And all that Jazz!

25 May 2014

There can be few hipper venues then the Spiegeltent, the pop-up entertainment saloon with velvet booths, wooden floors, and mirrored walls. And tomorrow starts a week-long smorgasbord of acts from Harrogate International Festivals in Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, featuring some of the biggest names in jazz, cabaret, and folk.

With its own bottle bar, it’s a night out with a difference, offering a chance to see some of the funkiest acts at work today.
Kitten and the Hip open on Friday 30 May 2014 at 8pm.

Trombone player and ex pop star Ashley Slater (aka Hip) joined forces with singer songwriter Scarlett Quinn (aka Kitten) to create the electro-Swing act. For the uninitiated, electro swing is the sound of pop meeting swing, taking the traditional traits of jazz while adding the essence of pop.

Ashley Slater is best known for his work with Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) in the band Freak Power. Matched with the insane vocals of the talented Scarlett Quinn, Kitten and the Hip hits, Shut Up and Dance and Shake It Out, are ideal summer anthems to get you into that summertime feeling, even if it rains.

New Orleans infused jazz comes from the remarkable Django a la Creole, who play Monday 2 June at 8pm.
This international group features the hallmarks of New Orleans Jazz including blues, rhythms of the monde Créole, and collective improvisation.

The band is led by clarinettist Evan Christopher, who was one of the 4,000 displaced musicians following the devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The clarinettist was offered an artist residency in Paris, where he formed Django a la Creole. He’s been praised as one of the greatest jazz clarinettists of ‘all time’ Featuring Don Vappie, a world renowned jazz musician from New Orleans, Dave Kelbie, one of the most sought after rhythm guitarists, and Australian bass player Sebastien Girardot, a musician in wide demand across Europe, it promises to be a world-class act.

On Wednesday 4 June at 8pm, the Gary Crosby Groundation band headline.
Acclaimed bassist and band leader, Gary Crosby OBE, is known for big jazz gigs in prestigious venues. Groundation is a more intimate project, perfect for the Spiegeltent.

Crosby describes Groundation as a ‘group discussion’ between himself (double bass), award-winning horns-man Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), and rising stars Shirley Tetteh (guitar) and Moses Boyd (drums). The band use progressive jazz with some Afrobeat accents interspersed with thoughtful ballads to create an exceptional experience for audiences.

Few people have done more for British jazz in the last 25 years than Gary Crosby, and this is a rare opportunity to experience an intimate gig from the master.

To find out more about the acts and booking information, call Box Office: 01423 562303 or visit www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

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