aaamusic | On 04, May 2011

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival returns for a fifth year with another something-for-everyone line-up of artists set over three days in the most beautiful of surroundings. Set in the grounds of an historic Elizabethan hall, the festival is organised by its sax-playing owner Simon Cunliffe-Lister and jazz singer Saffron Byass.

Performing at this year’s festival is the multi award winning Claire Martin whose 1992 debut album The Waiting Game received rave reviews and was chosen as a Times Album of the Year. Since then Claire has gone on to record and perform with many globally respected artists including Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (whom she toured with to celebrate his 70th birthday), Jamie Cullum, the late John Martyn, Curtis Stigers and even Noel Gallagher to name but a few.
Claire has also opened for Tony Bennett at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival.
“For my money she’s not only the finest female British jazz singer of her generation but possibly of all time.”
The Times – Jazz Reviewer
“Nobody does it like Claire Martin – a British singing sensation”. The New York Observer

Also performing is jazz, singer-songwriter extraordinaire, and one of the UK’s most sought-after artists Jacqui Dankworth Quartet.
Given her musical pedigree – daughter of Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth – it’s no surprise that Jacqui is considered to be
“one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing”(The Guardian).
Jacqui continues to make an enormous impression wherever she performs, either with her own band or touring with other prestigious musicians, such as the Brodsky Quartet. From Ronnie Scott’s and the Royal Festival Hall in London to The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, she has been wowing packed houses at major festivals and other venues worldwide. Last year she performed with the legendary Marvin Hamlisch in New York to a standing ovation.
“Jacqui Dankworth…. has made it in every sense. She can do a ballad and a gospel number with the same relaxed, easy mastery. Her timing is terrific, she can pack a punch… and she’s buoyed up by a quartet who are marvellous players in their own right….a total delight.” Daily Telegraph

This years festival will also see performances from Zoe Gilby Quintet – A young jazz vocalist that has been making a real impression on the jazz scene today, 7 Pieces of Silver featuring Alan Barnes, a band which really captures the excitement, swing and spirit of the Horace Silver groups, Nicola Farnon Quartet – an outstandingly swinging and propulsive bass player with an outgoing personality to match, Joel Purnell Quartet – Influenced by the American jazz masters of past and present they concentrate musically on a collective approach to melodicity, lyricism, jazz feel and expression in a contemporary jazz setting, young Blues artist Oli Brown, who headlines Saturday night and brings a freshness and excitement to every performance and is at the forefront of the UK’s new Blues movement, Rob Law Trio who are lead by Rob, an accomplished piano player who has earned himself a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young artists, Matt Smith a national and international performer who plays guitar in an extremely wide range of styles including soul, funk and blues into his jazz repertoire and finally, Safari with guest and festival organiser Simon Cunliffe-Lister who will play out their festival.

For up to date artists’ info please visit www.burtonagnes.com