Jazz & Blues Festival returns to Rochester Cathedral this November
After an incredible debut last year, this festival will showcase world class musical acts once more
Image by Steve Hartridge
Rochester Cathedral has announced the return of its Jazz & Blues Festival, taking place from the 12th to 16th November.
Following an incredible debut last year, this festival not only showcases world class musical acts but also plays a vital role in supporting the preservation of this historic landmark.
Curated by jazz legend, James Taylor, the festival features a stellar line up that promises to delight jazz enthusiasts. James Taylor himself will kick off the event with the James Taylor Quartet, renowned for their funky acid jazz sound.
The festival will continue with performances from the internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band, who will bring swinging renditions of classic TV and movie themes. They will be followed by the UK’s number one jazz pianist, Jason Rebello, known for his collaborations with legends like Sting and Jeff Beck.
On Friday evening, the Laurence Cottle Big Band will pay tribute to the iconic Tower of Power, celebrating over 50 years of their funky music. The festival will conclude with a special anniversary concert featuring Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio alongside the Britten Sinfonia Strings, marking 20 years of the trio’s remarkable journey.
James Taylor expressed his enthusiasm for the festival: “As a local boy born and bred and a lifelong professional musician, I’m so excited that Rochester now has its own Jazz and Blues Festival. It’s such a privilege to contribute to the ever-expanding cultural life of this town, especially with the cathedral at its heart. The public has welcomed this musical initiative so warmly, and it’s thrilling to see audiences of over 700 packing the nave.”
Last year’s festival wowed audiences with sell-out performances, including those by Ronnie Scott’s Big Band. Rochester Cathedral has hopes that this will become an annual event helping to raise much-needed funds for the cathedral’s upkeep which receives limited support from government sources.
The Jazz Festival is another example of the ways cathedrals are diversifying the types of events they are holding to raise income and attract new audiences. In October the Cathedral was transformed by a spectacular lightshow by Luxmuralis attracting thousands of visitors. Earlier in the summer a huge art installation of a dragon was displayed in the Nave to celebrate 900 years of Textus Roffensis, a medieval manuscript written at the Cathedral.
The Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival takes place between the 12th to 16th November. Tickets are on sale now through the Rochester Cathedral website.
Image by Steve Hartridge
