The best in world to Hull this July

Jean Toussaint Sat 23 July

David Porter writes

J-Night is proud to present the 24th Summer Edition of Hull Jazz Festival, bringing the best in world jazz, funk and improvised music to venues across Hull from 21st to 24th July.

The festival opens on Thursday 21st July at Hull Truck Theatre with Minima’s stunning original live score to cult silent horror movie Nosferatu. Minima tease out the grim comedy in this darkly humorous yet tender tale of yearning, and draw the audience into the vampire’s nightmare world.

Friday 22nd July at Hull Truck Theatre sees double MOBO Award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown performing her Reggae Love Songs set with an incredible live band. You can expect a show that touches on jazz, soul and reggae, all wrapped up with an infectious set of fun.

The Friday night programme continues at Kardomah94, a new venue for Hull Jazz Festival, where gypsy jazz quartet Daj Dook, featuring Hull-born violinist Matt Holborn, will be channeling the spirit of Django Reinhardt. The finest in gypsy jazz with a modern swing, perfect for easing yourself into the weekend.

Across town at Fruit on Friday 22nd, New Hull Jazz is a special triple bill of homegrown Hull talent. Rapper Chiedu Oraka opens for local funk heroes Pearl’s Cab Ride and Refix Project, the exciting new collaboration fronted by Lyn Acton and Audrey Okyere-Fosu and featuring Dave Gawthorpe, producer Endoflevelbaddie, and multimedia visuals from Jay Moy.

Saturday 23rd July features a trio of incredible shows at Hull Truck Theatre. At 3pm Helen Watson, one of the UK’s premier jazz-blues singers, teams up with long time friend and collaborator, saxophonist Snake Davis, for an intimate set of rhythm and blues, jazz and soul standards, put together specially for Hull Jazz Festival. At 6pm saxophonist and former Jazz Messenger Jean Toussaint brings his Young Lions to Hull Truck with Roots & Herbs: The Blakey Project, his celebration of the music of late, great Art Blakey. With a line-up featuring some of the brightest rising stars in British jazz, this is the summer’s must-see jazz gig in Hull. Wrapping up proceedings at Hull Truck at 9pm on the Saturday, acid jazz legends James Taylor Quartet, renowned for their incredible funk-driven live performances, make a very welcome return to Hull.

The Saturday programme continues at Fruit with a festival double bill of beautiful, atmospheric live music. Snake Davis and Helen Watson appear again with Burden of Paradise, with a spellbinding acoustic set of evocative songs ranging from Bob Dylan to Dowland. Stuart McCallum: City sees the Cinematic Orchestra guitarist teaming up with Richard Spaven (drums), Zoe Chlotis (vocals) and John Ellis (keyboards) to create a new ambient-electronica-jazz soundscape.

On Sunday 24th July from 12:00 noon, a special Jazz Festival Brunch sees Manjula providing treats for the ears while delicious food is served at Hull Truck Café Bar. Their fusion of global sounds combines rhythms and melodies from Portuguese, African, Latin jazz and Indian cultures, led by Vanessa Rani Chutturghoon’s enchanting voice.

Full programme details are available online at www.jnight.org. Tickets for all Hull Truck shows are available from Hull Truck Theatre at www.hulltruck.co.uk or on 01482 323638 and for shows at Fruit from Hull Box Office at www.hullboxoffice.co.uk or on 01482 221113. Tickets for the Daj Dook show at Kardomah94 can be bought in person from Kardomah 94 or via Hull Box Office.