In a 1988 interview, jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson said, “Jazz is restless. It won’t stay put and it never will…”, but for over a week in July, a collection of some of the finest jazz musicians will be playing at the Festival Pavilion in Albert Square, amongst other Manchester-based venues.
Showcasing some of the best and most recent contemporary jazz artists, from both the UK and abroad, the Manchester jazz festival will be brimming with talent that simply cannot be missed. Jazz has developed and evolved since its origins in the early 20th Century, but talent is constantly emerging across all sub-genres and it’s festivals like this that enable them to be heard.
Image grabbed from Google.com
This year heralds the jazz festival’s seventeenth year and will run between the 13th and the 21st July. Eighty artists are expected to play, across six venues.
The festival will see a collaboration with Pete Moser’s ‘Sound Games’; a commissioned performance which promises an exciting visual evening inspired by the London 2012 Olympics.
If you’re visiting from outside of the city, there are plenty of options for accommodation. Why not stay at a hotel near Manchester Piccadilly station – it would mean there would be no need for a car, so you can partake in a beverage or two. It would also mean you’d be within easy reach of the venues – the Festival Pavilion and Albert Square are less than 15 minutes walk from the train station.
The best bit is that most of the events during the Manchester Jazz Festival are free – a great way to enjoy music and socialise without hurting your bank balance. The festival is to encourage appreciation for a powerful music genre and also increase publicity for the newcomers to the jazz scene and with the anticipated commissions added to the 2012 bill; it looks like it’s going to be a good one.
