Back with a blast

When the Bristol Jazz Festival 2024 kicks off at the Tobacco Factory on March 22 it will be something of a rebirth. The full weekend’s programme – including Ezra Collective trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, Jazz FM star Clare Teal and returning ‘local hero’ Andy Sheppard – was pulled together by Festival Director Katya Gorrie after a difficult few years. The Covid pandemic completely cancelled the 2020 festival and the reconstruction work at regular festival home the Bristol Beacon curtailed things last year, leaving the event in dire financial straits. But with a great group of volunteers and a new home welcoming them Katya is confident things are looking good once more. “I’m really thrilled because I think I’ve managed to cover something for everyone, hopefully. I’m especially excited about the interesting new up-and-coming acts we’ve managed to get.”

Those new acts would include Mercury Prizewinner Ife, of course, stepping out on his solo career, and also saxophone superstar Emma Rawicz (“She’s amazing – in her twenties and selling out Ronnie Scott’s!”) and Manchester’s grooving Renegade Brass Band (“It’s a really great vibe for people of all ages”). The local new wave of jazz is also well represented, of course, with jazz-rockers Hippo (“an experience!”) and the mighty Snazzback (“they’re so brilliant – real local heroes”).

The festival has some favourites who will no doubt be warmly welcomed back, including dynamic trombonist Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio, guitarist Denny Ilett’s awesome Electric Lady Big Band (who also sold out Ronnie Scott’s last year) and the aforementioned Clare Teal with her infallible gift of charming an audience. And one other … by special request. “When I sounded out George (Ferguson) about coming to the Tobacco Factory he was delighted.” Katya reveals. “He’s been a fan of the festival since its inception and the first thing he said was ‘Oh, can we have Andy Sheppard back?’”. So the now-Portuguese citizen (but former Southville resident) was duly invited to bring his latest trio and, happily, he agreed.

There’s plenty more on the ticketed programme, including a range of workshops on jazz voice, guitar and jazz itself, all aimed to make the music more accessible and inclusive. “We used to have a slogan ’So you think you know jazz?’” Katya recalls. “Some people have preconceptions, not always good, that we hope they will get past and enjoy themselves.” To that end Katya is also pleased to have brought back a free stage, missing from last year’s programme. It will be running throughout the weekend in the Tobacco Factory cafe bar with the very cool Jazz Defenders quintet running late-night jam sessions from 10pm. Highlights include Snazzback guitar ace Eli Jitsuto completing the Dan Moore/Matt Brown Trio, bluesman Will Edmunds and contemporary Gospel powerhouse The Good Stuff.

Bristol Jazz Festival Director Katya Gorrie (Pic: Tilly May)

So, assuming she can find the time on the day, who is Katya Gorrie looking forward to seeing? “That’s a hard one, but there’s a couple of fantastic singers … Alice Zawadski I’ve known since she was a teenager. A naturally gorgeous singing voice, great range and she is an amazing violinist – so a real all-rounder. And then there’s Vimala Rowe – she was new to me but I was totally blown away by the album she made with fabulous guitarist John Etheridge. I think their duo gig will be a special moment.”

The Bristol Jazz Festival runs from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 at the Tobacco Factory.