2010

Ian George, Executive Director — on Jazz 2010...

As the dust settles on this years Jazz Festival we are beginning to reflect on what was a hugely successful and enjoyable Festival.

I personally very much enjoyed my first year as the Festival’s Executive Director and I’m really looking forward to building on everything that we achieved this year in planning for an even better festival in 2011.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank...all the brilliant musicians who performed across the festival, our first ever Guest Director Jamie Cullum and of course our wonderful audiences who attended the events...

Ian George, Executive Director, Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Outstanding performances

It was great to see a wide range of outstanding performances including Elaine Paige’s exclusive appearance at the Daffodil, some excellent Pillar Room shows from the finest young British stars and international acts including Food, Fly and Kit Downes with his trio, the premiere of Dave Holland’s beautiful flamenco collaboration with Pepe Habichuela, Jamie Cullum’s electrifying performance in the Town Hall, and a number of sold out gigs in our new jazz arena including Norwegian stars Beady Belle and Farmers Market.

We finished in style with an amazing show featuring Paloma Faith and an orchestra led by the brilliant Guy Barker closing the festival.

A big thanks

I hope everyone who joined us enjoyed their visit to their festival and went away with their own personal highlights and memories. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who made the festival possible, our festival sponsors and partners, all my colleagues at Cheltenham Festivals, the excellent production staff and team of volunteers, all the brilliant musicians who performed across the festival, our first ever Guest Director Jamie Cullum and of course our wonderful audiences who attended the events and contributed to the fantastic atmosphere at the gigs and in our new Jazz on the Square page.

Please do take the opportunity to read the excellent reviews from the festival on our website (below), send us your feedback and watch out for more updates.

We hope you will join us again next year on 27 April–2 May for the 2011 Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Brilliant reviews — for the 2010 Jazz Festival...

• Birmingham Post
• Financial Times
• The Guardian
• The Independent
• Jazzwise magazine
• Telegraph
• Times Online

“...the best new stuff I've heard in an age came from the Birmingham-based Irish composer Sid Peacock, whose young, 16-piece big band played inspiring, wildly creative music...”

The Independant

“This year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival seemed more exuberant and multifarious than ever...”

 Telegraph