29th June – 3rd July 2011
Admission: Varies depending on event
Location: Various venues throughout the city
One of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival is back for another fully packed weekend in June/July, 2011.
Back once again for it’s 25th year, the Glasgow Jazz Festival is going to be bigger than ever in 2011, wth performers travelling from all over the world to join us in Glasgow, the UNESCO City of Music. Already a major part of Glasgow’s thriving entertainment scene, the Jazz Festival has seen significant growth each year – attracting jazz lovers from all over the world.
Glasgow has always prided itself in bringing some of the world’s top players to the City, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson and Ray Charles. For 24 years, the Jazz Festival has been headlining musicians from a wide range of musical styles, and this year will be showcasing more than ever before. Particular highlights of the 2011 Glasgow Jazz Festival include the Oscar winning composer Michel Legrand, the King of Ethio-jazz Mulatu Astatke, Ramsey Lewis performing his classic 1970s album “Sun Goddess”, and the gospel-infused southern boogie piano of Leon Russell.
To celebrate the festival’s 25 year anniversary, a number of musicians who have headlined in previous years will be returning to play in the festival, including Cleo Laine, Lee Konitz & Tomasz Stanko, Terence Blanchard & Courtney Pine. There will also be the opportunity to get “Up Close & Personal” this year, with some top music names in the intimate Recital Rooms venue, including the Ryan Quigley Trio with Justin Currie, Brass Jaw and the Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio.
In addition there are a number of top Scottish performers taking the stage at this years festival, many of whom have repeatedly delighted past festival audiences: Tommy Smith brings has latest project “Karma” and a new special commission for this year’s Festival. He also leads Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, recognized as one of Europe’s finest Big Bands, performing ‘Worlds of the Gods” with the Taiko Drummers. Ryan Quigley, in addition to his trio gig with Justin Currie also showcases the Ryan Quigley Big Band with a “Celebration of Motown” as well as appearing as part of the popular Brass Jaw.
Artists appearing at this years festival includes the Mulatu Astatke, the Phil Cardwell Group, Madaleine Pritchard, Carol Kidd & Todd Gordon, The Johnny 7, ZU, Gretchen Parlato, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, the Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Terence Blanchard Quintet and Matthew Halsall. And of course, the final of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician 2010 will also be held during the festival, on the 29th of June in the Old Fruitmarket.
For more information about any of these acts, visit the Glasgow Jazz Festival website. Tickets are available from separate venues, or from the Jazz Festival website.
