Soothsayers Afro beat and dub collective Soothsayers is one of the most dynamic live acts around with their trademark killer horn lines, thumping grooves, and uplifting vocal melodies.
Soothsayers are able to unify influences from varied genres with a common purpose to create something unique and satisfying. Imagine what might happen if King Tubby and Fela Kuti lived
next door to each other, and you’re getting close to what Soothsayers are all about.
- Adesose Wallace
- vocals, percussion
- Idris Rahman
- sax, vocals
- Robin Hopcraft
- trumpet, vocals
- Patrick Illingworth
- drums
- Jonny Phillips
- vocals, guitar
Unfortunately Decatone have had to pull out of this year’s festival. They however will be replaced by The Annie Whitehead Experience whose performance has been moved from Saturday night.
Annie Whitehead is firmly established as one of the most popular figures on the UK jazz scene. Her infectious sense of swing has led her to work with the likes of Robert Wyatt, Paul Weller and Blur as well as Carla Bley, Abdullah Ibrahim and Brotherhood of Breath. The qualities that have established her reputation – passion, warmth, rhythm, humour, ecleticism, good tunes,
danceability – are all evident in this, her regular all star touring band. Together they generate an easy-going, loose-limbed, loping funk that sounds effortless.
- Annie Whitehead
- trombone
- Jennifer Maidman
- guitar
- Steve Lodder
- keyboards
- Dudley Phillips
- bass
- Liam Genocky
- drums
The virtuoso guitarist Martin Taylor MBE first came to prominence in the late 1970s through his collaborations with the legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli, and now tours the world's concert halls with his dazzling live performances. Widely regarded as Europe’s finest acoustic guitarist, his solo shows demonstrate his dazzling technique, musicality and sense of humour.
- Martin Taylor
- guitar
Empirical burst onto the international music scene at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival to win the inaugural European Jazz Competition. Dedicated to maintaining the roots of traditional modern jazz but with a definite finger on the pulse of contemporary music, their debut album has already garnered
lavish praise from the critics and looks set to become UK jazz album of the year.
Recently Empirical have been nominated in the BBC Jazz Awards in the categories of 'best band' and 'best album' and three of the band members have been nominated in the rising star categories.
- Nathaniel Facey
- alto saxophone, voice
- Jay Phelps
- trumpet, voice
- Kit Downes
- piano
- Tom Farmer
- bass
- Shaney Forbes
- drums, percussion
Tunisian vocalist and oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef juxtaposes the ancient, mystical, hypnotic music of Islamic Sufism with the textures and improvisatory spirit of contemporary jazz in this collaboration with Viennese guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel. In the
beautiful setting of the medieval St Mary’s Guildhall, the music, drawn from the duo’s acclaimed album Glow, will have added resonance.
- Dhafer Youssef
- oud, vocals
- Wolfgang Muthspiel
- guitar
The festival has a UK exclusive in this concert by Randy’s Electric Band – an an incredible line-up of New York City heavyweights including ultra-funky drummer Rodney Holmes.
Grammy award-winning trumpeter, Randy Brecker has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R & B and Rock for more than three decades. He has recorded with a huge range of artists from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa, via Horace Silver, Funkadelic, George
Benson, Charlie Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Steely Dan and Bruce Springsteen. With brother Michael, he formed one of the bestloved and most creative of fusion bands, the Brecker Brothers.
Brecker is a brilliant performer happy playing many different musical styles, but the Electric Band hone in on what he is most famous for – wall to wall jazz, funk and soul!
- Randy Brecker
- trumpet
- Ada Rovatti
- tenor saxophone
- Mitch Stein
- guitar
- Dave Kikoski
- piano
- Chris Minh Doky
- bass
- Rodney Holmes
- drums