The annual Aberdeen Jazz Festival hosts a programme range of Jazz events, concerts and gigs from a range of saxophonists, pianists, bassists, and musicians from the UK, abroad and local Aberdeenshire talent. These include jazz singer Alison Burns, guitar virtuosos Martin Taylor, American jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller, New York Vibraphonist Joe Locke, the Alan Skidmore Quartet, Polar Bear, Gwilym Simcock, Neil Cowley and Avishai Cohen the bassist and composer from Israel.
The Aberdeen Jazz Festival is so popular it has now formed part of the Scottish jazz scene with visitors travelling from various parts of Scotland, within the UK and Internationally.

Aberdeen International Jazz Festival

The popularity of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival grew to such an extent that in 2008, the fifth Aberdeen Jazz Festival, there would be an all year round Jazz events held in the City. These Aberdeen Jazz events are held at the Blue Lamp in the Gallowgate area of Aberdeen on Thursday evenings from 8pm. Performers include International stars such as saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble and the Neil Cowley Trio who were the winners of the 2007 BBC Best Jazz Album Award.

Tickets to Jazz events at the Blue Lamp can be booked online at jazzaberdeen.com or by phoning the JazzAberdeen ticket hotline (01224) 619769.

Then in September 2009 Aberdeen Jazz Festival will be re-launched as the two week event called Aberdeen International Jazz Festival. The Aberdeen International Jazz Festival will then be held every other year.

The dates of the Aberdeen International Jazz Festival will coincide with the Offshore Europe Exhibition.

Jazz Aberdeen’s development coordinator Rhona Mitchell told AboutAberdeen.com:

We are really excited about these major developments for Jazz in the city. Being able to provide year round events will enable us to further develop the Aberdeen jazz audience and to liaise more effectively with other city based promoting organisations and festivals.

The new festival will provide the very best of international jazz for both Offshore Europe visitors and local jazz fans.

We also run the www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.

More Aberdeen music events.

Jazz Events Aberdeen

The Paul Towndrow Quartet

Paul Towndrow is one of the UK’s most exciting young saxophonists. With a style that honours the great jazz masters of the past and present while creating an individual voice of his own, he has won lavish praise from the critics as well as earning enthusiastic responses from audiences at home and abroad. A star soloist currently with both the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the multinational European Colours Orchestra, he brings a hugely talented quartet featuring Steve Hamilton (piano), Mike Janisch (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums) to the Blue Lamp for a session of tough, melodic blowing. A turbo-charged amalgam of all your saxophone heroes John Fordham, the Guardian. At The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 3 July 2008. Doors open at 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information log on to www.jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769.

The Graeme Stephen Quartet

One of the most accomplished and inventive guitarists on the European jazz scene, Graeme Stephen began playing rock music during his teens in Aberdeen before discovering jazz through Pat Metheny and Jim Hall. These influences, along with a thrilling sense of adventure, still inform his music, which has recently found enormous favour at London Jazz Festival and on tour with his multicultural sextet. Back at the Blue Lamp for a hometown gig, he leads long-time associates Garry Gibb (saxophone), Pete Lowitt (bass) and Bill Kemp (drums) in a quartet full of energy and engaging creativity and fresh from a successful performance at the Maijazz Festival in Stavanger. The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 10 July 2008. Doors 7.30pm Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information log on to www.jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769

The Avishai Cohen Trio

Double bassist Avishai Cohen brings a world class trio to the Blue Lamp, playing music that sings with emotion and packs an irresistible rhythmical punch. Since coming to international attention with keyboard legend Chick Corea in the 1990s, Israeli-born Cohen has gone on to record nine acclaimed albums, blending jazz tradition with Israeli folk music and popular influences from The Beatles to Dr Dre. After a brilliant appearance at Aberdeen Jazz Festival 2006, he introduces the astonishingly gifted young pianist Shai Maestro alongside effervescent drummer Mark Guilliana for a session that will appeal to EST and Neil Cowley Trio fans especially. …one of the best double bassists in the world Time Out. The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 17 July 2008. Doors 7.30pm Ticket price £15, no concessions available. To book or for more information log on to www.jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769

