Abersoch Jazz 2010

by Bex Tappin
14 / 12 / 2009

ABERSOCH JAZZ FESTIVAL 2010

The Abersoch Jazz Committee would like to thank all of you who took the trouble to fill in one of the event questionnaires at last year’s Festival.  They assure you each one is read, discussed and action taken where possible.  Constructive criticism and satisfied comments are really appreciated.
The 2010 Festival will take on board as much as possible but, as any other event organisers will know, increasing bureaucracy, ‘club members’ at venues, volunteer lack of time and economical hurdles are sometimes impossible to clear!
They would like to say many congratulations to three of the young musicians who have appeared regularly over the last few years at the Abersoch Jazz Festival, for winning places in the British Jazz Awards 2009.  Amy Roberts was 1st and Jamie Brownfield 5th in the rising star category.  Jamie’s Quintet was 4th in the New CD category and James Evans was 4th in the clarinet section.
There are some new ideas for the Festival in 2010 along with a new theme and great musicians appearing for the first time in Abersoch alongside the established favourites.  The ‘Mix and Max’ theme aims to promote wonderful live jazz and showcase its rich range and wide variety, some examples are Trad/Modern, Young/Old, Solo/Big Band, sit and listen/ get up and dance!
Bands new to Abersoch are the brilliant ‘Good Time Jazz’ from France, the very entertaining ‘Slide by Slide’, ‘Tailor Maid’ and exciting 11 piece rhythm and blues soul band, ‘Before and After’, a special surprise mix of talented musicians and finally to confuse us all James Evans is bringing a new band – not the one advertised in the flyer!
Special soloists new to the event are Paul Harrison (reeds) all the way from Denmark, Graham Hughes (trombone and occasional double bass/vocals) and Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams (double bass) travelling up from the London area.  The committee are thrilled to be welcoming returning bands, the very professional Mart Rodgers Manchester Jazz and popular Liverpool based the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra.
Our favourite local bands, who offer an amazing range of sounds from Gypsy jazz, Zideco, Swing, Trad, Mainstream, Dixieland to Brass Band will be performing for you all again – we are lucky to have so much talent in the area.
All this would not be complete without the two ‘travelling’ bands, central to the Festival from the start in 2001, our young friends from Holland, the Oriental Jazz Band (with families and jazz fans!) and the swinging sound of TJ Johnson and his band from London.
This year the tickets were ready for purchase in November, so get the “early bird” strollers before they all go.  Be there or be square – to sit, listen, dance or parade with your brolly.  Come and enjoy keeping Jazz very much alive.
Nearly all the bands and soloists have really interesting websites so in your “spare time” before the Festival do go on line, have a look and see what treats there in store for June 10th to 13th .