Date: Thursday 21 May

Beyond the Blue

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Matt & Phreds

Jude LaneΒ pianoΒ / Jack DevonshireΒ altoΒ saxophoneΒ /Β Cam RossiΒ tenorΒ saxophoneΒ /Β Joe TzabarΒ guitarΒ /Β Cubby HowardΒ celloΒ / Alex BreshΒ bassΒ /Β Jonah PhillipsΒ drumsΒ Β 

Beyond the BlueΒ are a fast-rising London band whose music – written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane – draws influence from UK dance music,Β jazzΒ and classical music, with the unusual instrumentationΒ ofΒ cello, guitar, alto,Β tenorΒ and rhythm section.Β Β 

They have played a number ofΒ sell-outΒ showsΒ atΒ The Vortex Jazz Club,Β HootanannyΒ Brixton,Β Milton Court Concert HallΒ (as a part of the EFG London Jazz Festival).Β They have also opened for many established artists such as Omar, MosesΒ YoofeeΒ Trio, Blue Lab Beats, EbiΒ SodaΒ and Rosie Frater-Taylor and have played at renowned festivals Love Supreme and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.Β 

Β β€œβ€¦their sound crosses genres and pushes boundaries whilst retaining their roots in the UK jazz scene.” –Β VoicemagΒ UKΒ 

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Price: Free

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Finite Experience

Band on the Wall (The Copper Bar)

TerhileΒ AdamuΒ guitarΒ /Β Lauren HeywoodΒ vocals /Β Briana SmithΒ fluteΒ /Β Lucca SivoriΒ keyboardsΒ /Β Sean O’DonnellΒ bassΒ /Β Roc deΒ YzaguirreΒ drums

The Finite Experience is an Afro Jazz-FusionΒ and neo-soul collective from LiverpoolΒ that serves as a vessel forΒ bandleader/multi-instrumentalistΒ Terhile’sΒ creativeΒ voice. Through this evolving soundscape,Β theΒ bandΒ blends the rhythmic richness of Afrobeat with the improvisational spirit of jazz, inviting listeners into a world where tradition and innovation coexist in harmony.Β 

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm

Price: Free

Olivia Cuttill & Friends Play the Legends of Jazz

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Forsyth Music Shop

7pm doors & Prosecco drinks reception
7.30pm: Olivia on stage

Olivia Cuttill trumpet / James Absalom tenor saxophone / Tom Harris grand piano / Josh Vadiverloo double bass / Miles Pillinger drumsΒ 

2026Β marksΒ the centenary ofΒ a host ofΒ jazz legendsΒ –Β Miles Davis, John Coltrane, RayΒ BrownΒ andΒ manyΒ others, whoΒ builtΒ a formative jazz repertoire that still resonates with musicians and listeners today.Β For this intimate and unamplified concert inΒ Forsyth’sΒ historicΒ piano showroom,Β theΒ sparkling Olivia leads aΒ quintet of fast-rising starsΒ throughΒ aΒ selectionΒ ofΒ landmarkΒ 50s and 60s be-bopΒ tunesΒ made famous by those icons, fromΒ albums such asΒ Kind of Blue,Β Giant Steps,Β Milestones…Β Β 

PresentedΒ asΒ part tribute and part show-and-tell, Olivia,Β MilesΒ and friendsΒ willΒ honour the authentic sound of those classic recordings andΒ share theirΒ personalΒ insightsΒ intoΒ whyΒ theyΒ continue to beΒ inspired byΒ –Β andΒ breathe life into – thisΒ ever-evolvingΒ music createdΒ overΒ three generationsΒ ago.Β Β 

Raised in East London, a graduate from Leeds Conservative and alumnus fromΒ mjf’sΒ hothouse programme, Olivia comes from a musical family of three generations. Elements of soul, jazz and blues run deep through her sound, as doΒ influencesΒ ofΒ Nina Simone, ArethaΒ FranklinΒ andΒ Louis Armstrong. SheΒ performs with fluency and conviction: a bright, fast-blossoming flower of the new generation of jazz artists.Β Β Β 

Manchester-born drummer and composer Miles Pillinger intertwines the raw improvised energy of jazz with the rich, uplifting rhythms and melodies of Brazil, inspired byΒ AirtoΒ Moreira, Brian Blade and Max Roach. SinceΒ graduating from Leeds Conservatoire, Miles hasΒ honed hisΒ energetic,Β sensitiveΒ and adaptive playingΒ in variousΒ groupsΒ (Mangorata, Tara Lily,Β NYJO), bringing joy to his listeners.Β He is this year’sΒ winner of the covetedΒ Peter Whittingham Award.Β 

7pm doors & Prosecco drinks reception
7.30pm: Olivia on stage

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm

Price: Β£25 (includes glass of Prosecco)

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Calico

Band on the Wall (The Copper Bar)

Amy Griffiths vocals, acoustic guitarΒ /Β Sarah HindΒ flute,Β saxophone,Β vocalsΒ /Β Sam WinterbottomΒ keyboards, vocals, guitar, samplesΒ /Β Tommy SarosiΒ bassΒ /Β Jordan PryceΒ drumsΒ 

