advance ticket sales start: November 26, 2025

The excitement is spreading: The program for the 55th Burghausen International Jazz Week from March 17 to 22, 2026, has been finalized and promises musical highlights! To mark this small anniversary edition, IG Jazz Burghausen is presenting a week full of diverse concert experiences, from international stars to promising new discoveries.

Following the traditional winners’ concert of the 16th European Young Artists’ Jazz Award, the Mike Stern Band feat. Leni Stern, Gabor Bolla, Noam Tanzer & Juan Chiavassa will open the main concerts in the Wackerhalle. Another highlight is the renowned German drummer Wolfgang Haffner. With his All Star Celebration, he celebrates his 50th stage anniversary and invites not only his long-time musical companions Simon Oslender (keys) and Thomas Stieger (bass), but also singer Viktoria Tolstoy, trombonist Nils Landgren, and DJ Shantel.

Also part of the line-up is trumpeter Theo Croker, who will be presenting his Miles Davis Centennial Blue Moods: Miles in the Golden Hour project. Multiple Grammy winner Cory Henry and his band The Funk Apostles will be providing a heavy dose of musical energy, as will the experimental collective Sonic Interventions, which was awarded this year’s German Jazz Prize for Newcomer of the Year. Lovers of avant-garde sounds will get their money’s worth with the duo Stian Westerhus & Maja S. K. Ratkje in the historic Ankersaal in the center of Burghausen’s old town.

The traditional Blues Saturday returns to its authentic roots and brings two outstanding masters of the genre to Burghausen with Paul Lamb & The King Snakes and Ronnie Baker Brooks.

The festival program is complemented by other impressive acts. These include Turkish saxophonist Korhan Futacı, the New York jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements, and London-based bassist, singer, and composer Amy Gadiaga.

Promoting young talent remains a key concern. In addition to the closing Sunday, which is traditionally reserved for newcomers and will be performed by Ayé, INUI, and the Jakob Bänsch Quintet in 2026, the Shuteen Erdenebaatar Trio will take over the nightly jazz cellar concerts. And, of course, the Burghausen Old Town will once again be transformed into an atmospheric musical promenade on Saturday after the main concerts with the Jazznight during the 55th International Jazz Week.

The complete program can be found here;
https://www.b-jazz.com/jazzwoche-burghausen-2026/

Advance ticket sales begin on November 26, 2025, and if you want to stay up to date on everything related to Jazz Week, the newsletter offers all the information and news first hand. You can register directly here.
https://www.b-jazz.com/newsletter/

MILES at Southwark Playhouse, Borough, London.

Dates: Wednesday, February 04, 2026 - Saturday, March 07, 2026

More details

We have received the following;

Following an acclaimed sell-out run at Summerhall Arts this year at Edinburgh Fringe, MILES. transfers to Southwark Playhouse Borough from 4 February – 7 March 2026.

Written and directed by Oliver Kaderbhai, MILES. is a fusion of live jazz and theatre exploring the life, legend and legacy of Miles Davis. Performed by Jay Phelps—the acclaimed trumpeter and DJ known for his work with Wynton Marsalis, Shabaka Hutchings, Amy Winehouse and Wizkid—and Benjamin Akintuyosi, the production delves into the creative chaos behind Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time. The dynamic two-hander moves through time and influence to examine Davis’s artistic evolution and impact, inspired by Davis’ autobiography, extensive research, and archival recordings.

PRESS RELEASE

:DELIRIUM: and Lauren Reed Productions presents:
MILES.
A fusion of live jazz and theatre explores the life, legend, and legacy of Miles Davis  
Written and directed by Oliver Kaderbhai 

Southwark Playhouse Borough, 4 February – 7 March 2026
PRESS NIGHT: Monday 9th February, 7.30pm

“This hypnotic play…works superbly”
★★★★
The Times
(on MILES. at Summerhall Arts 2025)

http://www.milesdavisplay.com

http://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/miles/

Delving into the creative chaos behind Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time, MILES. is a dynamic two-hander blending live jazz and multi-rolling performance to explore the life and legacy of Miles Davis. Led by acclaimed trumpeter Jay Phelps (Wynton Marsalis, Shabaka Hutchings, Amy Winehouse, Wizkid) with Benjamin Akintuyosi, the duo embodies a shifting cast of characters—including Davis himself—as the production moves fluidly through time, memory, and influence. Inspired by Davis’ autobiography, extensive research, and archival recordings, MILES. captures the sound, pressure, and innovation of an artist who redefined modern music. The result is a hypnotic, smoke-laced fever dream: an exploration of addiction, reinvention, and the explosive cost of genius. The London transfer follows an acclaimed sell-out run at Summerhall Arts at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.

