A comprehensive list of the bands and individual musicians in the area
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6pac

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Recently Seen Performing Live With Branford Marsalis at the RNCM

Aaron Liddard

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“He was a revelation at the Manchester Jazz Festival…playing an absolute blinder. He wears several ...

Abina

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Barbadian born Abina has been singing her mix of jazz standards, ska and jive for many years around ...

ABT

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Piano, Bass and Drums led by blistering young pianist Andrzej Baranek. Standards and Original tunes ...

Acoustic Graffiti

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Vibrant, expressive original acoustic sounds, driven by strong melody, light and shade and drawing ...

Acoustic Triangle

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A natural acoustic un-amplified trio performing compositions by the likes of Ravel, Ralph Towner, Kenny ...

Acoustric

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A project which has been in the planning for two years, and which, having just been recorded, is now ...

Adrian Reed Big Band

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A youth big band with an extensive Glen Miller range, performs swing by the likes of Ted Heath and ...

Afro Blue

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Jazz Standards & Soul Classics performed by the trio of Afro Blue. From Al Green & Roberta Flack to ...

Alan Bracewell Big Band

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Weekly gig on Thursday evenings at the Oldham Town Football Club

Alcyona Mick Quintet

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A recent rising star from the Birmingham Conservatoire, Alcyona's playing and compositions bring to ...

Alex Douglas's Saravan

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A band with a wide range of musical backgrounds but with jazz as the common denominator, this ensemble ...

Alexander Douglas: Part one

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Varied collection of vocal arrangements of some well- and not so well-known songs from the gospel repertoire, ...

Alexander Douglas: Part two - Song of the Heart

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Alexander Douglas, a fine pianist, arranger and composer Has been commissioned to create Songs of the ...

Andy Schofield Band

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A new band formed by Andy to play funky and accessible music with complex and challenging harmonies: ...

Andy Schofield Ensemble, featuring John Taylor

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Ensemble created for special commission event at Manchester Jazz Festival

Andy Sheppard

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The saxophonist and composer features music from his latest album which combines his distinctive style ...

Anima Jazz

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A fusion of straight-ahead Bluenote-style pieces and vivacious Latin-tinged vocals, with influences ...

Apitos

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One of the most exciting Latin American ensmebles in the UK. A nineteen piece band performing rumba, ...

Arcadia

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A recently-formed group performing energetic and expansive originals and interpretations of pieces ...

Art Lester Big Band

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Weekly gig at the Horwich RMI

Arun Ghosh

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A rhythmic recipe of clarinet, vocals and keyboards, Arun's one-man show layers twisted tablatronics, ...

Asaf Sirkis and the Inner Noise

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Exciting, powerful and dark, this is a trio with a big and genuinely unique sound. Dense and brooding ...

Barnwell/Chadwick Double Quartet

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Featuring the Marchini String Quartet. With new compositions and arrangements by Matt, Ed and Steve, ...

BBEK Quartet

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Originals and standards played from the heart; George’s classical background and Jonas’ punk influences ...

Ben Crosland Quartet

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A relaxed but nimble group playing the leader’s contemporary compositions with an understated touch…bright ...

Billy Jenkins

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Billy Jenkins maverick blues and jazz guitarist and occasional fall down comedian presents a one man ...

Blue Rhythm

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Guitar and sax duo covering standards, latin, bebop and ska.

Bob Gill Trio

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Mature and melodic music featuring jazz standards and Brazilian tunes played by three of the country's ...

Bourbon Y Tequila

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A refreshing mix of original salsa and jazz from across the Pennines. Enrico, after training at the ...

Brass Jaw Saxophone Quartet

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Balancing tight ensemble arrangements with screaming solos and powerful grooves, Brass Jaw brings together ...

Brian Crowdy Trio

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Mainstream modern jazz trio with weekly guests

Brigitte Escobar & Gary Boyle

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With special focus on their interests in jazz standards and songs from Brazil and Peru , and from Brigitte’s ...

Cabbage Alley

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Feel-good vibes to round off the afternoon…it will swing, groove and skank in liberal doses, with even ...

Cafe Ole Trio

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Cafe jazz - jazz to enjoy

Carver Trio

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A trio that plays lyrical, uplifting and thought-provoking music which draws energy from European folk, ...

Cat Pack

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20-piece classic big band swing, boogie-woogie and rhythm'n'blues.

c-city

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Original, exciting, funky and entertaining jazz-rock quintet, playing original numbers and their own ...

Chris Williams Quartet

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Staunch up-keepers of the high-energy, highly dextrous, solid tradition of be-bop oriented modern jazz…Mancunian ...

