Ipswich Jazz Festival 

A stunning line-up of jazz music has been announced for the fourth Ipswich Jazz Festival to be held over the weekend of 21st- 23rd June 2019. And thanks to funding by Ipswich Borough Council, Arts Council England and Attwells Solicitors, some events are free, there are concessionary tickets at just £1 for people on low income benefits or who are full time students and even for those who pay, tickets are all priced at a reasonable £15. Most events take place at St Peter’s by the Waterfront Arts Centre in Ipswich.

Kicking off with a party, the Brass Funkeys bring their lively mix of funk, gypsy jazz and marching music on the evening of Friday 21st June.

The afternoon of Saturday 22nd June sees a free family jazz show by singer Becki Biggins for primary school age children and their families and a performance by Cliff Lane Primary School’s orchestra. That evening, the club-style Stars at St Peter’s features Suffolk’s international singer Polly Gibbons, top saxophonist Alan Barnes and young-up-and coming jazz violinist Ben Holder along with acclaimed trumpet player Neil Yates, ably supported by the local Chris Ingham Trio.

On Sunday 23rd June at 2pm, there’s a free Brazilian jazz concert by Samba Azul at St Peter’s followed by an evening gig by dark jazz trio Mammal Hands who have been hard at work touring internationally.

There are also free jazz gigs at local pubs on the afternoon of Sunday 23rd June – Andi Hopgood and Jim Watson at the Arbor House, High Street, nu-jazz guitar band Bigger than Home at The Grand Old Duke of York on Woodbridge Road and the lively Red Ruby and the Bakelites at the Halberd Inn, Northgate Street.

Throughout the weekend, there are music workshops for instrument players and singers, a black and white music photography workshop, a music course for young people at Northgate Arts Centre on the theme of Miles Davis’ ground breaking album “Kind of Blue” as well as a lecture at Ipswich Institute on the same theme – this year is the fiftieth anniversary of that LP. As well as all that, Ipswich Film Theatre will show Cold War, a film about jazz and love in the Soviet era and there’s jazz themed art exhibitions at Subterranean Arts and Ipswich Town Hall.

Full details, including how to buy tickets and how to apply for the £1 concessionary tickets are on the festival website www.ipswichjazzfestival.org.uk People who receive Housing Benefit are one of the groups that qualify for the £1 tickets which can be bought at the New Wolsey Theatre.