Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023 shows the way for jazz and live events

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023 ended another year with an electric celebration of jazz, including contemporary leading lights such as Gregory Porter and Laura Mvula while looking forward to the next generation of stars.

Artistic Guest Curator Gregory Porter brought the curtain down on six days of music to celebrate his concluding year in the role, along with special guests Van Morrison, Lizz Wright and Giacomo Smith, in a special broadcast for the BBC.

With stars gracing the Festival’s multiple stages including Damian Lewis, Squeeze and MIKA, the Festival drew its jazz net deliberately wide, drawing in jazz virtuosos such as Espen Eriksen, Laura Jurd and Julian Lage, powerful vocalists including Mica Millar, Sarah Brown and Tony Hadley, and crossover artists like Will Young, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Rufus Wainwright. The Festival attracted thousands of people to the spa town to enjoy the widest possible range of jazz-influence music.

Stars of tomorrow took to the spotlight in this year’s line-up, with showcase events in the Jazz Arena featuring emerging stars Tamzene and Immy, a sold-out show for previous showcase alumnus Georgia Cécile, and shows from jazz students at Birmingham Conservatoire, Mercury-nominated pianist Fergus McCreadie, well-regarded
singer-songwriter Rosie Frater-Taylor and much talked-about vocalist Lucy-Anne Daniels.

Jazz FM’s UK Jazz Act of the Year and Vocalist of the Year 2022 Georgia Cécile reflected on the Festival’s role in her own career: “I had a bit of an emotional realisation to think of this as a full circle moment from playing the Free Stage in 2018 five years ago to playing a sold-out show to 600-plus people.”

Superstars Ezra Collective expressed similar feelings about the Festival at their sold-out Cheltenham Town Hall show. Drummer Femi Koleoso told the crowd: “Ten years ago we played the Free Stage when we weren’t even called Ezra Collective. God bless Cheltenham Jazz Festival for allowing those bands to have these opportunities, because without those moments then headlining moments don’t happen.”

Hundreds of people gathered onsite across the May Bank Holiday weekend, including 1250 children attending the Jazz Concert for Schools on the Festival’s biggest stage, and tickets donated via local charity partnerships to marginalised communities including refugees. Cheltenham Jazz Festival is in this way widening the audience for jazz, incubating its next generation – and securing its future as a vibrant, diverse and accessible musical genre.

The Festival’s approach to steering towards the future extends to sustainability and accessibility, too. A switch to HVO fuel for 2023 has seen its CO2 emissions plummet from 22.07 tonnes last year to 0.28 tonnes this year. Adjustments including new viewing platforms have led to a sector-leading approach to accessibility both front of house for audiences and backstage for artists and crews.

A kaleidoscope of jazz also spilled into the Festival town itself, as people enjoyed free music on the Festival Village Free Stage as well as in over 50 pubs, bars and clubs all weekend across the town. And Andrew Woodhead’s new commission for Jerwood Jazz Encounters, Waves II, transformed Montpellier Woods into an innovative exploration of bellringing, featuring eight swinging pendulums.

“Every Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a team effort, and this year was no different,” said Ali Mawle, co-CEO of Cheltenham Festivals. “Thank you to every artist, audience member, supporter, sponsor, partner and volunteer. 2023 was a celebration of the breadth and depth of jazz music, and ensuring that it can inspire and bring joy to the widest possible audience. We’ll see you all next year!”