Courtney Pine

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Courtney is the great ambassador of jazz spreading the music to all corners, his jazz comes straight ...

Cracklin' Records All-Stars (The)

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Funky, vibrant, urban and youthful, with a '70s groove to excite the feet and a tight horn section ...

Dainton/Fernandez

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Rediscovering the music of Frank Zappa, these two highly engaging performers re-interpret and re-invent ...

Dan Forshaw Quintet

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Fast rising Blackpool based Saxophonist Dan Forshaw leads his innovative group featuring the fantastic ...

Danny Ward Trio

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Resident trio playing groovy jazz once a week

Dave Skinner & Frank Grime

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A classy pairing of this new Manchester keyboard talent with the smooth-toned, rock-steady bassist, ...

Dave Tompkins' Bowline Ensemble

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Originally formed as a quartet, David has extended the instrumentation, but with the same ethos as ...

Deep Cabaret

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Specially formed collective of musicians and artists come together to create a hot pot of sound and ...

Deirdre Cartwright Group

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A bluesily expressive guitar/organ funky retro sound, mixed with influences from modern club and pop ...

Dennis Rollins' Bad Bone & Co.

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Respected bandleader, producer, educator, and funkster, Dennis takes a unique and exciting approach ...

Descarga

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One of Britain’s tightest and hottest Latin bands, who happen to live on our doorstep: sensual English ...

Double 'B' Jazz Orchestra

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A seasoned Big Band Orchestra, formed over 25 years ago, creating a truly big sound with its 20-odd ...

Dylan Howe Quintet

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Drummer, Dylan Howe, drives 'a classic hard-bop, small-band repertoire'.

Dylan Kay Quintet

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A varied set of original material from a band with a tight-knit group sound in the contemporary-modern ...

Earthkiss

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Original guitar-led contemporary fusion sounds from this newly-formed group, playing fresh original ...

Eclipse Saxophone Quartet

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Combines the distinct sound of a tight sax ensemble with the freedom of jazz improvisation…new quartet ...

Ed Kainyek & Andrzej Baranek

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Two of Manchester's bright young things: Ed's searing sax sound is the perfect match for Andrzej's ...

Ed Kainyek Quartet

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Led by exciting young sax player.

Ed Kainyek's Jazz Jam

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Special festival jam sessions led by young, up-and-coming alto saxophonist Ed and his quartet, who ...

Eddie Roberts' Roughneck Project

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Firing hard bop and new jazz beats, evoking Art Blakey and Lou Donaldson – very funky, very vibey.

Edward Barnwell

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First off is a new piece written by Edward in the form of a piano sonata but with key improvisational ...

Edward Barnwell/Steve Chadwick Quartet

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Another young group formed by its leaders to play and develop their melodic, contemporary compositions…at ...

Elbo Room

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Combining jazz sensibilities with folk elements, impulsive, freely-structured motifs, and the texture ...

Elements

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Beauty, pain, violence, love, danger, comedy… not a sneak preview of next week's Corrie script, but ...

Ella Rooke

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Young Mainstream Jazz Vocalist Works nationally performing at various venues.

Emma Nabarro

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"A fresh jazz singer who floats a song lyric without losing her grip on it."

Escobar

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Brigitte Escobar voted "Manchester''s favourite Latin singer" (City Life) has put together her own ...

Fernandez/Hood Quartet

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Stephen’s originals and re-interpretations of the music of Ornette Coleman act as basic ‘essence setters’ ...

F-IRE Collective

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Heralded as the new movement in British jazz, London based F-IRE Collective is a community of musicians ...

Flat Earth Ensemble presents God's Trombones (The)

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God's Trombones is a collection of negro sermons put into verse form by James Weldon Johnson in the ...

Flora Purim and Airto Moreira

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The first couple of Brazilian music present an extraordinary celebration of songs by Milton Nascimento ...

Four to the Bar

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The band have been performing on alternate Tuesday evenings at Devonshire Arms in Mellor since November ...

Frank Grime Trio

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Piano trio playing standards, Brazilian tunes and a few originals.

Free Form #3

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Free jazz and improvised music featuring Sonic Pleasure, THF Drenching and Phil Marks

Freja's Songs

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An intriguing new project inspired by Brigitte’s and Jonas’ Scandinavian roots, in which Danish and ...

Gabriel's New Orleans Parade & Marching Jazz Band

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Traditional New Orleans marching band available for all functions and celebrations.

Gary Boyle Trio, with special guest Zoe Rahman / Escobar

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Gary’s guitar trio opens this afternoon’s concert, with a mix of new original pieces and jazz standards…then ...

