We kicked off our 2022 season with a 30 th anniversary gig from Arun Ghosh launching his new album Seclused in Light at the Social in March and followed up with the amazing Emma-Jean Thackray at the same address. Both gigs attracting sell-out crowds.
Between May and November we launched our weekly session Wild Side @ Home an evening of live improvisation, funk, jazz and groove with leading Northern artists which proved instantly popular. The summer festival took place at Hull Truck Theatre with an extremely diverse line-up including Alina Bzhezhinska’s Hip Harp Quintet featuring Tony Kofi, Matt Holborn’s new piece Here, Late Night Marauders and three world premieres from Camille Maalawy, Abi Vulliamy and James Rushworth. The US was represented by Don Vappie & Jazz Creole, the number one New Orleans jazz banjoist plus leading New York jazz guitarist BD Lenz.
We collaborated with Hull Freedom Chorus to bring Filament Theatre to the city with Earth Makes No Sound, an extraordinary large-scale collaborative choral work inspired by the elements and changes that happening to the planet.
In September we presented Arun Ghosh’s stunning new spiritual jazz setting of St Francis of Assisi’s sublime The Canticle of the Sun as part of Freedom Festival in the stunning surroundings of Hull Minster.
In complete contrast October saw the premiere of a concept performance inspired by Hull Fair from Late Night Marauders Candyfloss and Carousels at the Social bringing all the thrills and characters of the Fair to the stage.
The annual November Jazz Festival saw Zulu musicians Ubunye, ex Art Blakey Jazz Messenger Jean Toussaint and leading pianist Jamil Sheriff all visit the city with new work.
We also celebrated our jazz development work undertaken with Hull Music Hub with a Jazz Extravaganza with NYJO regional jazz academy and featuring Hull Youth Jazz Orchestra, Albemarle Jazz Camp, Hull Furthering Talent group and Albemarle String Ensemble.
We brought our 30th year to a close with Northern Line, an all-day jazz festival featuring the most exciting new Northern jazz artists including Marco Wolf, Yaatsi, Ni Maxine, Hannabiell and the Midnight Blue Collective, Sarah Heneghan and TC & the Groove Family.
It had been a great year!
