Dave Stapleton Quintet

Since releasing their last album The House Always Wins in 2007, this powerful Quintet have wowed audiences throughout the UK and Europe and have received 5-star reviews in the press. Stapleton has gained a reputation as an ambitious composer – his contemporary high energy jazz, with its powerful riffs and melodic hooks, echoes the excitement of 1960s Blue Note bebop. 

Ayanna Witter Johnson, Robert Mitchell and Fraser Fifield

After extensive collaborations with two of the UK’s most groundbreaking artists, Nitin Sawhney and Courtney Pine, and a year spent developing new work in New York, Ayanna has composed new material for her trio, which comprises astonishing piper Fraser Fifield, and the award-winning pianist Robert Mitchell.

Hakon Kornstad

Dwell Time

Described by jazz journalists as one of the most cutting edge saxophonists of today, the Norwegian star has enjoyed critical praise for his performance technique, emotional intelligence, and willingness to experiment in a wide range of different expressive moods. Combining soundscapes and percussive beats with a melodic sensibility, his newest offering Dwell Time presents an unmissable solo performance.

Neil Cowley Trio

Radio Silence

A powerful examination of the sonic possibilities of the acoustic piano, this trio draws equally on classical, trance, rock and jazz. Described as music for the ‘heart and feet’, they perform tracks from Radio Silence, their new and most eloquent statement yet. 

Trio of Oz: Rachel Z, Omar Hakim, Maeve Royce

Rachel Z joins forces with ex-Weather Report/Sting drum star Omar Hakim and bassist Maeve Royce for some exuberant modern trio jazz from New York. Reinventing music from such diverse sources as Duke Ellington and Depeche Mode through to The Killers, Coldplay and Björk, this promises to surprise and delight in equal measure. 

Pee Wee Ellis Funk Ensemble

Known as ‘The Man Who Invented Funk’, Pee Wee studied saxophone with Sonny Rollins and joined the James Brown Revue in 1965. Becoming band-leader within six months, Pee Wee soon began writing with Mr Brown and co-wrote Funk’s first hit Cold Sweat in 1967. Sure to be an outstanding performance from the old-school funk legend. 

Get The Blessing

Bugs in Amber

The BBC Jazz Award-winning, genre-bending Bristolians are a four-piece post Jazz-Rock collective made up of bassist and producer Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer of the band Portishead. Their second album Bugs in Amber sees the band reach new heights and further scrambles the idea of jazz, and their quirky live performances continue to impress audiences.

Kairos 4tet

Kairos Moment

Adam Waldmann’s Kairos 4tet has certainly been turning heads with its gimmick-free alignment to the true qualities of acoustic jazz.Kairos Moment, the compelling debut album, mixes wistful, delicate tunes with busting vigour, generous melodic improvisation and ferocious grooves. Jazzwise Magazine cites Waldmann as one of their ‘favourite discoveries of 2009’.

Sponsored by No.10 The Struet

Jason Yarde and Andrew McCormack

Duo

Revered individually as pioneering jazz musicians, the formidable duo perform the album they developed from the highly-acclaimed one-off concert at London’s Vortex Jazz Club in summer 2008. 

Marc Cecil’s Rhythm Connections 1

Community Drum Circle

Come and join the Rhythm Connections Community Drum Circle. This is a friendly family event where no previous musical experience is required and non-musicians and enthusiasts will have the chance to be part of a large scale musical event creating in-the-moment rhythmical music together.

Scott Hamilton, Rossano Sportiello, Dave Green, Steve Brown Quartet

Scott Hamilton, the treasured American saxophonist, and Italy’s top pianist Sportiello join forces with Britain’s top rhythm section, Dave Green and Steve Brown. The quartet are firm favourites on the British jazz scene and are true international jazz stars. Their unique individual qualities combine to produce an engaging performance. 

Sponsored by Friends of Brecon Jazz

Robert Castelli Boom Quartet

Since his performances at London’s Pizza Express in 2009, the response from critics and audiences alike has been overwhelming for the NY drummer. His band includes the cream of the UK Jazz scene who perform with energy to produce this musically interesting and exciting live performance. 

Marc Cecil’s Rhythm Connections 2

Community Drum Circle

Come and join the Rhythm Connections Community Drum Circle. This is a friendly family event where no previous musical experience is required and non-musicians and enthusiasts will have the chance to be part of a large-scale musical event creating in-the-moment rhythmical music together.

Rock Riffs Guitar Workshop

UK Youth Music Workshop 1

A series of electric and acoustic sessions for teens, by teens. Get hands-on and develop essential music-making skills. 

Supported by Roland (Education UK) Ltd

Kairos 4tet

Kairos Moments

A second performance from this exciting young quartet. Adam Waldmann’s Kairos 4tet has certainly been turning heads with its gimmick-free alignment to the true qualities of acoustic jazz.Kairos Moment, the compelling debut album, mixes wistful, delicate tunes with busting vigour, generous melodic improvisation and ferocious grooves. Jazzwise Magazine cites Waldmann as one of their ‘favourite discoveries of 2009’.

John Crampton

A One-man Blues explosion!

‘You can practically fry eggs on the man as he radiates energy into the room. His gravel-gargling voice is a perfect compliment to his 1930s National steel guitar, banjo, harmonica and footboard. The sound he produces has astonishing depth.’ Bill Grainger.

Beat Matching Workshop

UK Youth Music Workshop 2

A series of electric and acoustic sessions for teens, by teens. Get hands-on and develop essential music-making skills. 

Supported by Roland (Education UK) Ltd

Tribute to Tubby Hayes

Marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of British jazz legend Tubby Hayes, tenor saxophonists Simon Spillett and Dave Bishop have put together a tribute concert, which not only reunites much of this music for the first time in over forty years, but also brings together a suitably stellar cast of today’s British jazz heavyweights to what promises to be a truly roof-raising performance. 

Sponsored by Friends of Brecon Jazz

Brass Jaw

This feisty four piece are truly unique in sound and direction. Energetic in their approach, Brass Jaw’s concerts are characterised by the band’s trademark momentum, drive and charisma, and their notoriety for providing a unique and engaging live music experience has grown rapidly.

Elin Larsson Group

Brecon Jazz is pleased to present a young and very talented Swedish saxophonist, Elin Larsson, in her debut UK festival performance. Performing with her band, Elin Larsson Group, whose debut album Live And Alive was chosen as ‘one of the best albums of the year’ in Sweden. The music of ELG is a hybrid of jazz, rock and pop, free improvisation and folk. 

Sponsored by Svensk Musik