Tam White and the Sermon Organ Quartet

Scotland’s very own Howlin’ Wolf, Tam White has been a major presence on the UK blues and jazz scene for almost fifty years. With a rasping, lived-in voice that caused British blues godfather Alexis Korner to purr in admiration and inspired the late Bad Company bassist Boz Burrell to form a band specially to feature him, White declaims blues standards and his own street-wise songs with unimpeachable authority. Accompanied by Paul Harrison (organ), Malcolm MacFarlane (guitar), Martin Kershaw (saxophone) and Tom Bell (drums), playing in the spirit of Hammond organ master Jimmy Smith, White is proof positive that hard times never felt so good. The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 24 July 08 Doors 7.30pm Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information log on to www.jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769

The Adam Bishop Quartet

Saxophonist Adam Bishop leads one of the freshest, most compelling groups to arrive on the London jazz scene in the past decade. Born in England and raised in Australia, Bishop studied jazz formally at the Canberra School of Music and with heavyweights including Barry Harris and Mark Helias in New York and has played with Tomorrow’s Warriors, Polar Bear and Jazz Jamaica All Stars. Featuring vibraphonist Jim Hart, Larry Bartley (bass) and Shane Forbes (drums), his quartet is the perfect setting for Bishop’s assured, lyrical and searching tenor and soprano saxophones and bass clarinet, creating melodic, daring music with grooving momentum. The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 31 July 2008. Doors 7.30pm Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information log on to jazzaberdeen or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769

The Alan Benzie Trio

BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2007, eighteen year old pianist Alan Benzie is a jazz star in the making. Originally a classical violinist, Benzie switched to jazz piano in his mid-teens and was soon featuring with the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland as well as playing gigs with his own trio and trumpeters Valery Ponomarev and Colin Steele. Currently studying at Berklee School of Music in Massachusetts, where he has already won the 2008 Jazz Performance (Piano) Award, he returns to Scotland with fast-rising young rhythm team Andrew Robb (bass) and Jonathan Silk (drums) for an evening of swinging standards and high-energy original compositions. This performance is presented in association with the 2008 Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Succinctly swinging…a very bright prospect John Fordham, The Guardian The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen on the 7 August 2008. Doors 7.30pm Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information log on to jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769

Theo Travis’ Double Talk

The Theo Travis’ Double Talk Jazz event takes place on the 6 June at 8pm at The Blue Lamp in the Gallowgate in Aberdeen City. The admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. Saxophonist and flautist Theo Travis is joined by his group Double Talk. They feature Hammond organist Pete Whittaker, guitarist Mike Outram and drummer Roy Dodds. Together they create music that is by turns intensely physical, hauntingly atmospheric, passionately direct and infectiously groovin’. Visit http://www.jazzaberdeen.com or call (01224) 619770 for more information.

The Anders Bergcrantz Quintet

The Anders Bergcrantz Quintet Jazz event takes place at The Blue lamp, Gallowgate on 12 June 2008 at 8pm. The admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. Tickets to the performance of trumpeter Anders Bergcrantz can be bought at the JazzAberdeen website at www.jazzaberdeen.com or telephone number (01224) 619770.

The Northern European Jazz Quartet

The Northern European Jazz Quartet takes place on the 19 June at 8pm at The Blue Lamp in the Gallowgate. The admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. The Northern European Jazz Quartet are four of Europe’s most exciting jazz musicians who are Norwegians Frode Nymo (alto saxophone) and Hakon Mjaset Johansen (drums), English tenor saxophonist Dave O’Higgins and Swedish bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg. Buy tickets from the JazzAberdeen website at jazzaberdeen.com or phone number (01224) 619770.

The Herb Geller Quartet

The Herb Geller Quartet perform on the 26 June at 8pm at The Blue Lamp. The admission charge is £15 or £12 and the event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. Herb Geller performs the saxophone and appears with Scots pianist Paul Kirby, German bass master Martin Zenker and Chicago-born drummer Adam Sorensen Visit www.jazzaberdeen.com or telephone (01224) 619770 for more information.