Writer and director Oliver Kaderbhai said,
“Bringing Miles’ story to Southwark Playhouse Borough 100 years after his birth feels like the perfect place to explore the legacy of a complex man whose music transcends time, place and race whilst being rooted in all of those things. The Playhouse sits neatly between the beating heart of London’s contemporary jazz scene in Peckham and the storied history of haunts like Ronnie Scotts in Soho and the 606 in Chelsea. Miles’s album, ‘Kind of Blue’ resonates with a contemporary audience as much, if not more than it did when it was released in 1959. He created something extraordinary in a time of deep civil division and personal turmoil, and, somehow, that felt hopeful to me.”

Oliver Kaderbhai is a writer, director, producer, and the founder of theatre company :DELIRIUM:. Directing credits include
MILES. (Edinburgh Fringe 2025), Clybourne Park (Park Theatre), Striking 12 (Union Theatre), Songs of Abdulkarim (59 Productions, Kuwait), One Minute (The Vaults),
Peter Pan (co-directed, Chichester Festival Theatre), and Go To Your God Like A Soldier (Old Vic Tunnels). He has also worked as Associate, Resident or Assistant Director on major productions including Hamilton (UK tour), Jesus Christ Superstar and Running Wild (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Jay Phelps
is a London based trumpeter and DJ who has performed with some of the world’s top artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Shabaka Hutchings, Amy Winehouse and Wizkid. With an instantly recognisable warm and projecting trumpet tone, Phelps is a household name on the international Jazz scene with worldwide streams exceeding 500k. Canadian born Phelps has had a career spanning over 20 years and his charismatic energy has lead him to radio presenting for Jazz FM and Worldwide FM, as well as creating the Youtube documentary series Ear to the Ground. Jay has also created SoulEndvr, his own music casting agency for TV, Film and advertising (featured on Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and BBC). This summer Phelps released The Now, his seventh album as a leader with Apple Music subsidiary label Platoon. Jay made his acting debut at Edinburgh Fringe this year with the world premiere of MILES. at Summerhall Arts.

Southwark Playhouse is a registered charity that delivers a year-round programme of entertaining and enriching work. Southwark Playhouse operates two separate venues ‘Southwark Playhouse Borough’ and its newest theatre ‘Southwark Playhouse Elephant’ which opened in January 2023. Southwark Playhouse has always prided itself in telling stories and inspiring the next generation of storytellers and theatre makers, where support for the community has been rooted at the core of the organisation.

Running Time: 90 mins | Suitable for ages 14+

Company information 

Director and writer
Oliver Kaderbhai

Original concept
Jay Phelps 

Set and costume designer
Ellie Wintour

Lighting designer
Alex Lewer

Sound designer
Will Tonna

Projection designer Colin J Smith
 

Cast 

Miles, Elwood Buchanan -Benjamin Akintuyosi  

Jay, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Miles’s Father - Jay Phelps 

Listings information
4 February – 7 March 2026
Southwark Playhouse Borough, The Little
77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Tues & Sat 3pm | £28 Standard | £22.50 Concession
  4 - 7 February | £16 Previews

http://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/miles
| 020 7407 0234

How To Get To Borough Venue: The nearest stations are Elephant & Castle and Borough

Sparks & Visions Jazz Festival at Theater Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Dates: Friday, January 23, 2026 - Sunday, January 25, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

More details

We have received the following press release;

International Jazz Festival Sparks & Visions (23–25 January 2026) – a young festival with impact

The International Jazz Festival Sparks & Visions has quickly become a fixture in the European festival landscape. Founded three years ago by Anastasia Wolkenstein, the festival in Regensburg combines a programme of exceptional artistic quality with a unique atmosphere in the classical three-tier theatre of the UNESCO World Heritage city.

What began as a bold experiment has evolved into a platform that attracts renowned artists as well as exciting new voices in jazz. Sparks & Visions stands for discoveries beyond the mainstream and a curatorial signature that inspires and surprises. The programme spans from poetic chamber music and folkloric colours to energetic avant-garde sounds, broadening the perspective on the diversity of music we call jazz.

The very first edition was nominated for the German Jazz Prize in the category Festival of the Year—an early sign of the festival’s radiance. Since the premiere, Bayerischer Rundfunk has accompanied the festival and will also record all concerts in 2026 for later broadcast on BR-Klassik.

A key element of Sparks & Visions is its venue: the historic Theater Regensburg, with its horseshoe architecture and excellent acoustics, creates an intimacy between performers and audience that turns each concert into an intense experience.

The stage design by artist Karl Iaro, with its suspended glass mobiles, has become the visual signature of the festival. It highlights the aesthetic dimension of Sparks & Visions and reinforces the core idea of presenting jazz in a coherent, inspiring setting—as an open, vibrant and accessible art form.

In this spirit, the festival creates a space that invites both dedicated jazz listeners and curious first-timers to engage with sound and encounter.

