Crowds flock to the beginning of Edinburgh Jazz Festival

The music at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival encompasses all flavors of jazz. Old school styles like Dixieland, Swing and Ragtime are represented alongside up and coming jazz acts, big band performances, pub and street jams.

[image credit Ewan McIntosh]

Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra

This year’s festival marks the inaugural performances of the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra. This orchestra is comprised of eight premiere Scottish jazz musicians playing alongside eight European jazz musicians and eight United States jazz musicians. Two performances are scheduled.

Duke Ellington, whose epic jazz will be performed by the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra

The first performance will have the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra fronted by Joe Temperley, a world-renowned jazz saxophonist, who will lead the musicians in performing classic Duke Ellington music.

[image credit carbonated]

Robert Burns’ Lyrics Meet Jazz

David Milligan, a Scottish jazz pianist, will then lead the Edinburgh Jazz Festival orchestra, along with folk singers Annie Grace, Karine Polwart and Corrina Hewat, in the performance of a piece he composed himself that is inspired by the works of Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns.

What would Rabbie Burns think of his lyrics set to jazz we wonder...

Other performers for the 2009 Edinburgh Jazz Festival include Tommy Smith, Swedish pianist Jacob Karlzon and Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra which features Gilson Lavis, Dave Edmunds, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.

This year’s Edinburgh Jazz Festival runs from July 25th to August 3rd. People can take in free events like the pub and street jams of the Grassmarket Mardi Gras and the Ross Band Stand’s “Jazz on A Summer’s Day” celebration – where people can enjoy a stage and dance floor that is set to the spectacular scenery of the Edinburgh Castle.
[image credit Project 404]