Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend to Warm up Southport

Jan 27 2010 Formby Times

SOUTHPORT’S sixth contemporary jazz festival will offer a hand picked feast of musical talent.

Jazz on a Winter’s Afternoon, which runs at the Clifton Hotel from Feb 5-7 boasts 81 of the country’s hottest contemporary jazz musicians playing 11 full length concerts.

Geoff Matthews, festival director, says the likes of saxophonist Alan Barnes - a guest with the Al Wood Big Band and in a session with pianist David Newton’s quartet - had made this year’s festival sing.

“We’ve been very lucky to get the Royal Northern College of Music Big Band for a Steely Dan set.

“Vocalist Cleveland Watkiss is another big draw and he’ll be running workshops for singing enthusiasts afterwards.

Drummer Martin Drew Robin Aspland to his New Couriers line-up, with BBC 3 along to record them and also the Ian Dixon/Mike Walker Quintet on Saturday morning.

Joe Stilgoe will show he’s inherited his father Richard’s lyrical dexterity. “He reminds me of Noel Coward,” enthuses Geoff.