Hailing from Manchester and the hills of the Peak District, Calico are a 5-piece collectiveΒ fusingΒ pop hooks, catchyΒ melodiesΒ and blissful harmonies with elements of jazz, folk, blues, samba, and trip hop.Β Β 

MergingΒ influences from HiatusΒ KaiyoteΒ to Sault via Erykah Badu,Β ZeroΒ 7, Robert Glasper, 4hero, John Martyn, and Portishead, a Calico song is as likely to soundtrack a hot summer’s evening dancingΒ intoΒ the early hours, as it is a crisp autumn night by the fire.Β 

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Price: Free

OCT x mjf presents: Her Revelation + Lullaby – Sonic Cradle

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George Street Chapel

Another first forΒ mjfΒ as we expand our 2026 partnerships, joining forces with Greater Manchester’s historic, long-running repertory theatre, OldhamΒ Coliseum.Β OCTΒ is celebrated for itsΒ nationallyΒ acclaimedΒ productionsΒ andΒ community engagement, andΒ nowΒ –Β across its satellite venues in the townΒ –Β Β jazz!Β 

HerΒ RevelationΒ Β 

Kinna WhiteheadΒ vocals,Β synthesizerΒ /Β VatoΒ KlemeraΒ synthesisers,Β sampler / Peter BellΒ modularΒ synthesizer,Β samplerΒ 

Her RevelationΒ isΒ an electronic music trioΒ that perform primarily improvised live sets, defined by intensity and mutability. By inciting one another endlessly towards delightful moments, the trio playsΒ with delicate soundscapes, peppered with disruptive textures. Drawing on an array of eclectic source material from Ursula K. Le Guin to Meredith Monk to FKA Twigs, Her Revelation is a music-based practice attending to a transcendentalΒ every day.Β Β 

Kinna’s adroit lyricismΒ meldsΒ with theΒ band’sΒ β€˜comprovisations’ toΒ examine the crossing point at which mundane feelings and life’s unremarkable experiences become of exceptional importance.Β Β 

The trio first met and performed together atΒ EastsideΒ Gallery in Birmingham in 2022, as partΒ Oneiros, an installation on sleep cycles. This incidental meeting, culminating in a 2-hour lullaby/night-terror live experience,Β unveiled a natural rapport, catalysing theirΒ subsequentΒ years of improvising, songwriting, and performing togetherΒ – andΒ twoΒ notableΒ singles:Β ActressΒ andΒ Dare.Β 

LullabyΒ –Β Sonic CradleΒ Β 

SupriyaΒ NagarajanΒ vocalsΒ /Β Lucy NolanΒ harpΒ /Β Duncan ChapmanΒ electronicsΒ Β 

LullabyΒ –Β Sonic Cradle is an immersive music performance for family audiences and adults alike. The show weaves improvised electronics with nighttime soundscapes collected from across the globe by sound artist Duncan Chapman, soothing Carnatic vocals from Supriya Nagarajan and luscious improvised harpΒ playingΒ from Lucy Nolan.Β 

They have collected over 300 lullabies internationally,Β from libraries to office blocks, whichΒ are woven into the soundscape and used as a stimulus for improvisation. 
 

Lullaby –Β Sonic Cradle has touredΒ acrossΒ eleven countries,Β from the Riverside Theatre in Sydney Australia to WOMADΒ andΒ Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.Β Β 

The show delights in creating aΒ bespokeΒ immersive musical experience for every new audience;Β the use of lullabies is intended to subtly emphasise the universality of singing and music, deliberately blending influences from many culturesΒ toΒ transcend genre.Β 

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Price: Β£15 (Β£12 Concessions)

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Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound

Aviva Studios (The Social)

The exhibition takes place in The Social at Aviva Studios. Check here for opening hours.

Bringing together inspirational women from across the globe, the award-winningΒ organisationΒ Women in Jazz MediaΒ presentsΒ an exclusive photography exhibition:Β Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her SoundΒ 

CelebratingΒ women working in jazz behind and in front of the camera, the exhibitionΒ showcasesΒ inspirational moments in jazz captured by some of theΒ remarkableΒ female photographers leading the way in jazz photography. Exhibiting legends such as Geri Allen, Abbey Lincoln, Alice Coltrane, NinaΒ SimoneΒ andΒ contemporary artists Lakecia Benjamin,Β NubyaΒ Garcia and Brandee Younger, this is the firstΒ exhibitionΒ of its kind.Β Β 

With award-winning photographers from South Africa, New York, Poland and the United Kingdom, this breathtaking exhibition features the work of Monika S Jakubowksa, Vuyo Giba, Tatiana Gorilovsky, Enid Farber, Kasia Ociepa & Rina Srabonian.Β 

The exhibition launched in April 2025 at London’s award-winning Karamel Club, going on to visitΒ the Black Mountain Jazz Festival in Abergavenny,Β andΒ continues to theΒ HighworthΒ Jazz FestivalΒ inΒ June.Β 

