Festival director Jim Smith
Festival chairman Walter Dickie
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One of the UK's biggest jazz events should be swinging again in 2007 as it returns to the mid Wales market town from August 9 to 12.
Organisers of Brecon Jazz have promised the return of music on the streets following audience comments about a lack of atmosphere at last year's festival.
Saxophonist Joe Lovano headlines this year's event as the first ever Artist in Residence in the festival's 24 year history.
He'll perform with the BBC Big Band in addition to a specially commissioned quartet featuring pianist Gareth Williams. Lovano will also hold a masterclass for some of Wales's finest young Welsh jazz musicians.
Other highlights include Jools Holland, Curtis Stigers, Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttelton, Mulgrew Miller, Martin Taylor, Mose Allison, Jazz Jamaica, Ray Gelato, Tony Coe, Andy Sheppard and Scott Hamilton.
There'll also be a tribute to jazz legend George Melly, founder patron of the festival, who recently died at the age of 80.
Women in Jazz is a theme for this year's event, with artists ranging from pianists Jessica Williams, Hiromi and Zoe Rahman to vocalists Tina May and Mica Paris. Welsh harpist Catrin Finch will also be showing her jazz chops in the Thursday eve-of-festival curtain-raiser concert.
Junior Groovers will feature children from local primary schools in an open workshop and performance led by flautist Eddie Parker, who gave a sneak preview at the festival launch event with children from Cradoc Primary school (above).
Hear Eddie and the children perform
Once again, there's a packed Stroller programme featuring the best of UK and local Welsh talent, including many bands back on the streets to due to public demand.
Writing on the Brecon Jazz website, festival director Jim Smith says: "We know that some of you missed the street music at Brecon last year.
"Much effort has gone into bringing street music back with the co-operation of the local authorities and the police service to ensure that the special atmosphere is back in Brecon for the festival weekend.
"We look forward to sharing this great festival of music with you once again."
My own tips for the weekend? I'm looking forward to hearing the evocative Alboran Trio, who are a kind of Mediterranean counterpart to the cool Scandinavian nu-jazz of EST.
There's also the bluesy jazz rock of Big Chief, plus trumpeter Jonny Bruce, appearing on the main programme as part of the Dave Stapleton Quintet, but leading his own fiery Latin combo in one of the Brecon Fringe events.
I'm also looking forward to performing on the Sunday afternoon with my own band Wonderbrass - hoping for another great reception as in previous years.
For full programme and booking details, see the website at www.breconjazz.co.uk* or phone 01874 611622.
Look out for festival highlights on the digital channel BBC Four and S4C later in the autumn.
See the Brecon Fringe website for details of other events and activities through the weekeend.
Andy Roberts is a jazz musician, DJ, and producer of the BBC Jazz in Wales website. He has also presented jazz shows on Radio Wales and will be performing at Brecon with Pontypridd's famous funky jazz band Wonderbrass*
*The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
