Jazz on 3: Cheltenham Jazz Festival

I always love going to the Cheltenham Jazz Festival – there’s something about the atmosphere across the site, from the Big Top circus tent to the small theatres and outdoor free stages. People just turn up and give it a go, often coming across jazz for the first time – and that’s not just Frank (Sinatra) Jr sings Frank Snr but also cutting-edge music from the likes of saxophonist Denys Baptiste and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.

I saw loads of gigs and it’s great just to pop into things to check them out. On this evidence, fusion grandee Billy Cobham is still incredibly energetic at 70, Chris Mapp’s solo bass show blew my head off with feedback and distortion, and vocalist Kurt Elling’s version of Norwegian Wood is for me up there with the original. Also at the festival was saxophonist Iain Ballamy with his group Anorak, who you can hear on Jazz Line-Upthis coming Saturday in celebration of Iain’s 50th birthday.

Don’t worry, the Jazz on 3 team did some work while we were there too, recording three concerts that you can hear over the coming weeks. Ambrose Akinmusire is an astonishing trumpeter, snapped up by the Blue Note label a couple of years ago, who doesn’t need to show off to impress.

And Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen is someone we’ve followed on Jazz on 3 for many years. His new project Time Is A Blind Guide features British pianist Kit Downes alongside a string section. At 3pm the musicians hadn’t seen the music; at 9pm they played it perfectly – a really special gig.

You can hear tasters from both these concerts on tonight’s Jazz on 3, but this week the programme centres around German pianist Michael Wollny and his new trio. Wollny has earned critical acclaim over the last few years as one of Europe’s bright young things, and this gig really brought his new album to life for me. Seeing him and drummer Eric Schaefer work together was a joy, and he’s an incredible technician - it’s all there, from delicate classical touches to heavier, really burning passages, taking in everything from Hindemith to the Flaming Lips.

I almost forgot to mention the big news story of the festival – the first performance of big band Loose Tubes’ reunion. I won’t say any more now, except that it lived up to the hype, and that you’ll be able to hear the band recorded at their spiritual home, Ronnie Scott’s, on Jazz on 3 on 9 June.

Before that, join me from Cheltenham on Monday 12 May at 11pm, or listen online for seven days after broadcast.

Jez

If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on twitter at @BBCJazzon3.