(Preview: Canary Wharf Jazz Festival, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London)

Now in its sixth year, the free admission Canary Wharf Jazz Festival (“One of London’s most respected”) is back from Friday 17 – Sunday 19 August. Party time in Canada Square Park.

This year promises a wide variety of acts from Courtney Pine to Beats and Pieces and also features a good dollop of world music.

Friday night will feature the big band Lokkhi Terra and will close with a performance of James Morton’s new band the James Morton Soul Collective; a funk and soul influenced sextet, they will be joined by Mary Pearce and Afro-Cuban percussionist: Snowboy.

Headlining on the Saturday night this year will be Courtney Pine. Playing with him will be: Rob Fordjours on drums, Karl Rasheed-Abel on bass, Cameron Pierre on guitar and Omar Puente on electric violin. The set promises to be lively and energetic.

Also on Saturday: contemporary jazz/funk crossover trio, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity at 5pm, and up-and-coming vocalist Alexander Stewart.

Sunday will see acts like Voices of Nature and The Soul Reformers, featuring 4 members of the Amy Winehouse band, before building to the headliners, the ever energetic Beats and Pieces. Led by Ben Cottrell, they seek to redefine the idea of a big band and draw their material from areas as diverse as Radiohead, Loose Tubes and Polar Bear.

PROGRAMME IN FULL

Friday 17th

7pm – 8pm: Lokkhi Terra

8.30pm – 10pm: James Morton’s Soul Collective with special guests, Mary Pearce and Snowboy

Saturday 18th

1.30pm – 2.45pm: Josh Arcoleo Quartet

3.15pm – 4.30pm: Bansangu Orchestra

5pm – 6.15pm: Dennis Rollins’ Velocity

6.45pm – 8pm: Alexander Stewart

8.30pm – 10pm: Courtney Pine

Sunday 19th

.30pm – 2.45pm: Davide Mantovani Sextet

3.15pm – 4.30pm: Voices of Nature

5pm – 6.15pm: The Soul Reformers

6.45pm – 8.15pm: Beats & Pieces