The trumpets have been polished, the piano has been tuned, and the stage is now set for the 27th Wigan International Jazz Festival.
Between Wednesday 11 July and Sunday 15 July, Wigan will sway to the smooth, relaxing, soulful and sometimes funky sound of jazz.
Throughout the four days workshops, afternoon performances and headline evening concerts are set to ensure a musical celebration which has brought music and jazz fans alike to Wigan, from across the globe, for more than two decades.
Festival organiser Ian Darrington said: “Over the years the festival has developed a reputation for big band music, for high quality entertainment and for appearances rarely seen in the UK.
“This year will be no exception. Gordon Goodwin who headlines the festival on Saturday is one of the biggest names in music and his appearance is a first for the UK.
“You don’t have to be a jazz aficionado to enjoy this festival – you just need to enjoy music.”
The 27th Wigan International Jazz Festival, sponsored by Manchester Airport, kicks off with a trailblazer event with A J Brown on Wednesday 11 July with the main programme taking place between Thursday 12 July and Sunday 15 July 2012. Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by David Little with special guest James Morrison from Australia will trumpet in the celebrity evening concerts on Thursday 12 July at Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre.
On Friday afternoon music fans can enjoy the joyful sounds of Latin America with the music of Apitos.
The evening session will see former organist with “The Animals” Alan Price – whose hits included “House of the Rising Sun” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – and his band take to the stage.
On Saturday, Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by John Ellis MBE will perform just after midday, followed by Daryl Sherman with John Hallam on saxophone and Frank Grime on bass. Gordon Goodwin will perform with the Wigan Jazz Club Reunion Dream Band on Saturday night which includes a stunning line-up with Wayne Bergeron on trumpet and Eric Marienthal on alto sax.
Chris Dean’s Syd Lawrence Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra will bring the curtain down on the festival on Sunday.
Tickets are available from Quay Tickets (external link). Or call 0843 208 0500 to book.
For the 22nd year running Manchester Airport have once again sponsored the event along with a host of local businesses including Gordons Honda, Lowri Beck, PA Hull & Co, Stephensons Solicitors LLP, Grant Thornton, Leisuretec Ltd, Wigan Council, WLCT, Wigan Dry Cleaners and Wigan Jazz Club.
Wigan International Jazz Festival 2012 at a glance
Wednesday 11 July to Sunday 15 July
Tickets are available from Quay Tickets (external link) Or call 0843 208 0500 to book.
** Rover tickets for the full four days are available for £110.
Wednesday 11 July – Trailblazer event
Celebrate the start of the 27th Wigan International Festival with a special Jazz Ball within the spectacular settings of Wigan’s most historic venue, Haigh Hall.
Enjoy a sumptuous four course dinner listening to the smooth and popular sound of AJ Brown.
Reserve a place at Haigh Hall on 01942 832 895. Tickets cost £35 and the evening starts at 7.30pm.
Thursday 12 July
Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by David Little with special guest James Morrison from Australia.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets £18 / £16 conc Starts: 8pm
Friday 13 July
Jazz Talk with James Morrison
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £5 Starts: 10am
Munch Manship Octet
Playing 1950’s West Coast Jazz
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £10 Starts: 12 noon
Apitos
The band draws on material from the Latin jazz arrangements of Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, as well as original compositions specially commissioned for the band, with percussion and improvisation to the fore.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £10 Starts: 2.45pm
Alan Price and His Band
Alan Price is best known as the original keyboardist for The Animals and for his subsequent solo work. His organ-playing on songs by The Animals, such as "House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Bring It On Home To Me" was a key element in the success of the group.
