Celebrate 100 years of jazz of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival sets the sound of summer 2017 with a programme celebrating the centenary of jazz.
Over 10 summer days, the Festival will celebrate 100 years of Jazz with a range of unique performances and special events.
The programme is packed with uplifting music, features over 170 concerts, with an eclectic array of performers across varied styles and generations from jazz legends and established blues stars to newcomers at the start of their careers.
Musical heavy-hitters in 2017 include guitar greats, John Scofield and Mike Stern, who are both performing with all star bands; The Bad Plus, the group who changed the face of the piano trio; new charismatic star singer and pianist Kandace Springs; the Music Makers Blues Revue with a galaxy of legendary southern blues veterans; Sarah McKenzie, the successor to Diana Krall. The ebullient Davina Sowers returns for an extended Festival residency and is joined by Italian troubadours Rumba de Bodas, who also stay for the ten days.
Lynne Halfpenny, Director of Culture for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "Marking 100 years of Jazz and 70 years of Edinburgh's Festival City status, the 2017 programme will bring a distinctive mix of music and international talent to the heart of the city.
"Taking the Festival back to where it all began in 1978, the Spiegeltent will be located in West Princes Street Gardens this summer while the newly renovated Rose Theatre will feature as a key Jazz Festival venue for the first time.
"Just as the venues are varied, the programme remains rich in diversity, with performers ranging from 18 to 80 encompassing every style of jazz and blues and related music. We are delighted to continue our support for the Festival in this milestone year."
With the backdrop of Edinburgh's skyline the Festival will take to the streets with two free events. The Mardi Gras in The Grassmarket (Saturday 15 July) and The Edinburgh Festival Carnival in Princes Street (Sunday 16 July).
Last year, the Festival featured 170 concerts, with over 70,000 people attending. Tickets are onsale now at www.edinburghjazzfestival.com.