From 23 to 25 January 2026, curator Anastasia Wolkenstein—once again in collaboration with Theater Regensburg—presents eight concerts featuring outstanding musicians from twelve countries. Carefully considered dramaturgy and balance shape a weekend that offers stylistic and instrumental breadth within a cohesive whole. This year, the festival also looks across the Atlantic for the first time—with a performance by three-time GRAMMY-nominated American harpist Brandee Younger and her trio.

Thus, Sparks & Visions confirms its place in Regensburg’s cultural calendar and beyond—inviting shared discoveries and letting musical visions shine.

Friday, 23 January 2026

Leïla Martial & Valentin Ceccaldi (FR)
With their duo Fil, vocalist Leïla Martial and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi open the festival with a radically poetic journey between improvisation, chanson and contemporary expression. Their programme Le Jardin des Délices fuses fragile quietness and expressive energy into an intense dialogue between voice and instrument—dissolving boundaries and turning attentive listening into an adventure.

Nitai Hershkovits (IL)
Israeli pianist Nitai Hershkovits, known for his work with Avishai Cohen and Oded Tzur, presents his ECM solo programme Call On The Old Wise—a quiet masterpiece between jazz and classical lyricism. With refined harmony and touching calm, he turns the piano into a resonant space for intuition and depth—music that sets silence in motion.

Marius Neset Quintet (NO/SE/UK/IR)
Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset stands for breathtaking energy, technical brilliance and compositional scope. With his European all-star quintet he brings Cabaret to the stage—a theatrical sound spectacle balancing precision and wildness, uniting virtuosity and emotion.

Saturday, 24 January 2026

Zsófia Boros & Björn Meyer (HU/SE)
A night of quiet tones: guitarist Zsófia Boros and bassist Björn Meyer—both on ECM—meet in a finely woven dialogue of folk, minimal music and jazz. Two solo sets and a shared improvisation merge into a meditative conversation on resonance, proximity and the art of listening.

Makiko Hirabayashi “Weavers” (JP/DK)
With her ensemble Weavers, Japanese-Danish pianist Makiko Hirabayashi interlaces baroque motifs by George Frideric Handel with contemporary jazz. The result is a transparent fabric of sound and emotion—poetic, structured and deeply moving, a quiet glow between past and present.

Reuben James (UK)
Singer, pianist and songwriter Reuben James brings funk, jazz and soul to the stage with disarming joie de vivre. A former musical partner of Sam Smith and a leading figure of the new UK soul generation, he stands for groove, charisma and musical intelligence—an energised finale to the festival’s Saturday.

Sunday, 25 January 2026

Velvet Revolution & Jelena Kuljić (DE/UK/RS)
For the festival matinee, Daniel Erdmann’s Velvet Revolution and Jelena Kuljić join forces for an intimate project between jazz, chamber music and song. Their re-readings of The Velvet Underground unfold a quiet intensity where melancholy, beauty and poetic rebellion meet.

Brandee Younger Trio (US)
With Brandee Younger, a three-time GRAMMY-nominated harpist and composer, a US artist appears on the Sparks & Visions stage for the first time. She brings the harp into a modern, groove-driven context between jazz, soul and spirit—powerful, elegant and luminous.

The International Jazz Festival Sparks & Visions is presented by a non-profit limited company (gUG) with Anastasia Wolkenstein as managing director and festival curator, supported by the City of Regensburg and several sponsors. Wolkenstein has worked in the music industry for 17 years as an agent for acclaimed, award-winning artists in contemporary jazz, has served twice on the main jury of the German Jazz Prize, and was artistic director of the international festival Jazz&TheCity in Salzburg in 2023 and 2024.

Tickets
Day tickets and festival passes in five categories are available from Monday, 10 November 2025 from Theater Regensburg (box office and online).
Programme information: http://www.sparks-and-visions.com

Abel Selaocoe’s Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend at Barbican Centre / Milton Court Concert Hall, London.

Dates: Thursday, April 23, 2026 - Sunday, April 26, 2026

More details

We have received the following press release;

Barbican announces Abel Selaocoe’s Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend: a celebration of South African music, ancestry and connection.

South African cellist, vocalist and composer Abel Selaocoe returns to his roots for a specially curated Barbican weekend in April 2026. The Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend brings together artists from his homeland of South Africa in a powerful act of remembrance and celebration of shared history through music and will be a highlight of the Barbican’s Spring 2026 season.

Running from Thursday 23 April to Sunday 26 April 2026, and joined by Mbuso Khosa, Nduduzo Makhathini, Gontse Makhene, BCUC, Toya Delazy, Mthuthuzeli November and DJ SNO, Selaocoe traces the journeys of the Bantu people – exploring collective histories of community, resilience and resistance. Through music, movement and storytelling, the weekend reflects on the sonic legacies of the Anglo-Zulu War at Isandlwana, songs of rain, love and rebellion from the apartheid era, and the ancestral rhythms that continue to offer healing and hope today.