After leaving the Animals, Price went on to have success on his own and with Georgie Fame.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £18/£16 conc Starts: 8pm
Saturday 14 July
Jazz Talk with Daryl Sherman
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £5 Starts: 10am
Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra (Alumni) directed by John Ellis MBE
The DYJO is the alumni ensemble. Most of the members are players who have graduated from the ranks of DYJA, but who have chosen to remain in the Yorkshire region. They all share a common interest in big band jazz and a desire to perform music at the highest possible level.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £10 Starts: 12 noon
Daryl Sherman with John Hallam on saxophone and bass played by Frank Grime
A sparkling mainstay of Manhattan nightlife, singer/pianist Daryl Sherman is equally at home in the world of jazz and cabaret. Internationally acclaimed for a stellar 14-year run at the Waldorf/Astoria, she played Cole Porter's Steinway and has headlined the annual Cole Porter Festival in his hometown - Peru, Indiana. Her latest CD, Mississippi Belle celebrates Porter in a New Orleans setting. Her recent appearance at an Artie Shaw centennial tribute concert was highly praised by the New York Times.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £10 Starts: 2.45pm
An evening of music from Gordon Goodwin.
Wigan Jazz Club Reunion Dream Band featuring some of the biggest names in Big Bands from the USA. Wayne Bergeron on trumpet and Eric Marienthal on alto sax.
Gordon Goodwin - A 2006 GRAMMY Award for his Instrumental Arrangement of “Incredits” from the Pixar film The Incredibles, three Emmy Awards, and thirteen GRAMMY nominations. Goodwin’s music is nothing less than astonishing when experienced live. Goodwin’s ability to combine jazz excellence with any musical style makes his writing appealing to fans across the spectrum.
Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most active players in the world. With studio dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest soloist appearances and clinics, he has no intention of slowing down. As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of CD credits reads like a Who’s Who in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other stellar names include Beyonce, Michael Buble, Seth MacFarland, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Dianna Krall, Tito Puente, Christian Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Barry Manilow, Michale Bolton, Gwen Stefani, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussy Cat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mats Volta, INXC, Chicago, Rosemary Clooney, Diane Schuur, Lee Ann Womack, Lou Rawls, Brian Cutherbertson and David Benoit.
Eric Marienthal has performed in over 65 different countries, recorded 11 solo CDs and has played on hundreds of records, films, television shows and commercial jingles
Among Eric's 11 solo CD's, his latest is entitled "Got You Covered", on Peak Records. Six of the songs that Eric has recorded have made it to the top 10 of the National Contemporary Jazz Radio Charts and two have made it to number one. Eric's "Oasis" CD hit the top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. Shortly after that, Eric was voted as being one of the year's "Favorite Alto Sax Players" in Jazziz Magazine's Readers’ Poll along with David Sanborn and Phil Woods.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £25/£22 conc Starts: 8pm
Sunday 15 July
Jazz Talk with John Ellis
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £5 Starts: 10am
Ryan Quigley Quartet.
Scottish based power-house trumpet player with his award winning quartet.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £5 Starts: 12 noon
Chris Dean’s Syd Lawrence Orchestra
Founded in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence. The fabulous Syd Lawrence Orchestra has been thrilling audiences in concert halls, theatres, TV shows and music festivals all over the UK and Europe for more than 40 years. Renowned for its exciting blend of high octane Big Band swing, the Orchestra’s repertoire ranges from the wartime million sellers of the legendary Glenn Miller through the era of the great Count Basie Orchestra to the hit songs of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £18/£16 conc Starts: 2.45pm
National Youth Jazz Orchestra, with guest musical director Ian Darrington MBE
NYJO features the best, most gifted and talented of the next generation of Great British jazz musicians. NYJO is world-famous as a glittering showcase for the country’s best young musicians. Since NYJO was founded, by Music Director Bill Ashton OBE in 1965, most of the current generation of top British jazz musicians have risen through its ranks, often becoming established jazz stars whilst still playing with the band. The music repertoire is huge, covering a wide variety of styles suitable for different occasions. NYJO’s concerts can be enjoyed by non-jazz audiences and jazz-lovers alike
Venue: Lowri Beck Celebration Hall, Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre, Wigan
Tickets: £18/£16 conc Starts: 8pm
