Brighton Dome welcomes the return of Jazz Re:Fest 2019
Saturday 27 July 2019, 12pm-8pm
Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton BN1 1EU
Tickets: £10. Accompanied under 16s go free but ticketed
Ticket Office – 01273 709709 | brightondome.org
Following a fantastic event in 2018 which was nominated for the Jazz FM Best Live Experience award, Brighton Dome welcomes the return of Jazz Re:Festthis summer. Produced by music promoters Jazz re:freshedand now in its 7thyear, the family friendly one-day festival showcases the incredibly diverse, colourful, expressive and creative world of jazz music and alternative culture.
Jazz Re:Fest prides itself on giving a platform to some of the dopest live music around, especially showcasing emerging and underexposed talent – this year will be no exception. In addition to live performances, there will be a selection of contemporary DJ’s, playing music that connects the dots between jazz and other genres.
The festival promises an exciting line-up, led by one of the stalwarts of the London jazz scene, tuba player and composer Theon Cross, who made a name for himself both as a member of the Mercury-nominated and award-winning quartet Sons of Kemet, as well as his own powerful and eclectic solo material. Having appeared on a number of highly acclaimed releases including the lauded, ‘We Out Here’ compilation via Gilles Peterson’s record label Brownswood Recordings and leading his own powerful and eclectic group where he’s flanked by other strong emerging voices, Cross’s new album incorporates elements of Caribbean music, hip-hop, grime, jazz, club and electronic music.
Joining the line-up is eloquent and provocative singer-songwriter, Zara McFarlene, the UK’s foremost Black British jazz vocalist. With two critically acclaimed albums to her name, she inhabits an unusual musical landscape, fearlessly exploring original material and reworking well known classics from the worlds of jazz and Jamaican music. Following the release of her album ‘ARISE’ in 2017 which led her to be awarded as Jazz FM ‘Vocalist of the Year’, McFarlene’s music explores the meeting points between British jazz sounds and the rhythms of Jamaica: namely Reggae, Kumina and Nyabinghi.
Following the release of ‘Rosie Turton’s 5ive’ via Jazz re:freshed, up-and-coming UK jazz musicianRosie Turton performs this year. Having previously studied at Trinity College London, Turton has expressed herself through a variety of different musical outlets, from composing and playing with septet Nerija (Domino Recording Co) to recording with Jitwam and Hollie Cook. Her most recent album blends trombone, violin and electronics over a bed of interlocking grooves and soundscapes, exploring jazz, hip-hop and classical Indian music.
With three albums, four features on Moses Boyd’s hit album ‘Displaced Diaspora’ and performances from all around the globe under his belt, we’re also pleased to see Alto-saxophonist and percussionist Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua joining this year’s line-up. His extraordinary musicianship fuses contemporary jazz with influences drawn from Afro-Cuban and Nigerian Yoruba folkloric Bata drumming styles, alongside Mandiga folk and praise songs with a hard bop modal concepts and flowing Kora lines, creating a unique sound in African jazz-based music.
Having grown up in London in a strongly musical family, Sarah Tandy turned to jazz music at the age of 20, listening to the likes of Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock. After religiously attending weekly jam sessions at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Club and serving a residency at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston where she met her band, Tandy’s career as a musician flourished. She now performs alongside a band of mixed personalities, reflected in their music to accommodate every member’s individual musical temperament.
Having signed to Brighton-based label Tru Thoughts early on in his career which saw the release of an EP and his debut album, Werkha has been on a playful exploration in the development of his musical style. His early musicianship was described as “oozing with creative flair, vibrancy and musical craftmanship” and this mode of play has translated effortlessly into his vivaciously curated live shows, which blends some of the UK’s most exciting jazz musicians into the mix with his own instrumental, DJ and sampling informed abilities.
Completing this year’s line-up is Nigerian musician Camilla George, whose early interest in the saxophone led her to go on to study with many jazz greats like Jean Toussain; join the award-winning band Jazz Jamaica and form her own critically acclaimed project showcasing the stars of the new UK jazz scene. Her love of fusing African and Western music has earned George two critically acclaimed albums, presenting her unique style blending Afrofuturism, hip-hop and jazz.