Showcasing the depth and diversity of South Africa’s musical landscape, the weekend-long event spans traditional Zulu music, Afro-psychedelic future pop, Afrorave, amapiano and contemporary jazz. Across the weekend, audiences are invited to experience exclusive performances, new collaborations and premieres that honour both heritage and innovation in South African music. In addition, rhythm workshops linked to the music that audiences will hear throughout the weekend will be announced at a later date.

Music is the ceremony of remembering.
To be a musician is to make peace with your own shapeshifting,
to fraternize with your fluidity, and in so doing, trace echoes of the self back through time.
Improvisation is not merely play, it is pilgrimage. A surrender.
A sacred getting-lost so that something ancient might be found.
– Anonymous

Mohopolo/ Ancestral Memory Weekend events:

Tracing the Echoes (Thu 23 Apr, Milton Court, 7.30pm)
BCUC / Toya Delazy / DJ SNO (Sat 25 Apr, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
Simunye (We Are One) ClubStage with DJ SNO (Sat 25 Apr, Level G, 9.45pm)
Sithunyiwe / We Have Been Sent (Sun 26 Apr, Barbican Hall, 7pm)

More details about each of the events in the Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory weekend can be found below:

Tracing the Echoes 
Abel Selaocoe & Friends 
Thursday 23 April 2026, 7.30pm
Milton Court Concert Hall
Tickets from £25 plus booking fee
In the opening concert of his Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend, South African cellist, composer and vocalist Abel Selaocoe brings together a remarkable group of collaborators for an intimate evening exploring ancestral connection through music.
Tracing the Echoes unites Selaocoe with legendary Zulu musician Mbuso Khosa, celebrated pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, and percussionist Gontse Makhene to share songs and stories drawn from their respective tribal traditions. Together, they trace musical lineages that move between the sacred and the spontaneous, where improvisation, ritual and memory intertwine.
Part of Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend, curated by Abel Selaocoe
Produced by the Barbican

BCUC / Toya Delazy / DJ SNO
Saturday 25 April 2026, 7.30pm
Barbican Hall
Tickets from £20 plus booking fee
South African artists BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) and Toya Delazy join forces for a powerful collaboration as part of Abel Selaocoe’s Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend. Blending heavy electronic and traditional beats, their performance channels ancestral energy through a fusion of punk-rock, psychedelia, hip-hop and African rhythms.
In this special event, they create a sound that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in history – a reflection on the lives, struggles and spiritual resilience of communities whose stories are often unheard. Drawing inspiration from the spirit world of their ancestors, the performance celebrates Africa not as a continent defined by scarcity, but one rich in tradition, ritual and belief.
Part of Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory weekend, curated by Abel Selaocoe 
Produced by the Barbican

Simunye (We are one)
Saturday 25 April 2026, 9.45pm
Barbican ClubStage, Level -1
Free
“Jiva kuze kuse / Dance till the sun comes up!”
Following the concert, audiences are invited to continue the celebration with Simunye (We Are One) – a late-night ClubStage led by South African DJ SNO. Expect an exhilarating journey through South African jams across time and space, driven by SNO’s unshakable spirit of joy and movement. Nothing stands still on her dance floor.
Hailing from the township of Bophelong, SNO (Selina Nongaliphe Oliphant) sees music as a beacon of strength and hope for the marginalised — a vision rooted in her formative years growing up under apartheid. A genuine innovator in musical curation, she brings together the rhythms of jazz, funk, and Amapiano to create a space of togetherness, energy and freedom.
Part of Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory weekend, curated by Abel Selaocoe 
Produced by the Barbican

Sithunyiwe / We Have Been Sent
Abel Selaocoe & Friends 
Sunday 26 April 2026, 7pm
Barbican Hall
Tickets from £25 plus booking fee
A brand-new multidisciplinary performance commissioned by the Barbican closes Abel Selaocoe’s Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend, bringing together music, dance and storytelling in an expression of ancestral connection and collective spirit.
Sithunyiwe – “we have been sent” – means we have been sent by our ancestors to invigorate the spirit of those that are around us. Selaocoe describes this new project as following ‘a child-like surrender to the instincts of our bodies and how we hear’. Created by acclaimed choreographer and dancer Mthuthuzeli November (Ballet Black, Royal Ballet, Stormzy, The Chemical Brothers), this new dance work channels the deep spirituality of South African traditions through the body.
Music is created and performed by Mbuso Khosa, Abel Selaocoe and Nduduzo Makhathini, joined by the Bantu Ensemble, led by Rakhi Singh, and joined by Gontse Makhene, Sidiki Dembélé and friends.
Together they craft a spontaneous, immersive performance that seeks to heal, educate and unite – a celebration of togetherness and renewal.
Part of Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory weekend, curated by Abel Selaocoe
Commissioned and produced by the Barbican