Trio AAB

29 May 08 at 8pm - Trio AAB at The Blue Lamp. Admission charge is £10 or £8 and the events are organised by Jazz Aberdeen. The Trio AAB are a waggish and mischievous Jazz group whose sound is feel good rhythms. Trio AAB are the twins Phil and Tom Bancroft on saxophones and drums with guitarist Kevin Mackenzie. Visit the website http://www.jazzaberdeen.com for more info or call 01224619770.

Jazz Trio AAB Kevin Mackenzie Phil Bancroft Tom Bancroft

Jazz Trio AAB Kevin Mackenzie Phil Bancroft Tom Bancroft

The Martin Kershaw Quartet

22 May 2008 at 8pm. The Martin Kershaw Quartet at The Blue Lamp. Admission charge is £10 or £8 per ticket and the Aberdeen Jazz event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. Saxophonist Martin Kershaw is one of the Scottish jazz scene’s top talents. He is a star soloist with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and has won acclaim for his celebration of Charlie Parker’s music. Martin Kershaw is a vital member of the experimental trio Trianglehead. The Martin Kershaw Quartet group brings their unique creation of Jazz, melody, swing and improvisation music. Visit the web site www.jazzaberdeen.com for tickets or call (01224) 619770.

The Neil Cowley Trio

15 May 2008 at 8pm - The Neil Cowley Trio at The Blue Lamp. Admission charge is £15 or £12 and the Jazz event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. The Neil Cowley Trio have appeared with Jools Holland and are winners of the BBC Jazz Award. The Neil Cowley Trio have been described as having an exciting megadynamic style up for the MP3 generation with their pianist, bassist and drummer. The debut album of The Neil Cowley Trio is called Displaced. Visit the JazzAberdeen website at http://www.jazzaberdeen.com for more information or telephone 01224 619770.

The Hub

8 May 08 at 8pm - The Hub at The Blue Lamp. Admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by JazzAberdeen. The Hub are from New York and combine Jazz music with punk rock. The Hub are Tim Dahl (electric bass), Sean Noonan (drums) and keyboardist Alex Marcelo. For more info or to book a ticket visit the website jazzaberdeen.com or call 01224619770.

Cathie Rae Quintet

1 May 2008 at 8pm - The Cathie Rae Quintet featuring Colin Steele at The Blue Lamp. Admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. Scottish Jazz singer Cathie Rae has a warm, personal approach that brings out the story in every song. Cathie Rae will be accompanied by a band comprising of piano (Paul Harrison), bass (Euan Burton) and drums (Stu Ritchie). Her special guest will be Colin Steele on the trumpet. For more information visit www.jazzaberdeen.com or call (01224) 619770.

NeWt Trio

24 April 08 - NeWt Trio at 8pm at The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen. This Aberdeen event has been organised by Jazz Aberdeen. NeWt is one of the most creative bands on Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene. NeWt features the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra trombonist Chris Grieve, the splendidly accomplished drummer Chris Wallace and guitarist Graeme Stephen, an Aberdonian who is carving out an international reputation. The NeWt trio combines melody with adventure, harmony with intensity and muscular rhythms with poised reflection. Their music is entirely composed by the group and is Scottish in its darkness, international in its influences and universal in its appeal. Visit the website www.jazzaberdeen.com for call (01224) 619770 for more information.

Peter King Quartet

17 April 08 - The Peter King Quartet featuring Steve Melling on the piano at 8pm at The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen. The admission charge is £15 or £12 and the event is organised by JazzAberdeen. Peter King has been describes as one of the world’s greatest keepers of Charlie Parker’s alto saxophone flame. A brilliantly creative player, Peter King negotiates bebop’s hairpin bends with the speed of thought of a formula one racing driver and can also play ballads with sensitivity and major emotional impact. Leading a top London quartet with Steve Melling (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Martin Drew (drums), Peter King brings the bebop spirit into the modern age, presenting music brimming with virtuosity, imagination and heart. Read more or for ticket information visit the web site jazzaberdeen.com or telephone (01224) 619770.

