Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2014 Details Announced | Festival News

The Capstone is delighted to announce that after the amazing success of the city’s very first International Jazz Festival earlier this year, preparations have already commenced for its return in 2014. Audiences were treated to four days of the finest artists on the national and international jazz scene, which saw big names such as Roller Trio, Led Bib, Robert Mitchell, Kit Downes Quintet, Denys Baptiste's Triumvirate and Courtney Pine all perform.

The festival is back and will storm the city from Thursday 27 February – Sunday 2 March 2014 with what promises to be even bigger and better than its 2013 debut. Some of the brightest stars in jazz have already signed up to perform, promising to bring their unique and innovative instrumental sounds to the regions jazz fans, with more performances still to be announced.

Thursday 27 February Celebrated British Jazz pianist and multi-award winner Jason Rebello opens the festival. Labelled a veteran by critics at the age of 19, Rebello has gone from strength to strength since the release of his debut album back in 1990, working with some of the most highly regarded artists in the industry, most famously Jeff Beck and Sting.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday 28 February, Anglo-American jazz ‘supergroup’ The Impossible Gentlemen will be bringing their unique and powerful talent, performing tracks from their acclaimed new album Internationally Recognised Aliens, which has already been “destined for year- end “best-of” lists” (attribute quote source). The band’s newest line-up features Steve Rodby, bass player for many years with Pat Metheny Group.

It is a double-whammy on Saturday 1 March. First travel across continents as the ever evolving music from Unfurl will take you on a journey combining Indian ragas, flamenco and Arabic music to bring you a creative and original sound ranging from the dramatic to the sublime. Then witness the exciting visionary soundscape of Blue Touch Paper; receiving ecstatic reviews for their debut album Stand Well Back in 2012, they will be performing tracks from their brand new album Drawing Breath.

Rounding off a high energy weekend, Liverpool International Jazz Festival culminates with two concerts on Sunday 2 March. Stuart McCallum Trio starts your Sunday session, collaborating with Real Strings to bring audiences a musical fusion, which elicits emotional engagement and vigour, and with the addition of live strings, the rich orchestral textures in the writing are highlighted, making the music simmer with tension, sharpening the dynamics and heightening the audience experience. The second installment of the day comes from one of the UK’s most exciting live bands, award winning Get The Blessing, which features members of legendary trip hop band Portishead. Fresh from a European and American Tour for their 2012 album OC:DC , they are back on home soil to bring you their unique signature sound that defies easy classification, yet never loses sight of thumping tunes, monstrously infectious beats, or joyous collective spontaneity.

As well as these highlight events, throughout the weekend there will also be other concerts and workshops taking place at The Capstone at Liverpool Hope University's Creative Campus. These will all be announced in due course. Tickets for the Liverpool International Jazz Festival went on sale on Friday 27 September. There is also a festival weekend pass available, offering fantastic value, which will give you access to all the events over the whole weekend, including those still to be announced, saving you money on buying individual tickets for each event.

This joyous jazz extravaganza made a lasting mark on the city in 2013 and the now annual event brings the finest collection of contemporary and swinging, soulful jazz music and artists the genre has to offer.

HOW TO BOOK

Individual event tickets are available from TicketQuarter by visiting their website www.ticketquarter.co.uk by calling the Box Office on 0844 8000 410 or visiting the Box Office at MerseyTravel Centre, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.

Festival Weekend Passes will be priced at £70 and available from Liverpool Hope Store via their website www.thecapstonetheatre.com

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Jason Rebello

Date: Thursday 27 February 2014

Time: 7:30pm