London Jazz Festival 2009

The London Jazz Festival takes place from Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd November 2009. The event is held at various venues around London including The Roundhouse, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, and the Purcell Room.

Stars from the jazz tradition playing this year's Festival include Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Marcus Roberts, Carla Bley, Dave Holland and Branford Marsalis. Vocalists include Kurt Elling, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Cleveland Watkiss and Cleo Laine.

Gilberto Gil, Robert Fonseca, Astillero and Omar Puente are set to bring some Latin flavour into London. Americana is explored through Allen Toussaint and The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bela Fleck, John Scofield and Bill Frisell who presents a new project with the BBC Symphony Orchestra specially commissioned by BBC Radio 3.

Artists paying tribute to past jazz performers include Alan Barnes and Trinity Music Ensemble, who commemorate Benny Goodman, while Bonnie Greer and Marcus Miller explore the legacy of Miles Davis, and Jazz Voice the opening night celebration will draw on significant anniversaries of jazz songs, films, singers and songwriters down the decades.

Gwilym Simcock will be performing with The Voice Project, the Norwich 100-piece community choir, conducted by Sian Croose, 'I Prefer The Gorgeous Freedom' blends classical and jazz themes and was originally commissioned by the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. The work is a series of poems put to music. The concert will open with a short set from Simcock¹s new trio featuring Yuri Goloubev (bass) and James Maddren (drums) plus special guest Klaus Gesing (reeds).

Contemporary jazz is brought by Vijay Iyer, Kiran Ahluwalia, Lukas Ligeti, World Sanguine Report, trioVD and Led Bib. European jazz is represented by Tomasz Stanko, Tord Gustavsen, John Surman, and Stefano Bollani.

Artists in residence include Sheila Jordan, Zoe Rahman, Brass Jaw, and Naturally 7, as part of 'Festival on the Move' throughout the breadth and depth of the city. This spread of events alongside the 'Jazz For Free' programme (around 20% of events are free) opens the Festival up to Londoners.

Participatory activities across London include vocal workshops with Cleveland Watkiss at his old primary school and Sounds of the World, aimed at inspiring young people to develop both their musical ear and musical talent and hosted by Samay.

Pre-concert talk series 'Hear Me Talkin' To Ya' includes masterclasses with John Surman, and for family audiences interactive performances from Napoleon Maddox and John Hegley.

Featuring a mix of premieres, new commissions and collaborations with world famous stars and emerging talent. The event has more performances are in more venues than any other live event in the capital, along with the Festival's renowned education programme and its Jazz for Free strand, to create the UK's biggest international jazz festival.

Tickets for the following events are now on sale:

Friday 13 November
John Scofield's Piety Street Band - Queen Elizabeth Hall, tickets £10, £20, £25

Saturday 14 November
Sonny Rollins - Barbican, tickets £10, £40, £50, £65
Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet - Queen Elizabeth Hall, tickets £10, £20, £25

Tuesday 17 November
Carla Bley & The Lost Chords - Queen Elizabeth Hall, tickets £10, £20, £25

Wednesday 18 November
John Surman Celebrates 65 Years - Queen Elizabeth Hall, tickets £10, £20, £25
Stefano Bollani Residency - Kings Place - See Kings Place website for ticket prices

Thursday 19 November
Gilberto Gil - Royal Festival Hall, tickets £10, £20, £30, £37.50
Bill Frisell with BBC Symphony Orchestra - Barbican, tickets £8, £12, £16, £20

Friday 20 November
Alan Barnes: Five Takes on Benny Goodman - Purcell Room, tickets £10, £20

Saturday 21 November
Cleo Laine, John Dankworth and Friends - Royal Festival Hall, tickets £10, £20, £30, £37.50
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble + Jason Yarde & Andrew McCormack - Queen Elizabeth Hall, tickets £10, £20, £25

To buy tickets click here, and for events at the Barbican click here.

There will be more information here when available.

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