The Glasgow Jazz Festival is returning to the city this month, bringing some of the top acts from around the world.
Running from Wednesday, June 14 until Sunday, June 18, there will be performances from some of the biggest names in jazz, blues, soul, funk, R&B and world music taking place at venues across the city.
The 37th edition of the much-loved annual festival will see over 30 events being staged over a five-day event, with Scottish talent standing shoulder to shoulder with jazz names from around the globe – from everywhere from Spain, Iceland and Norway to the US and Nigeria.
Glasgow Live asked the organisers to highlight just some of the top picks people can look forward to:
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Marco Mezquida Trio
The Marco Mezquida Trio, fronted by award-winning Spanish pianist and composer Marco Mezquida, alongside Martín Meléndez and Aleix Tobias, will perform at St Luke’s on Thursday 15th June.
Marco has toured the world extensively and has recorded more than 50 albums during his illustrious career, but this year marks his Glasgow Jazz Festival debut, giving Scottish fans a rare chance to catch him live.
Xhosa Cole
Winner of the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Award Xhosa Cole will bring his unique sound to Drygate on Thursday 15th June. The Birmingham-based saxophonist released his much-anticipated debut album last summer, celebrating the works of great African-American composers and improvisers.
Xhosa’s deep and authentic connection to the lineage of Jazz music has helped to establish him as one of the most exciting young talents in the country, continually learning, developing and growing - in keeping with jazz traditions.
Brian Kellock's Marty Party
This year’s festival will see influential artists from the jazz scene and beyond celebrated and this show will be no different.
On the afternoon of Saturday 17th June, St Luke’s will host Brian Kellock's Marty Party – a celebration of the music and spirit of one of the living legends of the jazz scene, the American rhythm guitarist, vocalist and raconteur Marty Grosz.
Brian Kellock (piano), Ross Milligan (guitar), and Roy Percy (bass) are all long-time fans who channel Marty’s fun and exciting performance style in this engaging celebration.
Grappelli Night with the Seonaid Aitken Quintet
The tributes continue later that evening when Mackintosh Church will host the Grappelli Night, where award-winning violinist Seonaid Aitken and her band will pay tribute to her French jazz violin hero Stéphane Grappelli to mark 25 years since his passing, and 30 years since his last performance at Glasgow Jazz Festival.
Seonaid and her piano quintet will celebrate Grappelli’s 60+ year career with a selection of tunes from his solo repertoire as well as a few numbers from his Quintette du Hot Club de France days, and legendary duets with classical violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.
Steve Turre
Audiences can expect an unforgettable finish to the festival with a performance from Steve Turre and his band. American master trombonist and seashellist Steve has worked with a diverse list of musicians including Dizzy Gillespie - who he performed with at the 1990 Glasgow Jazz Festival as part of his United Nations Orchestra.
Steve is also a longstanding member of the Saturday Night Live house band. He will perform tracks from the 2022 album Generations to fans at St. Luke’s on Sunday 18th June, celebrating jazz geniuses and influential elders in the scene, whilst bringing the eras together.
Radiohead Reimagined: Like A Cat Tied to a Stick
Radiohead, re-imagined, re-arranged, and performed by a ten-piece band of musicians from Glasgow's world-class, vibrant contemporary jazz scene, featuring SAY award nominees from Fat-Suit, Hen Hoose, Mezcla, Fergus McCreadie Trio, corto.alto, Tom McGuire and the Brassholes, Little Acres, and many more.
Putting their own genre-blurring spin on the music they love, the band are following in the footsteps of modern jazz giants such as Brad Meldhau, Robert Glasper, Christian Scott and the Bad Plus, who have turned to Radiohead for inspiration time and again.
They'll be playing on Thursday, June 15, at Oran Mor.
For more information and to buy tickets for the events you can check out the Glasgow Jazz Festival website.
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