The Liverpool International Jazz Festival returns to The Capstone Theatre this February for its fourth year. The 2016 festival announces one of its best line-ups yet with a collation of international artists, emerging talent from the northwest and plenty of workshops and other events to get stuck in to.
The line-up will include ticketed concerts from French percussionist/composer Pascal Schumacher, Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine and British saxophone legends Courtney Pine and Andy Sheppard. Alongside these concerts there will be free admission sets from some of the best artists and bands from the North West, including bands from Jazz North’s Northern Line rostra and Merseyside based groups being showcased by LiverpoolJazz.
In addition to all this is a free Milapfest concert by sarod player Sudeshna Bhattacharya, and with various workshops and other events yet to be announced, LIJF 2016 looks to be as varied and entertaining as ever.
The festival kicks off on Thursday 25th February at 7.30pm with Pascal Schumacher. Winner of Echo Jazz Instrumentalist of Year in 2012, Schumacher’s flair for improvisation is married to a lucid inventiveness which together creates an original sound as visionary as it is melodic.
Watch: https://youtu.be/ogmW_cYayGI
Tickets £11.50
On Friday 26th February, guitarist Philip Catherine introduces his Quartet (7.30pm). Catherine has been on the forefront of the European jazz scene since the sixties and worked with many of the greats, including Chet Baker, Stéphane Grappelli, Charlie Mingus and Dexter Gordon.
Watch: https://youtu.be/ViH87_CxmY8
Tickets £11.50
Following five free admission sets throughout the day on Saturday 27th FebruaryCourtney Pine makes a welcome return to LIJF as the Saturday night headliner (7.30pm). This latest project, his 16th studio album to date, is a stripped back intimate show in which he takes to the stage playing bass clarinet accompanied only by fellow Mercury nominee and MOBO Award winning Pianist, Zoe Rahman.
Watch: https://youtu.be/pvUbWVzz7x8
Tickets £11.50
The final day of the festival (Sunday 28th February 7.30pm) sees a performance and free workshop from Andy Sheppard. Andy Sheppard has emerged as one of Britain’s foremost tenor and soprano saxophonists. A successful recording artist, band-leader and composer, he has worked with an astonishing range of musical partners including the three great post-war band-leaders, Carla Bley, George Russell and Gil Evans. He also has a vast range of his own bands and projects, now recording for the legendary label ECM Records.
Watch: https://youtu.be/NMNpKWwcW7U
Tickets £11.50
While LIJF prides itself on bringing jazz from around the world to the Capstone Theatre, this year’s festival also has a strong Liverpool flavour. LiverpoolJazz and Liverpool International Jazz Festival have hand-picked some of the best artists from Liverpool’s Jazz scene and each selected artist will be performing in a free showcase concert on Sunday 28th February from 1pm. The artists will include;Viktor Nordberg Trio, Ginger Tunes and The Weave.
Neil Campbell, Festival Director said: “Liverpool International Jazz Festival continues to forge an eclectic route through the genre, celebrating creativity at all levels, from locally to internationally. I hope it will bring music lovers of all persuasions to explore what is being presented here, not just Jazz aficionados but curious and open-minded people keen to enjoy new musical experiences. There are also plenty of free performances which we hope will encourage as many people as possible to come along and enjoy the Festival.”
For tickets and information on all the LIJF artists please visit:
http://www.thecapstonetheatre.
https://www.ticketquarter.co.
Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2016
Thursday 25th February-Sunday 28th February 2016
Capstone Theatre
Shaw Street
Liverpool