About the Barbican
The Barbican is a catalyst for creativity, sparking possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities. We showcase the most exciting art from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries to entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.
We are an international arts and events centre rooted firmly in our own neighbourhood, collaborating with local communities and putting the City of London on the map as a destination for everybody. Central to our purpose is supporting emerging talent and shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives.
As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations, including our principal funder the City of London Corporation. Every ticket purchased, donation made, and pound earned supports our arts and learning programme and enables the widest possible range of people to experience the joy of the arts.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican is a unique and audacious building, recognised globally as an architectural icon. As well as our theatres, galleries, concert halls and cinemas, we have a large conservatory with over 1,500 species of plants and trees, a library, conference facilities, public and community spaces, restaurants, bars, and a picturesque lakeside oasis.
We’re proud to be the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, our Resident Orchestra, and a London base for the Royal Shakespeare Company. We regularly co-commission, produce and showcase the work of our Artistic Associates the Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boy Blue, Darbar Arts, Culture and Heritage Trust, and Serious, who produce the EFG London Jazz Festival, alongside other associates and partners including Doc’n Roll Film Festival, London Palestine Film Festival, and Trafalgar Theatre Productions.
For more information, visit our website or connect with us on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | LinkedIn

The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, Greater London, EC2Y 8DS

https://www.barbican.org.uk/

Yetii at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.

Date: Friday, May 01, 2026

Featuring: Yetii

More details

From;
https://www.kidderminsterjazzclub.co.uk/2025-2026-season-shows;

Kidderminster Jazz Club
Fri, May 1, 2026 @ 7:00PM
£15.00

We welcome “Yetii” to Kidderminster Jazz Club for this very special one-off gig as part of their UK “Inner Worlds” Album Tour. Yetii released their debut album “Live at The Greenbank” to widespread critical acclaim and have since played at jazz clubs, festivals and arts centres across the UK as well as supporting “The Bad Plus” on their recent UK Tour.

The trio play original compositions combining flowing melodies with expansive group improvisations, interlocking grooves and evolving soundscapes. The band have built their following with a sold-out monthly residency in Bristol including collaborations with Iain Ballamy, Ant Law, and Arun Ghosh, and look forward to their biggest tour to date in support of this release! For fans of EST, The Bad Plus, and Fergus McCreadie.

“a performance that both enthralled and delighted the audience ★★★★★” The Jazz Mann

The Band
Alex Veitch - piano
Ashley John Long - double bass
Alex Goodyear - drums

St Ambrose’s Parish Centre
Leswell St,
Kidderminster DY10 1RP

Bring Your Own Bottle/Drinks

Zoe Gilby Trio at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.

Date: Friday, March 06, 2026

Featuring: Zoe Gilby

More details

From;
https://www.kidderminsterjazzclub.co.uk/2025-2026-season-shows

Kidderminster Jazz Club
Fri, Mar 6, 2026 @ 7:00PM
£15.00

Zoë Gilby is a vocalist and songwriter, making a stunning impression on the music scene today. Her compelling original compositions are written with double bassist husband Andy Champion. A powerful collection of songs with a strong narrative. Supported by guitarist Mark Williams they deliver a commanding mix of musical sophistication and dramatic edge. An engaging repertoire of story telling and atmosphere, her stockpile of music also includes an adventurous blend of contemporary composers from Kate Bush to Pink Floyd and the sensitive treatment of jazz standards, completes this particular “story-book” Touring the UK and internationally, she continues to perform at prominent jazz festivals and venues.

“A mix of intelligent original songs and innovative arrangements of tunes by both jazz and pop composers. It’s the quality of the original songs that make this jazz vocal album stand out from the pack.” - Ian Mann, The Jazzmann

Band
Vocals – Zoe Gilby
Guitar – Mark Williams
Double Bass – Andy Champion

St Ambrose’s Parish Centre
Leswell St,
Kidderminster DY10 1RP

Bring Your Own Bottle/Drinks

The Inscape Jazz Quartet at Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, Worcs.

Date: Friday, February 06, 2026

More details

From;
https://www.kidderminsterjazzclub.co.uk/2025-2026-season-shows

Kidderminster Jazz Club
Fri, Feb 6, 2026 @ 7:00PM
£15.00
“The Inscape Jazz Quartet”

Performance description:

“The Inscape Jazz Quartet is a newly formed jazz combo that presents a captivating set of original music inspired by the poetry of Gerard Manly Hopkins and his concept of “Inscape” (the unique essence of things). Lyrical, thoughtful and poetic is the order of the day, they also include well loved standards to lend some familiar sounds for the listener. This Quartet brings together some of the UKs most exciting talent to create an ensemble that offers both soulful and fresh sounds.”

