HSBC Cheltenham Jazz Festival
29 April - 5 May 2008

How do we choose the Jerwood Jazz Generation artists?

About the series:

'Over five years (2002 - 2006), the Jerwood Rising Stars programme provided me with a unique opportunity to programme and commission talented British jazz artists, giving Cheltenham the relatively unusual opportunity to nurture young musicians and to demonstrate the vitality of the British jazz scene.'

'This generation of Rising Stars have now graduated! Through award nominations, acclaimed albums, prestigious scholarships and worldwide tours, their profile is now very high.'

'With this in mind, our relationship with the Jerwood Charitable Foundation took a leap forward in 2007 as we established the Jerwood Jazz Generation series at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.'

'Our aim is to create and stimulate career-enhancing opportunities for talented jazz musicians - by providing new commissions, organising international collaborations and offering the freedom to perform large-scale creative projects without the usual financial restrictions upon artistic creativity.'

'In 2008 we have commissioned new projects from Iain Ballamy and Pete Wareham, while providing an opportunity for a second performance of Phil Robson's Six Strings & The Beat Project. We also offer key platforms for the launch of Soweto Kinch's A Life in The Day Part 2 and Outhouse Quartet's new collaboration with traditional Gambian drummers, Outhouse Ruhabi. We also showcase the bands of Dave Stapleton and Alcyona Mick who have both had a huge impact on the UK Jazz scene since their last appearances at Cheltenham.'

'Seeing the work presented at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and then grow afterwards in tours, recordings and broadcasts gives me a lot of pleasure. I do hope you will join us.'

Tony Dudley-Evans, Artistic Director

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