Danny Healy Quartet

10 April 2008 - The Danny Healy Quartet at The Blue Lamp Aberdeen at 8pm. Admission charge is £10 or £8. This Aberdeen event is organised by Jazz Aberdeen. The Saxophonist Danny Healy is one of the most vital musicians on Melbourne’s vibrant music scene. He has been inspired by Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, Joe Henderson and Dexter Gordon and has led his own trio and quartet for the past decade. Danny Healy is a star performer with the Melbourne Jazz Orchestra. The group he brings to the Blue Lamp features long-time associate, Berlin based guitarist Jon Delaney, who has recently been making a big impression in Europe, leading Scottish bassist Brian Shiels and drummer Bill Kyle, and promises keenly reworked standards alongside distinctive original compositions. More information can be read on the official Jazz Aberdeen website at jazzaberdeen.com or on the phone number (01224) 619770.

Konrad Wiszniewski Quintet

3 April 2008 - The Konrad Wiszniewski Quintet at 8pm at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. The admission charge is £10 or £8 and the event is organised by AberdeenJazz. Konrad Wiszniewski is a UK saxophonists who combines traditional jazz with a new sound described as being full of clear thinking passion. Konrad Wiszniewski is a member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra saxophone section and also plays with the European Youth Jazz Orchestra. Joining Konrad Wiszniewski will be the sextet Paul Towndrow and the singer Jacqui Dankworth. Together they will celebrate hard bop and beyond with sharply honed skill and vigour. More information can be read at www.jazzaberdeen.com at by telephoning (01224) 619770

27 March 2008 - Jazz Aberdeen - Bheki Mseleku Quartet / John Donaldson Trio The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.) To book or for more information visit the JazzAberdeen website at www.jazzaberdeen.com or call the booking hotline on 01224 619769.

20 March 2008 - Jazz Aberdeen - Ari Hoenig Trio at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

13 March 08 - Jazz Aberdeen - Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

06 March 2008 - Jazz Aberdeen - David Berkman Quartet at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

28 Feb 08 - Jazz Aberdeen - Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

21 Feb 08 - Jazz Aberdeen - Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

14 February 08 - Jazz Aberdeen - Fraser Campbell’s Secret Architecture at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

7 February 2008 - Jazz Aberdeen - The Ben Clatworthy Quartet at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

31 January 2008 - Jazz Aberdeen - The Jesse Davis Quartet at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm .Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

24 January 2008 - Jim Whyte’s Sonic Butterfly at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

7 January 2008 The Gary Gibb Quartet with Colin Steele at The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Doors 7.30pm. Ticket price £10 (£8 conc.)

2007 Aberdeen Jazz Festival

Mulgrew Miller Aberdeen

The 2007 Aberdeen Jazz Festival will take place from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 March 2007. Organisers of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival have secured a highly impressive roster of artists for this year’s event, with the likes of world-famous Scottish sax star Tommy Smith and internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor alongside leading lights of the contemporary jazz scene Polar Bear and The Neil Cowley Trio. The 2007 Aberdeen Jazz Festival is being broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3.

Ticket hotline - Tel. 01224 619 769

Price - £5 or £10 per ticket with the exception of Music Hall tickets which will range from £16.50 to £19.50. There are some free tickets available for certain concerts. More information about these free concerts can be found further below this page. Book a ticket information.

Aberdeen Jazz Festival Line-up

Blue Lamp

121 Gallowgate
Aberdeen
AB25 1BU

Telephone: (01224 647 472)

7 March 7.30pm: Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra's Tribute to Canadian trumpet icon Maynard Ferguson with special guest soloist Ryan Quigley, one of Scotland's top young trumpeters.

8 March 7.30pm: Neil Cowley Trio playing tracks from their album Displaced.
10.00pm: Wayne Brasel Quartet from Norway who play a blend of jazz with blues, rock and soul. The Wayne Brasel Quartet feature Wayne Brasel on guitar, Per Mathisen on bass, Tor Yttredal on saxophone and Stein Inge Braekhus on drums.

