As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival NEW YORK BRASS BAND are North Yorkshire’s only contemporary New Orleans-inspired brass band. Hailing from the ancient streets of York, the band has been rocking weddings, burning up festivals and smashing sports events since 2011 and – following last year’s amazing appearance – we’re glad to have them back in Wigan again! NYBB is a powerful team of some of Yorkshire’s finest musicians packing an arsenal of percussion, sax, trumpets, trombones and sousaphone…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Jam Experiment are a young jazz quintet that are based in London. They won the 2014 Jazz North Introduces Scheme, shortly after their debut gig supporting Liane Carroll. They have played at leading jazz festivals across the UK, leaving audiences in awe. The lineup includes the winner of the inaugural BBC Young Musician Jazz Award, saxophonist Alexander Bone. Expect an energetic approach of original compositions and arrangements. The line-up of the band is…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival The partnership brings together saxophonist Branford Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner each with bold personalities, equally intense in both musical and verbal exchanges, with the voice of one of the world’s most gifted vocalists, a true jazz musician, Kurt Elling. The voice of Elling is an instrument unto itself, displaying an absolute mastery of Jazz style, from playful scat to poignant melancholy. He is showcased here not…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Ginger Tunes are a Merseyside based band lead by Mike Smith. The band was formed in 2009 for the Manchester jazz festival, and have been regularly recording and gigging ever since. Known for their catchy tunes and infectious humour, the group transcend many genres and appeal to all tastes in the jazz idiom. They have performed at most of the major festivals in the UK, and their popularity is reflected in over 15…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Nag Champa describe themselves as an unsigned 7 piece band based in Leeds, with members hailing from across the north of England and London. In late 2016 they released their self-titled debut EP which was well received both by fans and critics alike: “For a first release this is an accomplished set of songs and performances which highlights great potential for bigger things in the future.” – Bill Adamson. Their music spans a…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Dave Newton grew up in Renfrewshire with the piano trio sound of Peterson, Tatum or Garner as an ever-present feature in the Newton household. After graduating from Leeds College of Music in 1979, he rapidly became a much sought after pianist teaming up with Alan Barnes, guitarist Martin Taylor and saxophonist Don Weller. Currently, Newton is a member of the Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet; leads the trio backing Claire Martin and Ray Gelato’s…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival The future of jazz in Lancashire is in good shape in the hands of these two dynamic youth ensembles. As part of the jazz orchestras, young musicians experience a wide range of music, and their diverse programme takes you right from 1940s Big Band classics, through modern big band arrangers such as Bob Mintzer and Frank Mantooth, to reworkings of contemporary pop tunes. Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra was founded over 40 years ago…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival   Born and raised in Oakland, California, Ambrose Akinmusire was educated at Berkeley High School, Manhattan School of Music, University of Southern California, and went on to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles, where he studied with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard.   In 2007 Akinmusire won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, The same year he also won the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Têtes de Pois are a ‘genre-bending 8-piece instrumental piece band’ (Lubi Jovanovic) based in Leeds. Their music draws from jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul and afrobeat, taking shape most often as instrumental original tunes, along with the occasional vocal number and cover. Formed in 2016 at Leeds College of Music, Têtes have gigged extensively in the surrounding area and released their debut EP, The E Pea, on the 25th of February 2017. Personnel: Harry Fowler…

As Part of Wigan International Jazz Festival Odette spent four years travelling the world, paying her way by working as a singer on cruise ships. Using her free time on those long voyages to concentrate on her playing and writing, she returned from her travels with a collection of songs which form her debut album, “A Shake Of The Hand”. Odette’s travels have fundamentally influenced the sound of her music. These songs do not sit entirely in any particular genre,…