Welcome
The fourth Lincoln Jazz Festival set in the city’s spectacular Cathedral welcomes eighty superb jazz musicians, many young people just beginning their musical journeys and, of course, our audiences!
An exciting range of jazz styles and personalities, with ticketed and free-to-enter events, offers something for most ages and tastes. Highlights and firsts include YolanDa Brown’s child-centred Band Jam! gig, a New Orleans-style jazz supper, with pianist-vocalist Dom Pipkin kicking up a storm, an emotional homecoming finale for The Dave O’Higgins Biggish Band, 25 years on, and some guest appearances from myself!
A massive thank you to all our sponsors whose generous support has made this year’s festival possible and, not least, to the fabulous team at Lincoln Cathedral. Here’s to a great weekend!
Dennis Rollins MBE Artistic Director, Lincoln Jazz Festival
Friday 4 July, 7.30pm – 9.45pm.
YolanDa Brown
In the Nave
Two sets with an interval
We’re thrilled to welcome our dynamic and multi-faceted headline act YolanDa Brown OBE DL. Chart-topping saxophonist, band-leader, composer, broadcaster, as well as being recent chair of Youth Music and now the BPI – behind the BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize – double MOBO and Women in Music Awards winner among many more roles and accolades. For this concert, YolanDa will reimagine iconic tunes from Bob Marley’s songbook – he would have turned 80 this year – celebrating his life and music alongside her own songs, creating a heady fusion of jazz, reggae and soul.
Saturday 5 July, 10.30am – 11.30am
YolanDa’s Band Jam!
In the Nave
Saturday morning sees a real gear-change! YolanDa brings her critically-acclaimed CBeebies TV show YolanDa’s Band Jam to the live stage, an exciting show for primary-aged children, parents, even grandparents! Dubbed “Jools Holland for kids”, YolanDa and her ‘Band Jaminals’ inspire children to discover the joys of music-making, rhythm and instruments through dancing, singing and playing, expanding their knowledge and understanding of different musical sounds and styles. Children from four local primary schools will join in with a song they have worked on prior to the festival.
Saturday 5 July, 12noon – 1.15pm
The Heavy Beat Brass Band!
On the Dean’s Green
Free performance!
This young, energetic New Orleans-style brass band brings vibrant street jazz from the heart of Birmingham! The collective is immersed in the rich New Orleans traditions, mastering the iconic 2nd line marching bass, snare drum and sousaphone rhythm section, then fusing it with free-flowing improvisation and pop-influences. Celebrating tradition, innovation and the raw, driving energy of today’s New Orleans street music. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Saturday 5 July, 2pm – 3.15pm
Liane Carroll
In the Chapter House
A scintillating entertainer. “One of Britain’s most emotionally visceral and accomplished singers,” according to The Independent. “A musical force of nature…world class,” said The Guardian. “Utterly brilliant,” says Time Out.
After touring in many bands, forming her own trio, becoming a singer-songwriter and respected session musician, Liane has focused on jazz since 2005. She is a multi award-winning jazz pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and sell-out performer at Ronnie Scott’s and worldwide, with several critically-acclaimed albums.
“…She seems in some magical way to be made out of music.” The Observer
Saturday 5 July, 3.45pm – 5pm
Edgar Macías Quintet plays Buena Vista Social Club
In the Chapter House
Back by popular demand! Buena Vista Social Club was both the name of an extraordinary group of musicians and their 1996 album, recorded in Havana’s 1950s vintage EGREM studios. Something special had taken place, but no one predicted its worldwide success, winning a Grammy in 1997 and, at eight million copies, outselling any other record in the genre. This exciting project is Edgar Macías’ ‘take’ on the album, each track re-arranged and adapted for this talented quintet.
Saturday 5 July, 5.15pm – 7pm
Dom Pipkin plays Jambalaya Jazz!
The Soul of New Orleans at the piano.
In the Cathedral Café
Enjoy our exciting jazz party featuring Dom Pipkin, hailed as the UK’s foremost New Orleans blues piano virtuoso by jazz legends Allen Toussaint and Dr John and music aficionados alike – with a bowl of Jambalaya! Yes, your ticket includes soulful music, soul food, storytelling, laughter and, as Paloma Faith says: “When Dom plays, magic happens!”
Book early before it sells out. (You might catch Dom playing a late session at the White Hart Hotel after Saturday’s festival.)
“One of the greatest exponents of New Orleans piano.” Blues in Britain
Saturday 5 July, 7.15pm – 8.30pm
Sounds Easy Big Band
In the Nave
Founded over 50 years ago during a thriving local Big Band scene, Sounds Easy is one of the county’s few remaining Big Bands. Led by Mike Keating, eighteen of the area’s best musicians, with Charlie Buck on vocals, will play an eclectic programme, with arrangements by Quincy Jones and Gordon Goodwin to Count Basie and Glenn Miller – and some surprises.
