TheBrecon Jazz Festival is amusic festival held annually inBrecon, Wales. Normally staged in early August, it has played host to a range ofjazz musicians from across the world.
Created in 1984 by local enthusiasts – musicians, promoters and fans – the early festival featured live jazz music on the streets and in the pubs and cafes of Brecon. It was a community event originally created by the town's residents, modelled onNew Orleans-style jazz events. Jed Williams as president of the Welsh Jazz Society, and founding editor of theCardiff-based magazineJazz UK had many international connections and was involved since 1984, working with local organisers including Liz Elston and Tony Constantinescu.[1][2][3]George Melly, who had a house close by, and was a friend of Tony Constantinescu, performed the following year after the success of the first festival.[4] Since 2016 the festival has been directed and presented by the Brecon Jazz stakeholders coordination group, founded by members of the local jazz club. Assets and historic rights to the festival are held by Brecon Jazz Festival Ltd and Friends of Brecon Jazz on behalf of the town of Brecon.
As well as the main festival, a Brecon Fringe is organised as alternative free music in pubs, hotels, galleries and cafes in the town.[5]
Jazz musicians who have performed at the Brecon Jazz Festival.[6]
1984Humphrey Lyttelton,George Melly,Bruce Turner,John Barnes
1985Jan Garbarek,Slim Gaillard,Stan Tracey,Ken Colyer
1986Al Grey,Buddy Tate,George Chisholm,Dudu Pukwana, Blanche Finlay
1987Joe Henderson,Helen Shapiro,Woody Shaw,Pasadena Roof Orchestra
1988Lee Konitz,Humphrey Lyttelton,Slim Gaillard,Louisiana Red
1989Sonny Rollins,Jimmy Giuffre,George Melly
1990Humphrey Lyttelton,Sun Ra,Scott Hamilton (musician)
1991Gerry Mulligan,Ruby Braff,Joe Pass
1992Michel Petrucciani,Johnny Griffin,Pat Metheny,Courtney Pine
1993Lionel Hampton,Stéphane Grappelli,Wynton Marsalis,Hank Jones,McCoy Tyner
1994Benny Carter,George Shearing,Slide Hampton,Ray Brown
1995Cleo Laine,Toots Thielemans,Kenny Barron,McCoy Tyner
1996Van Morrison,Joshua Redman,Phil Woods,Charles Brown
1997Milt Jackson,Hank Jones,Courtney Pine,Diana Krall
1998Branford Marsalis,Van Morrison,Michel Petrucciani,Ahmad Jamal
1999Ruby Braff,Stan Tracey
2000Wayne Krantz,Kenny Barron,Scott Hamilton
2001Van Morrison,Joshua Redman,Dianne Reeves
2002Courtney Pine,Scott Hamilton,McCoy Tyner
2003Humphrey Lyttelton,George Melly,Richard Galliano
2004Amy Winehouse,Humphrey Lyttelton,George Melly
2005Phil Woods,Peter King,Jon Faddis,Marty Grosz
2006Stan Tracey,Kirk Lightsey,Gwilym Simcock
2007Catrin Finch,Mulgrew Miller,Joe Lovano,Jools Holland
2008Joan Armatrading,Cerys Matthews,Courtney Pine
2009Anouar Brahem,Manu Dibango,Abdullah Ibrahim
2010Hugh Masekela,Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club,Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
2011Allen Toussaint,Femi Kuti,Monty Alexander,Courtney Pine
2012Dionne Warwick,Roy Ayres,Soweto Kinch, Brecon Jazz Club Events[7]
2013Jools Holland,Courtney Pine,Mavis Staples, Brecon Jazz Club Events[8]
2014Laura Mvula,Gregory Porter,Loose Tubes, Brecon Jazz Club Events[9]
2015Robert Glasper,Phronesis,GoGo Penguin, Brecon Jazz Club Events[10]
2016Tina May,Jacqui Dankworth,Dennis Rollins,Nerija,Asterope,Capital City Jazz Orchestra,Geoff Eales,Brownfield Byrne,Trish Clowes.[10][11][12]
2017Darius Brubeck,Nigel Price,Atsuko Shimada,Rod Paton,Gerard Cousins
2018Elaine Delmar,Maite Hontelé,Ian Shaw,Jim Hart,Adam Glasser,Byron Wallen
2019Barbara Dennerlein,Stochelo Rosenberg,Scott Hamilton,Liane Carole,Karen Sharpe
2020 virtualSteve Lehman,Toni Kofi,Deelee Dubé,Xhosa Cole,Bryan Corbett
2021 hybridRegina Carter,Huw Warren,Joanna Eden,Paula Gardiner,Art Themen
2022Joan Chamorro,Simon Spillett,Claire Teal,Charlotte Glasson,Monmouth Big Band
2023Emma Rawicz, The Louis and Ella Music Show, Faith I Branko, Lavon Hardison
In 2009, in honour of the 50th anniversary of the release of theMiles Davis albumKind of Blue (1959), the festival invited jazz fans to submit nomination for an award, in the form of aBlue plaque to be awarded annually,[13] the first to be bestowed in 2010, honouring the venues that had made the most significant contribution to jazz in the United Kingdom. Twelve nominees were selected:
The Concorde Club received the most votes in the initial voting, followed by The Band on the Wall and Ronnie Scott's, and will receive the initial (Kind of) Blue Plaque.[15]
Programmes of music over the festival weekend have included:
Free music open to everyone, performed on thebandstand or pop-up locations in the centre of Brecon and on streets closed off to traffic for the festival weekend.[16][17][18]
The Stroller Programme, requiring the purchase of a "stroller ticket", with acts from the mainlyBritish jazz scene performing in smaller indoor and larger outdoor venues.
The Concert Programme showcasing major acts with an international profile. Every concert requires an individual ticket.
Camping is popular at the festival, with two official campsites open to ticket holders and several independent campsites in the Brecon area. Hotels andbed and breakfasts are also available, but high demand usually means that early booking is required.
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