The Big Chris Barber Band

Friday 12th October 2007 8.00pm

(Doors open 7.30pm) £23

Sponsored by the Family of Len Storey (1926-2007)

Living legend trombonist Chris Barber has been ‘on the slide’ for over 55 years! An early pioneer of UK New Orleans jazz with Ken Colyer, Monty Sunshine and others he has both moved with the times and stayed true to his roots. His jazz band morphed into the Jazz and Blues Band in the 1970s and with the addition of three further musicians in 2001 became the eleven piece Big Chris Barber Band blending brass, reeds and electric guitar into a rich mix of blues and jazz. 

Chain Reaction - Crusaders Tribute
Friday 12th October 2007 8.30pm £12

This gig marks a change of venue for Ben Crosland’s well-established Friday night festival band featuring this year our musician in residence and festival regular Dennis Rollins. Dennis’ funky trombone style has been seized on by Ben and Rod ‘Room Darkener’ Mason as an opportunity to put together a Crusaders tribute workout. Assisted by Jez Platt, Jamil Sherrif  and Dave Tyas this promises to be a hot gig. 

Richard Galliano Tangaria Quartet

Saturday 13th October 2007 4.15pm £25

Sponsored by John Birkby & Co Solicitors, Oldham

We are delighted to present the World's accordion master, Richard Galliano, on a rare visit to England - and for the Marsden Jazz Festival only - accompanied by Alexis Cardenas from Venezuela, violin, Philippe Aerts from Belgium, bass, and Rafael Mejias from Venezuela, percussion. Richard was influenced at an early age by jazz and jazz improvisation but has played with a huge number of musicians and in a wide range of styles and has been laden with prizes. A constant theme, together with jazz, has been tango which comes to the fore today. But where does his jazz end and his tango begin? Jazz magazine Downbeat, for example, gave a tango album of his four stars. This should be an extraordinary concert.
Lianne Carroll Trio
Saturday 13th October 2007 8.00pm (doors open 7.30pm)  £20 Bar and food available. Sponsored by Durker Roods Hotel, Meltham

Liane Carroll has been around the scene for some time but in recent years has been picking up plaudits and awards, two BBC Jazz Awards in 2005, the Marston Pedigree Jazz Award in 2006 and the 2007 ‘Best female jazz vocalist’ in the Ronnie Scott Jazz Awards. Her live performances make you realise why: a joyful attack, solo scatting that swings like a brick in a handbag, a bluesy voice but with tonsils dextrous enough to get an almost Aretha Franklin fluidity. She is, as Time Out said ‘utterly brilliant.’ Liane on piano and vocals is accompanied by Roger Carey, electric bass, and Mark Fletcher, drums. Recommended.

George Washingmachine Quartet
Saturday 13th October 2007 Midnight – 1.45am  £15 (including supper) Licensed bar. Sponsored by Pennine Helicopters Ltd, Saddleworth.

Dave Kelbie (guitar) joins three members of the Aussie Allstars, who are touring the UK: George Washingmachine, a brilliant Stuff Smith style violinist, singer/comedian, Dave Blenkhorn, arguably the best acoustic swing guitarist in Europe, and Sebastian Giradot, double bass. It's not cutting edge, not 'intelligent jazz', no modern compositions – just a total commitment to Swing and entertainment.
Dennis Rollins,  Badbone & Co
Sunday 14th October 2007 4.00pm £15 Bar and food available This concert is dedicated to the memory of Cynthia Rosalie Rollo (1956-2006)

Dennis is our Musician in Residence, reflecting his versatile talents as musician and educator. He has been at every festival but one since 2003 in various guises and we particularly welcome his return with his funk-soused band Badbone & Co which won the BBC Jazz Award for Best Band last year when he also won the Marstons Pedigree British Jazz Award for Best Trombonist. This year he won Trombonist of the Year at the Ronnie Scott Jazz Awards. For us his special talent is to play pretty sneaky jazz as completely danceable music. It seems so simple but so few people can do it.