Saturday 5 July, 9pm – 10.45pm
Steely Jazz
In the Chapter House
Steely Jazz celebrates two giants of 20th Century popular music. The songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, aka Steely Dan, stood alone in 1970s rock: cryptic, pungent lyrics and sophisticated, detailed music deeply influenced by ‘the best jazz players of the ‘50s and ‘60s.’ Chris Ingham’s silky-smooth quintet, with a stellar line-up, re-examines the Steely Dan canon, its singular melodies, rich harmonies, exquisite playing, exploring the small jazz group possibilities of an incomparably opulent songbook from albums like Aja, Gaucho and Katy Lied.
Sunday 6 July, 10.30am – 11.45am
Jazz Eucharist Service
In St Hugh’s Choir
All services are free to attend
Featuring musicians from Steely Jazz with Lincoln Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Aric Prentice, this popular collaboration brings a refreshing, upbeat feel to the service, including for the first time Bob Chilcott’s Nidaros Jazz Mass setting. Participation in the gospel choruses always welcome!
Sunday 6 July, 12.15pm – 1pm
St George’s Academy Session Band
In the Chapter House
Free performance!
This Sleaford-based school ensemble features students with a high level of instrumental skill, most of them aspiring to a career in the music industry. The Session Band provides opportunities to experience what it is like to work as a professional session musician. Dennis Rollins and Dave Chambers’ Lincs Music Services team will provide some additional mentoring prior to the festival.
Sunday 6 July, 1.30pm – 2.45pm
Tommy Smith and Peter Johnstone
In the Chapter House
Saxophonist Smith and former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year pianist Johnstone represent two generations of Scottish jazz mastery. Smith has been on the world stage since his teenage years with Gary Burton while Johnstone, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s resident pianist, is fast building an international reputation. Covering classics by Ellington, Getz, Corea and Brecker, their set also draws on Smith’s compositions and international folk influences in exciting musical conversations.
“Tommy has a unique sound and approach.” – Chick Corea.
Sunday 6 July, 3.15pm – 4.30pm
Matt Ratcliffe’s Unity Quartet
In the Chapter House
Unity is a Hammond organ quartet in the mode of classic 1960s bands featuring organists such as Larry Young, Jimmy Smith, ‘Big’ John Patton, Lonnie Smith, ‘Brother’ Jack McDuff and Jack McGriff. They defined a sound that would evolve into soul jazz, fusion and ‘70s funk and groove, the Hammond sound bringing the gospel of the church to the club – or, in this case, back to the Cathedral!
Sunday 6 July, 6.15pm – 7.30pm
Electric Gumbo
In the Chapter House
With many new tunes emerging outside the scope of existing projects, East Midlands-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Simon Paterson decided to explore how the studio environment could enhance his creativity. Electric Gumbo emerged, his ‘delicious melting pot of aural delights.’ After reaching out to musicians he’d been playing with to collaborate on a song-by-song basis, seventeen leading jazz, funk and electronic artists helped record the nine tracks on a new LP ‘It’s On!’ This nine-piece group is currently ripping it up live and enthralling audiences.
Sunday 6 July, 8.15pm – Finish
The Dave O’Higgins Biggish Band
In the Chapter House
25 years ago, Jazzpac secured funding from the Dankworth Organisation and St Hugh’s Foundation to bring ten young jazz musicians, ‘The Squad’, to Lincoln to promote live jazz in the regions. They stayed for a week, playing venues, schools, shopping centres and libraries to a great reception. The original Squad included a young Dave O’Higgins, now one of the UK’s great saxophonists, who kept the ‘dream team’ together as his Biggish Band. We are delighted to welcome back the original Squad, now an all-star group of award-winning jazz greats, for an emotional finale!
Ticket Prices
(unallocated seating throughout)
Weekend Ticket
Standard £125
Day Tickets
Friday £28
Saturday £58
Sunday £58
Session Tickets
Saturday afternoon £32
Saturday evening £32
Sunday afternoon £32
Sunday evening £32
Students and U18s
Half of the above prices
YolanDa’s Band Jam! Saturday 5 July, 10.30am, The Nave. £9 per person.
All adults and children must have a ticket, except for babes in arms aged 12 months or younger. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, with no more than 3 children per adult, please.
Dom Pipkin plays Jambalaya Jazz! £19 (includes food)
Saturday 5th July, 5.15pm, Cathedral Café.
Ticket includes an informal Cajun-style Jambalaya dish and music. (Please advise of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking)
Bar facilities available throughout
Many thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters:
Arts Council England | Jazzpac | Postlethwaite Music Foundation | The John Dawber Trust | MJazz
FLINSO | The White Hart Hotel | Investors in Lincoln | Lincolnshire Music Services | Lincoln Cathedral | Visit Lincoln