Β The PhotographersΒ 

Enid FarberΒ residesΒ inΒ New York City and has been photographing mostly jazz musicians since 1979 but her work includes artists from a variety of genres, including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Charlie Watts, Diana Ross,Β BonoΒ and Celia Cruz who have all appeared before her lens.Β 

Vuyo GibaΒ is a South African -based photographer, writer, and creative professional dedicated to preserving South African jazz heritage. Her work spans jazz, abstract, and lifestyle photography, capturing evocative narratives through imagery. With experience in film production, research, and project coordination, she collaborates with artists and communities to document and celebrate cultural stories.Β 

TatianaΒ GorilovskyΒ is a London-based photographer specializing in music photography, particularly jazz. She has captured the dynamic spirit of the genre for renowned venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express, 606 and others, as well as festivals including the EFG London Jazz Festival and Love Supreme Festival. Tatiana loves experimenting withΒ long exposureΒ and multiple exposure to capture the sounds,Β rhythmΒ and energy of Jazz. Her images are held in the National Jazz Archive and have been featured in prominent publications such asΒ JazzwiseΒ Magazine, The Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, Billboard, UK Jazz News, The Independent, Time Out London and others.Β Β 

KasiaΒ OciepaΒ is a Wales-based photographer specializing in jazz, events, weddings, and portrait photography, with a deep love for fine art photography.Β Originally from Poland, she moved to the UK in 2006 and transitioned from garden design to professional photography during lockdown. As the resident photographer for Black Mountain Jazz Club, she has documented the club’s vibrant jazz scene, with her images used by musicians for album covers, press materials, and social media. Kasia sees photography as storytelling, capturing the energy and emotion of live music, and she is always happy to collaborate with musicians and event organizers.Β 

The award-winning photographerΒ Monika S JakubowskaΒ is renowned across the world.Β Β As the in-house photographer for prestigious London venues, RonnieΒ Scott’sΒ and Kings Place, she has captured award winning images of legends and is the photographer of choice by many artists. Her portfolio is vast and includes Jeff Goldblum, Genesis, Macy Gray, John Legend, Jazz royalty DeeΒ DeeΒ Bridgewater, GeorgeΒ ClintonΒ and Courtney Pine to name a few. Darius Brubeck included Monika’s photographer in his foreword to the brilliant book Sight Readings: Photographers and American Jazz, which was nominated for book of the year by the jazz Journalist Association.Β 

Rina Srabonian is a professional music and events photographer, based in both the UK and Spain. Her photography has evolved from a long-standing passion into a main creative focus, deeply influenced by Rina’s love of the arts and music. Rina’s work is driven by a fascination with cultural diversity, human emotion, rhythm, and colour, seeking to capture universal connections. Rina is also a long standing and treasured member of the manchester jazz festival family, documenting, in recent years, many of our concerts, gigs and festival events. ​

​​

Date: friday 15 may

Price: Free

Yellowjackets

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Band on the Wall (The Venue)

Unfortunately, due to a debilitating hand injury, Bob Mintzer can no longer perform at this concert. His place is taken up by official Yellowjackets deputy Graeme Blevins. mjf, Band on the Wall and Yellowjackets apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Graeme Blevins bass clarinet, saxophones, EWI / Russell Ferrante keyboards / Dane Alderson bass / William Kennedy drums, percussionΒ Β 

Well into their fifth decade as a band, Yellowjackets show no signs of slowing down. Very much the opposite, in fact – as implied by the title of their latest release, Fasten Up, the 27th album of the quartet’s storied career and their 7th for Mack Avenue Records. The curious turn of phrase, taken from the exhilarating title tune by bassist Dane Alderson, embraces the band’s ethos of unbridled momentum while carrying the suggestion of cautionary warning: brace yourself, fasten those seatbelts, Yellowjackets are back and the pedals to the metal. Β 

The spirit of forward motion that has propelled Yellowjackets throughout the band’s history has less to do with the tempo of the songs themselves – which as ever make up a vibrant blend of styles and influences – but with their commitment to exploration and renewal. Those ideas are reflected in the band’s line-up, which features founding pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante; drummer Will Kennedy, whose second tenure in the band (starting in 2010) has now surpassed his first (1987-1999); saxophonist Bob Mintzer came on board in 1990; and the Australian-born Alderson, who celebrates his first decade as a β€˜Jacket alongside the release of Fasten Up.Β 

There is a communal joy that invigorates all the music that Yellowjackets create. The thrill of group discovery bristles through the muscular funk grooves, deepens the emotion of the ballads and digs deep to unearth the roots of the band’s bracing sense of swing. On Fasten Up, their rich history remains in focus in the rearview mirror as they accelerate into the future.Β 

β€œJazz buffs know about the Yellowjackets. This is a Grammy-winning band that writes and performs intricate compositions that cross countless boundaries.”
- The Arts FuseΒ Β 

Precise start and finish times for this event are liable to change; for details, please check the mjf website on the day.Β 

Please note there will be no support band performing on this gig.

Date: thursday 21 may

Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Price: from Β£27 (*plus fees)

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