The countdown to Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023 is well and truly on.

In around 160 days, Cheltenham Jazz Festival will return, celebrating all genres of jazz through a mixture of international jazz icons, up-and-coming new artists and unique Festival performances.

We can't contain our excitement and to help get you in the mood, we're revealing some of the incredible names that will take to the stage, giving you a first look at what to expect.

We're delighted to announce that this year will see Gregory Porter return as Artistic curator and acclaimed American vocalist Lizz Wright will also take to the stage.  Fergus McCreadie, shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Prize and winner of 2022 Scottish Album of The Year and 2022 JazzFM Instrumentalist of the Year makes his Festival debut.

Norwegian guitarist Stian Westerhus will be performing twice, once solo and also with the CollapseUncollapse duo, Mark Sanders (drums) and Chris Mapp (electric bass). And Black Top (Orphy Robinson, vibes and electronics + Pat Thomas, piano) with saxophonist Xhosa Cole will also be performing.

And finally, all-woman trio, Skylla, which is led by Ruth Goller and with Lauren Kinsella and Alice Grant, will put on an epic show.

Mike Flynn, Editor of Jazzwise said: “Jazzwise is immensely proud of our longstanding media partnership with Cheltenham Jazz Festival that’s stood the test of time for over 15 years. The Festival matches our own outlook on jazz: to celebrate the greats while embracing brave new sounds and always pushing the music forward. It’s wonderful to see the first names announced for the 2023 festival representing that mix once again – with stellar US vocalists Gregory Porter and Lizz Wright appearing alongside cutting-edge talents from the UK such as Ruth Goller’s SKYLLA and Xhosa Cole, and the fearlessly creative Norwegian guitarist Stian Westerhus, all set to appear. It’s already shaping up to be another inspiring and invigorating programme – I can’t wait to be there!”

This is just a taste of what to expect at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023. Keep your eyes peeled for our programme announcement in January.