Gregory Porter, Jamie Cullum, Katie Melua, Level 42, Sergio Mendes, Abdullah Ibrahim, Curtis Stigers, James Morrison, Nubya Garcia, Swing Out Sister and more to perform at 6-day event in May

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns in 2019 with its trademark broad-appeal mix of the very best classic and contemporary jazz, soul, blues and pop. Taking place from 1-6 May in the idyllic Cotswold Regency surroundings, this year’s festival will host an array of world premieres, exclusive UK concerts, and Festival debuts from international superstars and the best emerging talent from around the globe.

Set for Cheltenham this year are performances from newly appointed Associate Curator Jamie Cullum, who has handed the baton of Artistic Curator to multi-Grammy-winning Gregory Porter for the next three years. In addition to a much-anticipated headline show, Porter has handpicked a range of his favourite artists to perform throughout the Festival (more details below). Brazilian bossa-nova legend Sergio Mendes and jazz-infused pop gurus Swing Out Sister make rare UK appearances, while platinum-selling singer-songwriter Katie Melua, chart-topping Curtis Stigers with the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, popular US vocalist Madeleine Peyroux, Brit-Award-winning soulful hitmaker James Morrison, million-selling jazz-funksters Level 42, and revered South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, whose Cheltenham show is a UK exclusive, are all set to descend on the 2000-capacity Henry Westons Big Top venue.

Amongst Gregory Porter’s picks are three powerhouse vocalists on the rise: US singer Charenee Wade, Russian-born Snarky Puppy collaborator Alina Engibaryan, and acclaimed pianist and songwriter Kandace Springs. Trailblazing British saxophonist Soweto Kinch and Swiss vocalist Andreas Schaerer kick off the celebrated Parabola Arts Centre programme with the world premiere of their new project. Rising jazz star Yazz Ahmed will present an exclusive preview of her latest project Polyhymnia, big-time saxophonist David Sanborn will showcase his Acoustic Band at the Town Hall, legendary British jazz-funk outfit Incognito celebrate their 40th anniversary in style with the UK debut of a new collaboration, plus twelve-time Grammy-nominated pianist Fred Hersch and US saxophonist Joshua Redman play their only UK tour dates at the Festival. A diverse range of acts will populate this year's Jazz Arena programme including MOBO-nominated soulstress Andreya Triana, titan trio The Bad Plus, new supergroup Rymden - formed of Bugge Wessletoft and EST’s Dan Berglund and Magnus Öström - and the National Jazz Youth Orchestra, who will celebrate women’s contribution to jazz throughout history. The innovative Musical Encounters strand returns in 2019, this time with Jazz Puddles; an interactive artwork installation by artist Mike Blow, which will playfully bring jazz to the streets of Cheltenham.

BBC Radio 2, the Festival’s long-standing media partners, will host live onsite broadcasts across the weekend including a special Friday Night Is Music Night: The Song of Soho presented by John Sessions and featuring guest singers Georgie Fame, Tommy Blaize and Vanessa Haynes, accompanied by Guy Barker and the BBC Concert Orchestra, plus there will be live broadcasts from Jo Whiley, as well as from Cerys Matthews and Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6Music.

DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson will present some of the leading lights of the UK jazz scene for his specially curated concert series in a new pop-up venue including high-flying London-based saxophonist Nubya Garcia, trippy jazz outfit Vels Trio and groove-driven keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones. Jazz and hip hop-inspired pianist and producer Alfa Mist, genre-defying trio Vula Viel, and hotly-tipped young vocalist Cherise Adams Burnett, who has been nominated as Vocalist of the Year at the 2019 Jazz FM Awards, are also amongst the flourishing emerging talent on the bill.

The Festival offers a litany of inspirational opportunities for young people, including interactive shows for pre-schoolers in the Yamaha Discovery Space, performances for local school jazz bands including the ‘Jazz It Up’ showcase on the Free Stage, as well as offering a behind-the-scenes visit to the Friday Night Is Music Night rehearsal for students interested in the music industry, with the opportunity to meet the BBC Radio 2 producer and other professionals involved in the show. 

Once again the free fringe …around town programme will hit the streets, pubs and clubs of Cheltenham with over 90 free gigs throughout the festival weekend. The ‘Showcase’ project will open its doors for two emerging artists who have previously participated in …around town by giving them the chance to play in the 600-seat Jazz Arena, as well as offering a 6-month package of career support including a mentoring session with key music industry figures.

The 2019 Cheltenham Jazz Festival is hosted in a tented festival village in the town centre’s Montpellier Gardens, featuring the Henry Westons Big Top stage, JazzArena, Free Stage, Yamaha Discovery Space, a programme of family activities and events and a food, drink and market area.  The Festival reaches beyond the festivalvillage into Cheltenham bringing jazz to venues throughout the day until late into the night.  These include Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham Ladies’ College Parabola Arts Centre, Hotel du Vin, The Daffodil, the Lucky Onion’s No 131, a new pop-up venue plus a dozen more clubs and bars and three street stages in the …around town programme.

Tickets go on sale to Members at 10am on Wednesday 27 February 2019 and on general sale from 10am on Wednesday 6 March 2019.