Gary Husband

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One of the most captivating and electrifying drummer/pianist/composer and arrangers in contemporary ...

Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble

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Gilad’s last visit to Manchester in 2003 earned the Jazz Festival the accolade City Life Jazz Gig of ...

Glenn Sharp

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Solo flamenco / latin guitarist.

Grew Trio

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Open-ended, spontaneous music, growing from the methods of free improvisation, which can swing from ...

Guy Barker Septet

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Trumpeter Guy Barker presents his new group which will perform music from his new album ‘Soundtrack’ ...

Hans Koller Big Band

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A big band which the Guardian dubbed with "the most expansive, expressive and exciting new jazz orchestral ...

Harry Beckett

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Barbados born trumpeter, based in the UK since 1954 Harry Beckett has built himslef a reputation across ...

Hartley/Hyde Quartet

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The quartet features the unusual combination of two guitars within a straight-ahead modern jazz set...

Helen Pillinger Trio

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South Manchester based trio playing mainly from the american standard songbook with the odd tune from ...

Helen Watson Band

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“What a voice…” Q magazine…slipping effortlessly from gritty r’n’b to breathy seductive jazz and country-blues…matched ...

Henlid Barabak Quartet

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The convoluted appellation is strangely appropriate, given the special affinity within this group…original ...

Henry Botham

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Solo pianist playing regular resident gigs at Nico Cenral, Manchester, inspired by the likes of Chet ...

Henry Botham Trio

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The Henry Botham Trio was formed in 2000 by three young Manchester jazz musicians. The trio shares ...

Hugh Lawrence and Friends

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Drummer Hugh Lawrence is joined by some great musicians to play some great music. Some less often played ...

Hughie Thomas + Ed Kainyek

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A funky duo - two of Manchester ’s most out there jazzers -performing rhythmic and soulful jazz sta...

Ingrid Laubrock Quartet

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Ingrid Laubrock Quartet Ingrid Laubrock soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, voice Karim Merchant piano Larry ...

Inside Outside

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A contemporary jazz duo of saxophone and guitar playing a highly personal, individual and original ...

Jamil Sheriff Sextet

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Specially formed sextet performing newly-commissioned work by Northern composer Jamil Sheriff premiering ...

Jaso Fula

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German born african Dr Henry Brew presents original Jazz Soul Latin Funk tunes.

Java

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A melodic and varied guitar-led mix of American post-bop sounds and grooves from Caribbean and South ...

Jazz For All Occasions

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Live Jazz from duo or trio up to full band can play At Weddings, Parties,Corporate functions,Openings And ...

JazzWorks

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A six-piece modern jazz group with vocals.

Jeremy Chapman/Dan Whieldon Duo

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Unusual for jazz, an entire gig given over to the sometimes overlooked qualities of the flute and piano ...

Jeriatric Jazz

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Established modern jazz group

Jim Lowe & Simon Goulding

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Subtle, acoustic-based duo performing jazz interpretations of latter-day songs and standards: familiar ...

Jim Whyte Trio

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With group interplay, adaptability and melody to the fore, this trio's sound is uncluttered and intimate, ...

John Ellis & Rob Dainton

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Popular songs ranging from Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart and the theme to the Mr Men are enveloped ...

John Hallam's Jazztet

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Formed originally to make a recording with a hand picked rhythym section. Demand and popularity have ...

John Hallam's Jazztet

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Formed originally to make a recording with a hand picked rhythym section. Demand and popularity have ...

John Helliwell's Crème Anglaise

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Supertramp's very own sax supremo opens this year's festival, taking us on a wide-ranging musical journey, ...

Jon Thorne's Oedipus Complex

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A musical word to the mother ( and father.......)

Jon Thorne's Oedipus Mingus

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A septet of outstanding north western musicians playing the music of Charles Mingus using a mixture ...

Jonathan Gee Trio

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One of Europe ’s consistent architects of the classic piano trio format delivers a wide-ranging palette ...

Julian Arguelles Trio

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Following in the tradition of so-called 'chord-less trios' pioneered by such tenor greats as Joe Henderson ...

Julian Costello Quintet

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Time Out highlighted the "imaginative, unflashy clarity, and the colourful group sound" of this London-based ...

Julie Edwards and Kevin Dearden

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'Good singer, isn't she' Michael Parkinson, BBC Radio 2 'I think this is beautiful' Humphrey Lyttelton ...

Kathy Dyson Boptet

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The idea for this band was to create a big sound from a smallish ensemble, and to experiment with a ...

KDQ

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Contemporary jazz trumpeter (touring and recording with Lamb) who emerged as a leading light from the ...

Keith Phillips Quartet