Sara Dowling Photo: Steven Tagg Randall

Peter Bacon reports:

In the words of The Dude, from The Big Lebowski: Swanage Jazz Festival abides! Swanage was at risk again after last year’s festival but in January it was announced that a new organising committee had been formed and now the 30th festival has just launched its programme. Here are some quotes from the press release:

Headlining the two-day festival on Saturday 13 July are Swanage favourites Gilad Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble, The David Newton-Art Themen Duo, The Nigel Price Quartet and Greg Abate with the Craig Milverton Trio.

Sunday’s Headliners include the sextet Hexagonal performing their tribute to McCoy Tyner and Bheki Mseleku, fast-rising singer Sara Dowling and her Quartet, popular vibes man Roger Beaujolais and Bossa Nova specialist Earl Okin…

The programme features at least 40 bands and the new organising committee have taken the opportunity of featuring some high quality regional talent including the Art Blakey inspired ‘Sound of Blue Note’,  Tenor sax player Ian Ellis, described by the late Sir John Dankworth as ‘outstanding’,  the South African-flavoured Philip Clouts Trio, the Afro-beat focussed Thokozile and the electric jazz-funk sounds of Harry Skinner’s Funkasaurus.  The full 2019 Festival programme is viewable on the Festival website and Facebook page.

The Festival Early Bird tickets sold out in less than two hours. Advance Weekend Stroller tickets are priced at £75 and are selling steadily with day tickets priced at £45.  These prices will rise to £85 and £50 from 1 July. Some individual concerts may be available on the day, subject to availability.

Festival Chair, Paul Kelly said, “Swanage Jazz Festival has always attracted a good crowd to this picturesque seaside town and created a jazz family atmosphere. In spite of having to scale back a bit this year, we are delighted to present another strong and wide-ranging programme of outstanding talent. It’s going to be a great weekend that jazz enthusiasts really should not miss.”

Tickets are available online from the Festival website www.swanagejazzfestival.co.uk  in person from the Swanage Tourist Information Centre or the Town’s Mowlem Theatre and by post from: Dave Roper, Treasurer, Swanage Jazz Festival 10 Globe Close, Swanage BH19 2RF