9 March 7.30pm: Tommy Smith Quartet with special guest Joe Locke
10.00pm: Jonas Kullhammar Quartet.
00.30am: Gordon MacNeil's Late Night Jazz with surprise guests.

10 March 12.30pm: Tommy Smith Youth Orchestra with special guest Joe Locke.
3.00pm: Twin City Jazz Concert with University of Stavanger Jazz Ensemble Albus with guests Wayne Brasel on the guitar and Ytterdal on the saxophone.
7.30pm: Leo Blanco Quartet. Venezuelan pianist plays South American rhythms.
10.0pm: Colin Steele's "Kind of Blue".
00.30am: Gordon MacNeil's Late Night Jazz with surprise guest.
11 March 7.30pm: Ulf Wakenius Quartet. The Swedish guitarist is joined by Paul Harrison on the piano, Stuart Ritchie on drums and Aidan O' Donnell on bass.

Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre

Bridge of Don
Aberdeen
AB23 8BL

Tel: (01224 824824)

9 March 8.30pm: Scottish Jazz All Stars with play tribute to Clyde Valley Stompers and Alex Welsh. Includes performances by clarinet player Forrie Cairns, trumpeter Lennie Herd, pianist Brian Kellock and singer Fionna Duncan.

10 March 8.30pm: Martin Taylor with Alison Burns at the AECC Concourse.

A carvery meal before these performances is available at the cost of £17.50. Tables must be booked in advance by calling (01224) 330345.

Lemon Tree

5 West North Street,
Aberdeen
AB24 5AT

Tel: (01224 642230)

7 March 12.30pm: Aberdeen's International School Big Band / Westhill Academy Big Band

8 March 12.30pm: Aberdeen City Youth Big Band / Inverurie Academy Big Band
9pm: London Jazz band Polar Bear with Sebastian Rochford

9 March 12.30pm: Harlaw Academy Big Band / South Aberdeenshire Music Centre Big Band
9pm: Pete Carney and Orange Alert. Chicago saxophonist Pete Carney joins Orange Alert to play a blend of hip hop, house, and nu soul.
10 March 4pm: Gwilym Simcock Quintet. This is a free concert with a live performance on the BBC Radio 3 Jazz line up programme. Free tickets can be obtained by ringing the BBC Radio3 information line on 08700 100300. Pianist Gwilym Simcock is joined by John Parricelli on the guitar, Stan Sulzmann on the sax, Phil Donkin on the bass and Martin France on the drums. This free performance is part of the New Generation Artists Scheme of which Gwilym Simcock is a member. It is supported by Aviva plc.
9pm: Swedish singer Victoria Tolstoy (the great great granddaughter of Leo Tolstoy the author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina).

11 March 12.30pm: Aberdeen Jazz Review. This free concert showcases the best talent of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire jazz musicians.

Music Hall

Union Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1QS

Telephone Number : (01224 641122)

9 March 7.30pm: BBC Big Band with special guest Broadway singer Elaine Delmar. Martin Taylor will be joining the BBC Big Band. This Aberdeen Jazz Festival performance will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Two.

The Tunnels

Carnegies Brae
Aberdeen
AB10 1BF

Tel No: (01224 211121)

8 March 9pm: Aberdonian guitarist Graeme Stephen with the Graeme Stephen Sextet who blend jazz with Scottish traditional music with his fellow jazz and Scots musicians Chris Stout (fiddler from Shetland), Martin Kershaw (saxophone), Fraser Fifield (small pipes and low whistle).

