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| Colston Hall Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
Words by Joe Butler (father). Photographs by Ruth Butler (daughter):
The sun shone brightly this month as Bristol’s International Jazz Festival once again treated the city to a feast of good music.
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| Lillian Boutte Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
Mayor George Ferguson had announced again that Bristol is to be ‘twinned’ with the home of jazz, New Orleans, and the musical ambassador from the ‘Big Easy’ Lilian Boutte (above) delighted festival-goers.
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| Chris Barber Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
…with a gospel choir session with jazz veteran Chris Barber (above).
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| Osibisa Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
Elsewhere the kings of Afro-beat Osibisa (above) gave a full on set to a packed Colston Hall.
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| Jake McMurchie of Get the Blessing Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
Get the Blessing (above) launched a new album. Bristol’s favourite son James Morton rocked a heaving foyer with his monster sax playing.
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| The Swing Dance Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
People had a lot of fun at the swing dance. Denny Illet Snr, Adrian Cox and Lillian Boutte delighted audiences with a spontaneous collaboration. Rising star Beka Gochiashvili silenced his audience with his virtuosic piano playing.
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| Imelda May Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2014 Photo credit: Ruth Butler |
Irish queen of rock rhythm Imelda May closed the festival with a sold out concert to an enraptured audience.
Veteran jazz photographer David Redfern added a distinctly ‘legendary’ touch to proceedings with an exhibition of classic photos. His ‘blue’ Miles Davis would have been so pleased to see his heirs and children celebrating the legacy.
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Colin Richardson has commened by email:
As someone who had the good fortune to be at last year's BJ&BF, I can honestly say that the 2014 Festival was even more enjoyable.
Great weather ensured that the Foyer and upper levels of the Colston Hall were seething with fans almost the whole of the three days…with the standard and variety of music from the live bands providing the free music on the ground floor just as good, if not better than last year's, ensuring that the lively atmosphere rarely hit a lull.
I was manning the “Books for Amnesty” stall on the first floor; prime position meet to 'people watch' while enjoying the sounds (as well as selling our jazz and blues albums, CDs etc).
Touching base with David Redfern again was the icing on the cake, especially as he had recently donated a large quantity of his 10″x 8″ photos, which we were selling there (helped by his kind offer to sign any brought to him).
All in all, a terrific experience…we're definitely planning to be back there next year.