Band Members
Nathan Hayward - Piano
Nick Wilshire - Saxophone
Marcus Penrose - Double Bass
Simon Whiting - Drums

St Ambrose’s Parish Centre
Leswell St,
Kidderminster DY10 1RP

Bring Your Own Bottle/Drinks

Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2026 at The Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.

Dates: Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Sunday, March 01, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

More details

From;
https://capstone.hope.ac.uk/jazzfestival/

Liverpool International Jazz Festival (LIJF) was established in 2013 by Liverpool Hope University, and in previous years has included performances from some of Jazz music’s leading lights.

The emphasis of the Festival is on contemporary instrumental jazz in a variety of styles with a focus on presenting work from an international selection of world class artists, taking audience members on a musical journey that traverses numerous genres and cross-genres.

The next incarnation of the Festival will take place from Friday 26th Feb 2026 to Sun 1st March 2026 inclusive. The Festival will comprise concerts from a stellar line up of artists including Tim Garland and Geoffrey Keezer, David Helbock and Julia Hofer, Zoe Rahman and Arun Ghosh, Robert Mitchell’s Little Black Book, Martin Taylor and Marius Neset Quartet. Tickets for individual events along with Festival All Performances Bundle tickets to cover the six main festival concerts , will go on sale on Friday 17th October 2025 at 10am.

Festival All Performances Bundle Tickets, priced £60 +bf until 31st Dec 2025 and £72 + bf from 1st Jan 2026, cover all the main six Festival concerts and can be purchased via TicketQuarter
https://ticketquarter.co.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=lijf-2026&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

Event Name Event Date and Time Venue

LIJF 2026: Tim Garland and Geoffrey Keezer Thurs 26th Feb 2026, 7.30pm The Capstone Theatre

LIJF 2026: David Helbock & Julia Hofer Fri 27th Feb 2026, 7.30pm The Capstone Theatre

LIJF 2026 and Milap Presents Zoe Rahman and Arun Ghosh Sat 28th Feb 2026, 1pm The Capstone Theatre

LIJF 2026: Robert Mitchell’s Little Black Book Sat 28th Feb 2026, 7.30pm The Capstone Theatre

LIJF 2026: Martin Taylor Sun 1st March 2026, 1pm The Capstone Theatre

LIJF 2026; Marius Neset Quartet Sun 1st March 2026, 7.30pm The Capstone Theatre

The Capstone Theatre
Liverpool Hope University
Creative Campus
17 Shaw Street
Liverpool
L6 1HP

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Brick Lane Jazz Festival, various venues, London.

Dates: Friday, April 24, 2026 - Sunday, April 26, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

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27/09/2025.
We have received the following press release;

Brick Lane Jazz Festival announces the first wave of artists for their fifth birthday edition, including first headliner Brian Jackson

24th – 26th April 2026 | Early bird tickets start from just £29.95

Alexander Flood, Alici , Amanda Whiting, Arjuna Oakes, Brian Jackson, Charlie Stacey, Daoud, Footshooter (live), Gabriele Poso (Live), IAMNOBODI, Knats, Kwame Yeboah, Leif Kaner-Lidström, Levitation Orchestra, Meron T, Ruby Rushton, Saiming, SHOLTO & Finn Rees, TABLE, Tia Gordon, Wilfy D

Today, Brick Lane Jazz Festival announces the first wave of artists for their fifth birthday edition, which will take place from 24th – 25th April 2026.

Growing from its modest debut across four venues in 2022 to a 12-stage extravaganza spanning Brick Lane and Shoreditch in just three years, the festival was named #1 Best London Festival by The London Standard in 2024, and has earned plaudits from the likes of The Guardian, Metro, NOTION, Clash, The Line Of Best Fit, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, UK Jazz News, Elle, Wonderland, TimeOut, Jazz FM, Rinse FM, One Jazz, Worldwide FM, and many more. Since 2024, the festival has also amplified its impact with the launch of BLJF Presents - a year-round series of events showcasing the UK’s most exciting artists, record labels, and parties. After sell-out shows in Manchester, Brighton, London and more, BLJF Presents is heading to new heights in 2025/26 with more regional stops in the likes of Bristol and Glasgow, as well as two international shows in Brussels in November.

Having firmly established itself as a cornerstone of East London’s musical landscape, Brick Lane Jazz Festival has earned a reputation for spotlighting local artists and emerging trailblazers from the city’s thriving underground scenes, whilst honouring the jazz legends that have come before them. 2026’s edition sees them continue to hold down this tradition, bringing together an eclectic range of genre-defying artists to play against the backdrop of some of the capital’s most renowned cultural hotspots. All the festival venues are within a short walk from the central hub at the iconic Truman Brewery space on Brick Lane, transforming the site and surrounding area into a vibrant hive of gig-hopping excitement for three days every April.

