Every July Marlborough hosts its renowned jazz festival, and the Piano Shop Bath have been proud to continue our association with the festival through supplying pianos for the various events. The Marlborough Jazz Festival traces its roots to the 1980’s when the then Mayor of Marlborough made a promise to establish a festival to culturally enhance the area. Through years of hard work the festival has grown in size and importance, transforming into an important event in the cultural calendar of the South West.
The Marlborough Jazz Festival has been described as ‘part village fete, part festival’ (London Jazz review 2013), with all sorts of buildings being transformed into performing venues. The Piano Shop Bath supplied some great pianos, a Yamaha G2 grand piano to the town hall, a white Kawai KG2D grand piano to the Priory Gardens, and a Yamaha U3 upright piano to a cellar bar. Some of the highlights included Darius Brubeck, son of the late Dave Brubeck, playing his own music alongside his father’s music, double MOBO Award Winning Saxophonist YolanDa Brown, and the Bratislava Hot Serenaders, an 18-piece orchestra specialising in the revival of the Hot Jazz that arrived in Europe from America in the 1920s.
There was something for everyone with traditional jazz and blues, alongside more modern compositions and world music. The Marlborough Jazz Festival has gone from strength to strength every year, attracting more crowds and sponsors, so keep your eyes peeled for 2016 and another exciting programme!