9 March 9pm: Trianglehead

10 March 9pm: Yuval Ron and the Residents of the Future. This band from Israel plays a mixture of rock, jazz and metal.

Aberdeen Jazz Festival Fringe Events will also take place at:

MUSA

Exchange Street
Aberdeen

Telephone Number: (01224) 571771

8 March 9pm: Sam Payne

9 March 9pm: Fiona McKenzie and Graeme Stephen

10 March 9pm: Maria Speight

11 March 1pm: Victoria Fifield

Carmelite Hotel

Stirling Street
Aberdeen

Telephone Number: (01224) 589101

9 March 8:30pm: Maria Speight

10 March 8:30pm: Norman Moy Quartet

The Albyn Club

28 Albyn Place
Aberdeen

Telephone Number: (01224) 582952

9 March 9pm: Havana Swing

10 March 9pm: Garry Gibb Quartet

11 March 1pm: Sam Payne

Meals are available at these fringe events.

Aberdeen Jazz Festival Website : www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com

Instument Workshop

On Friday 9 March 2007 from 2 - 4pm there will be an instrument workshop by the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra with special guests Joe Locke. This will take place at the Summerhill Education Centre. Local musicians of all abilities are invited to attend by calling (01224) 619770. This event is sponsored by Shell and is part of the Jazz Exploration Tour.

History of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival

The Aberdeen Jazz Festival first took place in 2004 and has been held each year since.

For further details, to book tickets or for a free brochure see their website at www.jazzaberdeen.com
Other Aberdeen Jazz Festival websites include www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com

Information about the 2006 Jazz Festival

The 2006 Aberdeen Jazz Festival event took place from the 8th - 12th March 2006
The third annual Aberdeen Jazz Festival attracted more international stars in an expanded programme which also featured additional venues. Top American jazz pianist, Mulgrew Miller and acclaimed Israeli bassist and composer, Avishai Cohen, lead the overseas line-up.

The 2006 Aberdeen Jazz Festival also attracted BBC Radio 3 who recorded the Mulgrew Miller Trio concert and was also broadcast live from the festival the following day to the whole of the UK. The programme was presented by another virtuoso pianist and composer, Julian Joseph, who was interviewed Mulgrew Miller along with other stars from the festival.

The opening night included the big band sound of the Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra, with special guest star singer Tina May, who has performed with most major big bands in the UK, including Humphrey Lyttleton's.

The Festival also included:

Polar Bear, hottest band on the London jazz scene, led by Seb Rochford, the outstanding Aberdeen-born drummer
Blues and Hammond organ wizard, Bruce Katz, from USA with his band
Oscar Petersen's regular guitarist, Ulf Wakenius, from Sweden
Scotland's own international star, Tommy Smith, with his new quartet
Top London bassist, Dave Green, with his trio
Leading UK saxophonist, Tim Garland, with a specially commissioned quartet
The famous Ronnie Scott Legacy Band from London, led by Ronnie's pianist, John Critchinson, with Pat Crumly on saxophone
Italian born, London based singer Brigitte Beraha
The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra, with the cream of young Scottish jazz musicians, and the renowned Strathclyde University Big Band are also in the programme
Over 100 youngsters fine-tuned their skills at Jazz workshops which have become a popular feature of the festival. These included master classes by Mulgrew Miller and Alan Skidmore.
The Festival included 30 performances, from Wednesday 8 to Sunday 12 March, at the Music Hall, Blue Lamp, Rusty Nail, The Tunnels and Lemon Tree.

Aberdeen City Council is the main sponsor for the Festival which is also supported by the Scottish Arts Council. Other sponsors of the Aberdeen Jazz festival include Clydesdale Bank, Aberdeen Audio Visual, allinhouse.com, Redquarter, The Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen College, The Robert Gordon University, Jazz From Sweden, The Clubhouse Hotel, Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon Bell Pianos, Norwegian Consulate General (Edinburgh), EventScotland and The National Lottery. Each year there is a main sponsor for the Aberdeen Jazz Festival and in 2007 it was KW Ltd the international offshore pipeline and subsea engineering consultancy firm.

Contact Address and Telephone Number Details Of Aberdeen Jazz Festival

Jazz Aberdeen
111 Gallowgate
Aberdeen
Grampian
Scotland
AB25 1BU

Tel: (01224) 619770

Url Homepage: www.jazzaberdeen.com

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