Our festival headliner this year will be Andy Sheppard with Espen Ericksen Trio.  Andy is one of Europe’s leading saxophonists and one of a few British musicians to have made a significant impact on the international jazz scene. He appears with Norwegian piano trio led by Espen Eriksen, often credited by the international press for their unique voice within today’s jazz scene.

We also feature a Jazz Celebration of Windrush. The Windrush generation made a lasting impact on the UK’s jazz scene. Internationally acclaimed UK jazz pianist Trevor Watkis has assembled an outstanding Anglo-American band to perform a special musical retrospective of jazz trumpeter Dizzy Reece.

Another festival highlight will be the all-star Electric Lady Big Band – “50 years of Hendrix Masterpiece”. A 16-piece ensemble featuring an all-star cast of leading jazz improvisors – including Laura Jurd, Yazz Ahmed, Nathaniel Facey and Iain Ballamy – tackle Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 album Electric Ladyland. The band feature brand new arrangements by guitarist Denny Ilett inspired by the legendary Gil Evan’s reworkings of Hendrix in the 1970s.

Also appearing is stunning ECM record label artists, Israeli-born pianist Shai Maestro. Shai is familiar to UK audiences through his thrilling work with bassist/composer Avishai Cohen. He’s now confirming that promise in his own group, with sometime Lee Konitz drummer Ziv Ravitz and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder.

You’ll also get a chance to see Bex Burch with Vula Viel – an intensely rhythmic and  engaging mix of African, punk and jazz, plus Leo Richardson’s quartet, Misha Mullov Abbado’s sextet, Brigette Beraha and Frank Harrison, a new album release by trombonist Kevin Holbrough, a new band – Sounds of ’59 celebrating the music of Miles, Monk and Mingus, two Fusebox presentions – Mrs Boyes Bingo and Archipelago, an afternoon of community and student bands, local heroes Pan Jumby, New York Brass Band in Briggate, jazz workshops and discussions, and a festival finale at the Wardrobe – Trio Trio Trio – featuring Leeds legends Tony Burkill, Maggie Somers, Alan Wilkinson and many more…