J-Night announce the 2012 Hull Jazz Festival headline programme.
Top international artists come to Hull to celebrate Festival’s 20th anniversary.
The 20th Hull Jazz Festival takes place between 20th and 29th July and welcomes an incredibly diverse range of artists from across the world to the city including legendary American star Bobby Watson, who will play the 20th anniversary festival concert in a double header with Abram Wilson’s Running the Flame septet that features Pete King and Jean Toussaint on the 29th July at Hull Truck Theatre.
Bobby Watson joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He stayed with the Jazz Messengers from 1977 to 1981, eventually becoming the musical director for the group. After completing his tenure as a Jazz Messenger, Watson became a much-sought after musician, working along the way with many notable musicians, including: drummers Max Roach and Louis Hayes fellow saxophonists George Coleman and Branford Marsalis, Sam Rivers and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. His Jazz All Stars will include American pianist Bruce Barth from the Mingus Big Band, Canadian Duncan Hopkins and Irish drummer Stephen Keogh.
Also headlining in Hull will be Jazz Jamaica, in a special Jamaican 50th performance of Tighten Up! featuring Jamaican Lovers Rock star Myrna Hague July 28 at Truck Theatre.
New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher’s Django a la Creole, fusing the gypsy jazz of Reinhardt with the syncopations of New Orleans and the Creole style of the Caribbean, will open the Festival on July 20 at Truck Theatre.
Nigerian faaji queen Funmi Olawumi will lead the 18 piece Yoruba Women Choir in a special festival concert that will feature local Hull community choirs on July 22 at Truck Theatre.
Other artists coming to the Festival include Irish BBC vocalist of the year Christine Tobin singing the songs of Leonard Cohen in A Thousand Kisses Deep featuring guitarist Phil Robson and Dave Whitford on July 21 at Truck and Lyn Acton’s Bossa Revista, celebrating the songs of Horace Jobim.
A major feature of this year’s 20th anniversary festival will be Freedom Chorus does Jazz! a two day event for 120 local singers, led by Jilly Jarman, culminating in a performance with the Yoruba Womens Choir on July 22.
The Festival will be centred on Hull Truck and Pave Café Bar and full details will be available from Easter at www.hulljazzfestival.co.uk and tickets will be available from the Festival box office at Hull Truck Theatre 01482 323628
Further press information from J-Night 01904 466527
Hull Jazz Festival 2012 day by day
Friday 20 July 7.45pm Django a la Creole Truck
Saturday 21 July 7.45pm Christine Tobin Truck
Sunday 22 July 2pm Michael Cretu Trio Pave
Sunday 22 July 7.4pm Yoruban Women’s Choir Truck
Monday 23 July 8pm Bossa Revista Truck
Tuesday 24 July 8pm Jazz Jam Pave
Wednesday 25 July 8.30pm Eclectic 4 Goodfellowship
Thursday 26 July 8pm Owl Ensemble Pave
Saturday 28 July Jazz 7.45pm Jamaica Truck
Sunday 29 July 2pm Abram Wilson’s Jazz Junior Warriors Truck
Sunday 29 July 2pm The Give A Little Love Jazz Orchestra Pave
Sunday 29 July 5pm Abram Wilson Running the Flame Truck
Sunday 29 July 8.30pm Bobby Watson International All Stars