Reviews - What they said about mjf 2008
mjf 2008 review - Steven Waling for JazzWise, August 08
Manchester started and ended the week with bossa nova, and went from melodic Italian clarinet to the raucous jazz-rock, taking in free-improv, orchestral jazz and contemporary post-EST trios on the way. There is a strong local presence of north west artists, often given a chance to stretch themselves through a larger commission. Thus, my first highlight of the festival was Mike Walker's Ropes, a suite for quintet and 22-piece orchestra. With Iain Dixon on saxes and clarinet, and the fluid drumming of Adam Nussbaum backing him, this proved to be a moving experience for an ecstatic audience. The strings, not just able support for Mike's romantic guitar, were also given their own space to improvise. A memorable Wednesday evening.
It that was the major highlight, there was plenty of action in the rest of the week. On Sunday, the Bridgewater Hall Foyer played host to the Alcyona Mick Quintet, a pianist whose angular melodies and strong harmonies had the sedate Bridgewater rocking. But beautiful too were the lyrical, Brazilian-influenced of the Gabriele Mirabassi Trio on Monday night. Clarinet, guitar and bass are an unusual combination, but the energy of their performance kept a half-full auditorium spellbound. It's a pity more weren't there.
Neil Yates continued his exploration of folk jazz with a trio on Thursday evening; in fact, folk tunes seemed to be of the themes of the festival this year, with the wonderful trombone of Gareth Roberts on Sunday exploring Welsh folk tunes. I also enjoyed Olivia Moore's inventive Owl Ensemble, followed by the bangs, clatters and skronks of the Grew Quartet, then experimental soundscapes from Grahams Clark & Massey. Best of the St Ann's Square open-air gigs were Bossa Nouvelle on Saturday to the closing Wizards of Twiddly, a punkish loud ending to the proceedings.
mjf seen and heard by 'jazz, funk and sorta feedback guitarist', Ade Stevenson...
Check out Ade's blog, The Ring Modulator, for a day-by-day take on mjf 2008
... and by a few people from Manchester and beyond
"An imaginatively programmed Manchester Jazz Festival" - The Guardian Guide, July 2008
"You have a wonderful festival here. The organisers really know and care about music and your focus on the region's players makes it a truly unique experience" – Gabriele Mirabassi, visiting artist from Italy, Egea Records
"Better every year!" Marlene Bewick, audience member, mjf 2008
"You and your team put on an event that entertains, stimulates and helps me connect with Manchester by seeing it in a different light" – Lawme Johnson, audience member, mjf 2008
"Brilliant. This is what a city should be doing – how cities should project themselves" - Helen Forshaw, audience member, mjf 2008
