Huge names join first ever Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival
Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, the James Taylor Quartet and Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers to perform in November
Billy Childish & The Chatham Singers
Tickets are available for the first Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival in November.
The exciting line-up includes Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, the James Taylor Quartet and Billy Childish and the Chatham Singers, while special guests Nigel Price Organ Trio and the incredibly talented Claire Martin OBE join on the 18th November.
Running from 15th - 18th November, the festival will be raising funds for Rochester Cathedral. The cathedral receives no direct support from the government and limited support from the Church of England. Events like the Jazz and Blues Festival are vital for raising much-needed income for this historic landmark.
Internationally acclaimed musician James Taylor has played a pivotal role in curating the line-up, with many of the performers having strong ties with the Medway area.
“It would appear that Rochester punches well above its weight musically and for whatever reason has produced several musicians, performers and composers of note that have significantly influenced the shape of modern music culture around the UK and the world in disparate and intriguing ways,” says Taylor.
“It was therefore just a natural development to want to invite some of them to join together and perform a festival in the ancient, enigmatic and inspiring building, Rochester Cathedral, itself a centre of musical excellence.
“Point is, we don’t need to rent in our musical culture in this town when we have such a rich, powerful, diverse and provocative seam of our own talent. Whether it’s Chatham boy Billy Childish, whose blues-punk-inspired sound has influenced so many big players including Kurt Cobain and The White Stripes, or myself, James Taylor, a Strood boy who has been at the centre of a movement that saw British jazz and funk explode around the world.”
While the cathedral might be better known for choral music, it has embraced jazz music in recent years. In 2015, the James Taylor Quartet collaborated with the Rochester Cathedral Choir to produce the remarkable Rochester Mass.
“This festival is the fruition of a long-held dream for me personally. I’ve been so proud and excited to curate this run of shows simply by calling my oldest friends and also to contribute as a player myself because I believe this town can start celebrating its own unique, very cool, very sussed, musical heritage and hence the true musical potential of the new generations coming through,” adds Taylor.
“In short, it’s our own musicians playing at home in their own back garden and comprising a bill that would be the envy of any self-respecting jazz festival anywhere!”
James Taylor Quartet
LINE-UP
November 15th: 19:30 – 22:30
Billy Childish and the Chatham Singers
Billy Childish will open our Jazz and Blues Festival with the Chatham Singers. The Chatham Singers specialise in blues and country music.
November 16th: 19:30 – 22:30
19:30 – 22:30
One of the UK's finest big bands teeming with first-call players and appearing under the Musical Directorship of award winning band leader Pete Long. Part of our Jazz and Blues Festival at Rochester Cathedral.
November 17th: 19:30 – 22:30
The James Taylor Quartet return to Rochester Cathedral as part of our Jazz and Blues Festival
November 18th: 19:30 – 22:30
Nigel Price Organ Trio & Claire Martin OBE
Our Jazz and Blues Festival draws to a close with two incredible acts. The Nigel Price Organ Trio and vocalist, Claire Martin OBE.
www.rochestercathedral.org/jazz
