BRECON JAZZ FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE WITH IMPRESSIVE YOUNG LINE-UP

A key strand of this year’s community-led Brecon Jazz Weekend is Brecon Jazz Futures, a programme of exciting young talent from around the UK who draw on an eclectic mix of influences to showcase what’s in store for the globally respected music festival in the years to come (breconjazzfutures.com).
 
Futures programmers have gone out to find the best rising stars around to perform in the town’s premier venue, Theatr Brycheiniog across the traditional Brecon Jazz weekend of August 12-14. There are eight concerts featuring some 46 promising musicians, with performances from the likes of Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio; Nerija, local favouritesWonderbrass, and acclaimed Welsh singer songwriter Kizzy Crawford.
 
Lisa Davies of Brecon Jazz Futures said: “Brecon Jazz has always prided itself on nurturing and encouraging young talent, and we want to keep this alive. Our curator Marc Edwards has put together a programme that reflects jazz music’s broad range of influences, drawing on its great heritage to deliver fresh, often original new perspectives. Audiences at the Theatr are going to be thrilled, stirred, excited and thoroughly entertained.”
 
The Futures programme has been supported by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Friends of Brecon Jazz, Brecon Town Council, and Jazz 4 Jed, a fund set up in honour of the festival founder Jed Williams, which provides bursaries for jazz projects in Wales.

In addition to Futures, the jazz weekend presents artists programmed by Brecon Jazz Club including Tina May & Wales Latin Jazz Ensemble; Geoff Eales; and the Teddy Smith Big Band, plus concerts at Brecon Cathedral, including the Andy Nowak Trio and Simon Deeley Quartet. The festival features a Fringe programme, variety of music workshops and a ‘Frazz Parade’ – a combination of Fringe and jazz.

Information and tickets can be found on:
breconjazzfutures.com and 01874611622
breconjazz.com

Photo (c) Andy Cotterill