Reflecting on this fifth birthday edition, the festival’s Founder, Juliet Kennedy says, “From day one, Brick Lane Jazz Festival has been about shining a light on the incredible talent in London’s jazz scene. Five years on, Brick Lane Jazz Festival has grown into a landmark celebration of the UK’s underground music community. It’s been incredible to see the festival become a space where artists and audiences connect so powerfully – and this is only the beginning. Our ambition is to keep pushing boundaries and championing the next wave of talent for many years to come. We’re only just getting started!”

The first wave of 2026’s stellar line-up sees them bringing together a borderless array of artists that span jazz, alt-rap, neo-soul, R&B, neo-classical, electronic music, and more. It also sees the announcement of the festivals first headliner, jazz-funk legend and Gil Scott-Heron collaborator, Brian Jackson. It also brings together the likes of Australian beat-master Alexander Flood, recent Geordie Greep (ex-black midi) and Eddie Chacon touring band Knats, spiritual jazz collective Levitation Orchestra, Tenderlonious-led South London jazz outfit Ruby Rushton, Ghanian multi-instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah, and many more.

The full line-up so far is as follows:
Brian Jackson
Alexander Flood, Alici , Amanda Whiting, Arjuna Oakes, Charlie Stacey, Daoud, Footshooter (live), Gabriele Poso (Live), IAMNOBODI, Knats, Kwame Yeboah, Leif Kaner-Lidström, Levitation Orchestra, Meron T, Ruby Rushton, Saiming, SHOLTO & Finn Rees, TABLE, Tia Gordon, Wilfy D

2026 will mark the first year that the Greentea-Peng-approved venue Mad Cats will feature as one of the festival’s stages alongside Village Underground, Ninety One Living Room (hosted by Jazz re:freshed), Rough Trade East, 93 Feet East, Rich Mix, Juju’s Bar & Stage, The Brick Lane Tap Room (hosted by Tomorrow’s Warriors), and many more.

2026 will once again see the festival partner with Jazz re:freshed and Tomorrow’s Warriors, both vital community organizations that nurture emerging talent in UK jazz. As always, those without tickets can also enjoy free-entry spaces throughout the site, including The Brick Lane Tap Room, The Big Chill, 93 Feet East, and Cafe 1001.

Early bird tickets for the festival are now on sale with day passes starting from just £29.95, and weekend passes from £89.95. Tickets and more info are available HERE
https://bookings.kaboodle.com/tickets?t=kaboodle-9y4i4&c=202&p=24960&k=878a15279e5367e1334b6a2dbf51879bedb52c5d

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Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy, album launch at 229, London.

Date: Sunday, March 08, 2026

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We have received the following information regarding this event;

“Sarah Jane Morris has a magnificent, enormous voice.”
THE SUNDAY TIMES

International Women’s Day 2026 sees the launch of the new album from Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy ‘The Sisterhood Volume 2’.

A representation of Sarah Jane’s roots, inspirations, and indefatigable love of contemporary music-making and its iconic pioneers ‘The Sisterhood, Volume 2’ celebrates twelve female stars who dominated the singing and songwriting of the 20th century - Amy Winehouse, Big Mama Thornton, Bonnie Raitt, Debbie Harry, Etta James, Janis lan, Joan Armatrading, Patti Smith, Peggy Seeger, Sinead O’Connor and Tracy Chapman.

Sarah Jane Morris - Lead Vocals
Tony Remy - Guitar
Marcus Bonfanti - Guitar/Vocals
Henry Thomas - Bass/Vocals
Anders Olinder - Keys/Vocals
Martyn Baker - Drums

Tickets here;
https://www.seetickets.com/event/sarah-jane-morris/229/3442347

229, London W1W 5PN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6OkR6hN1HY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7DRSzRAj2U

Booker T. Jones at Koko, Camden, London.

Dates: Friday, April 17, 2026 - Saturday, April 18, 2026

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We have received the following press release regarding these events;

As leader of the legendary Booker T. & The MG’s, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY lifetime achievement award recipient Booker T. Jones is arguably the most famous Hammond B3 player in History.

Working alongside Otis Redding, Albert King and more at Stax Records, Booker T. Jones has also worked with Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Bill Withers and countless others.

Do not miss this chance to catch one of the finest musicians of all time as part of the Ace Records 50th Anniversary Concerts Series.

Tickets here;
https://agmp.seetickets.com/tour/booker-t-jones

Kodo at Royal Festival Hall, London.

Dates: Friday, March 06, 2026 - Saturday, March 07, 2026

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Serious have forwarded the following information;

Fri 6 & Sat 7 March, Royal Festival Hall
KODO

Don’t miss your chance to explore the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, and experience the soul-stirring rhythm of life first hand with KODO as they debut a brand new show across two night’s at the Royal Festival Hall.

