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Given that we're in the middle of a raging recession, it's no surprise that cultural endeavours are suffering, and most recently in the line of fire have been the UK's well-respected jazz festivals. Brecon, Isle of Man, Plymouth and Isle of Wight have already succumbed to cancellation in 2009, but as luck would have it for us here in Oxford, one brand new baby soldiers on to pick up the pieces. In typically brave style (given the determined nature of its fiercely independent local backers, quirky Jericho sausage restaurant The Big Bang numbering chiefly among them), Oxford Jazz Festival launches in 2009 with a host of stars in a variety of unusual venues including the Oxford Union debating chamber and a converted asylum.
Oxford already hosts a variety of exciting and high-quality jazz events, with Thursday jazz club The Spin at the Wheatsheaf being the only venue outside London to be nominated for Best Jazz Venue of the Year for the last four years at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and top names regularly visiting venues including St Barnabas' Church in Jericho and the Jacqueline du Pré Music Room in St Hilda's College. This is the first time that local business people and the stalwarts of the Oxford jazz scene have come together to create a full festival however, and since this is such a tricky time to do it, they have been creative in pulling out all the stops to involve the city and its residents as much as possible. Festival stewards will be volunteers; restaurants, churches and college theatres across the city are housing events at cut price rates (or paying for the performances themselves). With luck, this approach will gain the local support and enthusiasm necessary to bouy up our exciting new city festival and carry it on into a successful future.
Performers include such leading lights of the jazz world as vocalist Gwynneth Herbert; saxophonists Gilad Atzmon and Bobby Wellins; Ian Shaw, Julian Siegel and John Etheridge (click here to win tickets!). The event takes place across the whole Easter weekend (9-12 April inclusive) - visit www.OxfordJazzFestival.com for full line up, event and ticket details.
Su Jordan, 06/04/09
Well done for getting Oxford on the map as a premier venue for jazz! We've booked our tickets and are particularly looking forward to enjoying some of the venues. Also, well done for keeping at it in the current economic climate. With funding being pulled left right and centre it is encouraging that some people have the guts to make something happen.
Good luck with the final preparations.
Chelsea Nut, 04/04/09
