Darius Brubeck Quartet

Friday October 15
8:00 -10:30pm

In November 2018, the DBQ returned to Poland 60 years after the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet became the first American jazz group to play there in 1958. Darius and his musicians reprised that original multi-city tour and a live recording will be forthcoming. The DBQ...

"Wakey Blakey" with Ingham-Davison Sextet

Saturday October 16
12:00 - 1:00pm

Wakey Blakey is a new band playing the music of “Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers” but with the lesser known Sextet line up. This project demonstrates hard-bop with a frighteningly fresh feel; the music is wildly high-energy and unbelievably swinging. Featuring some of finest...

Dave Newton

Saturday October 16
1:20 - 2:10pm

David Newton is, in Matt Skelton’s words, "one of our nation’s treasured pianists".
The man has a lovely touch; that is for certain. Scottish-born and educated at the Leeds College of Music, Newton’s recording career had begun in 1985 with Buddy De Franco and Martin...

Art Themen Sextet

Saturday October 16
2:30 - 3:45pm

Art Themen became Herts Jazz's Patron back in 2013. He has earnt himself a place in British jazz history as one of the leading saxophonists we've ever produced and at 81, he still manages to play as youthfully as he ever did. For this gig...

Gilad Atzmon

Saturday October 16
4:15 - 5:30pm

Also a novelist, he is best known as a saxophonist and bandleader. His instruments include the saxophone, accordion, clarinet, zurna and flute. Dubbed the "hardest working man in British jazz", Atzmon has been known to play over 100 dates a year. He has been bandleader,...

Liane Carroll Trio

Saturday October 16
8:00 -10:30pm

Jazz critic Dave Gelly of The Observer has described her as "one of the most stylistically flexible pianists around, with a marvellous, slightly husky singing voice". According to John Fordham of The Guardian, she is "a powerful, soul-inflected performer with an Ella Fitzgerald-like improv athleticism...

Herts Youth Jazz Ensemble

Sunday October 17
11:30 -12:30pm

This is a FREE event! With an age range of 13 - 18 years,
Hertfordshire Youth Jazz Ensemble regularly perform at the Herts Jazz Festival each year and have previously worked on collaborative projects with groups such as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the...

Picante

Sunday October 17
1:00 - 2:00pm

Born from a library music album of compositions co-composed by leaders Derek and British Jazz Award-winning guitarist Dominic Ashworth, Picante is a Latin band that takes flavours from Buena Vista Social Club, Sergio Mendes, Stan Getz/Astrid Gilberto, Spyrogyra and the Gypsy Kings with their unique...

Nikki Iles/Stan Sulzmann Duo

Sunday October 17
2:20 - 3:10pm

Despite a long-standing musical friendship and frequent collaborations, it has been almost 20 years since Stan and Nikki recorded their first album “Treasure Trove” together. Their latest offering, “Stardust”, celebrates a shared love of songs, as well as featuring an original composition from each, and...

John Etheridge Quartet featuring Vasilis Xenopoulos

Sunday October 17
3:30 - 4:30pm

John Etheridge rightly enjoys a glowing reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described by Pat Metheny as, "One of the best guitarists". He is a prodigiously gifted and creative player whose approach to music can only be described as 'eclectic' as...

Winston Clifford

Sunday October 17
4:50 - 6:00pm

Winston Clifford is one of Britain’s leading jazz drummers. Since studying with ex-Tubby Hayes drummer Bill Eyden and with Trevor Tomkins at the Guildhall School of Music, he has gone on to play with many musicians including Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Jason Rebello, Gary Husband,...

Simon Spillett Big Band

Sunday October 17
8:00 -10:30pm

Award-winning saxophonist Simon Spillett brings his all-star Big Band to Bishop's Stortford to celebrate the life, work and legacy of Tubby Hayes, who played at what was then called the Rhodes way back in 1964.

In 2015, Simon Spillett published a biography of Tubby Hayes...