Tickets and further information here;
https://serious.org.uk/events/kodo

Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall,
Belvedere Road
SE1 8XX
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Mabel Matiz at Royal Festival Hall, London.

Date: Friday, February 13, 2026

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Serious have provided the following information regarding this event;

Friday 13 February, Royal Festival Hall
Mabel Matiz

Turkish musician, singer-songwriter and producer Mabel Matiz offers an impressive blended sound of maqam music, Anatolian folk melodies with synth, and urban pop. Don’t miss his exciting headline show at the Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall for 2026.

Tickets and further information here;
https://serious.org.uk/events/mabel-matiz

Fri 13 February 2026
Stage time / 7:30pm
Doors / 7:00pm

Location
Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall,
Belvedere Road
SE1 8XX
Visit Website
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Tickets

£30 - £60 + booking fee

Yasmine Hamdan at , EartH (Theatre), Hackney, London.

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

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Serious have provided the following information regarding this event;

Thursday 12 February, EartH (Theatre)
Yasmine Hamdan

One of the most groundbreaking musicians in the Middle East, Lebanese singer-songwriter Yasmine Hamdan returns to London for 2026 with a headline show at EartH and her new album I remember I forget, set to be released on 19 September.

Tickets and further information here;
https://serious.org.uk/events/yasmine-hamdan

Thu 12 February 2026
Stage time / 8:00pm
Doors / 7:30pm

Location
EartH (Theatre),
11-17 Stoke Newington Road
N16 8BH
Visit Website
https://earthackney.co.uk/

Tickets
£25 + booking fee

Aynur at The Barbican Centre, London.

Date: Thursday, April 02, 2026

Venue

Barbican Centre

Silk Street,
London.
EC2Y 8DS

More details

Serious have forwarded the following information regarding this event;

Thursday 2 April 2026, Barbican
Aynur

One of the most prominent Kurdish singers of our times, Aynur, is back to perform at London’s Barbican for 2026!

Since her last performance at the EFG London Jazz Festival in 2023, Aynur released her acclaimed album Rabe (meaning ‘stand-up’ or ‘rise-up’ in Kurdish), which secured the number one position on the Transglobal World Music Chart last year, and is described by Songlines Magazine as “one of her strongest albums”.

Over the past 25 years, she has created a timeless musical language, combining the treasures of Kurdish traditions with modern arrangements that connect generations and cultures. Don’t miss your chance to see this multi award winning cultural icon in the UK in 2026.

Tickets and further information here;
https://serious.org.uk/events/aynur-3

The Bad Plus with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn at The Barbican Centre, London.

Date: Monday, March 30, 2026

Venue

Barbican Centre

Silk Street,
London.
EC2Y 8DS

More details

Serious have forwarded the following information regarding this event;

Monday 30 March, Barbican
The Bad Plus Chris Potter and Craig Taborn

Witness The Bad Plus with Reid Anderson, Dave King, Chris Potter, plus Craig Taborn live at the Barbican as they celebrate the enduring legacy of Keith Jarrett, one of the most visionary improvisers in jazz history.

Tickets plus further information at;
https://serious.org.uk/events/the-bad-plus-chris-potter-craig-taborn

Nearly Dan at The Jazz Cafe, Camden Town, London.

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026

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We have received the following information regarding this event;

Nearly Dan are the Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan.

Less tribute and more homage, Nearly Dan are saviour to the growing legions of Dan fans, desperate to hear the meticulously crafted grooves and allusive lyrical style of Donald Fagen & Walter Becker. Nearly Dan’s approach is faithful, though not reverential, and relaxed but as tight as their namesakes.

It’s been over 40 years since the release of the first Steely Dan album Can’t buy a Thrill, featuring the hits Do It Again and Reelin’ In The Years.

The 9-piece Nearly Dan promise all the Steely Dan favourites in a two hour plus show, featuring tracks from the groove of Countdown to Ecstasy to the super cool of celebrated albums The Royal Scam, Aja, Gaucho plus Donald Fagen’s solo masterpiece The Nightfly.

https://www.seetickets.com/tour/nearly-dan-perform-steely-dan

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival 2026, Moseley Park, Birmingham,

Dates: Friday, July 10, 2026 - Sunday, July 12, 2026

Featuring: Various Artists

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Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival
10th – 12th July 2026. Moseley Park, Birmingham.
https://mostlyjazz.co.uk/

Fugue and Groove Jazz Trio at Fentham Hall Jazz Club, Marsh Lane, Solihull.

Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

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We have received the following information regarding this event;

Tuesday 17th March
Evening
Fentham Hall Jazz Club, Marsh Lane, Solihull, B92 0AH

Jazz Gigs & Events