New jazz night in Cambridge
If you want to see the next Michael Bublé, Miles Davis or Diana Krall before they hit the big time, make sure you head down to the newest live jazz night hitting the region.
The Next Stage is a series of gigs aimed at showcasing the very best up-and-coming jazz musicians, singers, and bands across East Anglia.
The brainchild of local musician and composer Nigel Bennett, the new shows are designed to boost acts who have progressed from open-mic nights and function shows and are now ready to put on proper performances on bigger stages.
The first gig takes place in St Andrew’s Street Baptist Church in Cambridge from 7.30 pm tomorrow (Saturday, June 10) but, like all good jazz, it will keep moving, taking in venues across East Anglia in the coming months.
Mr Bennett – a trumpet player who has played shows across Europe and the United States – said: “The Next Stage is about moving people on, inspiring them to be more creative and giving them the opportunity to perform.
“I’ve been playing in jazz bands, big and small, for many years and there just aren’t the opportunities outside London to perform for ourselves, as opposed to playing at weddings or other functions.
“Playing at your own gig, or as part of a dedicated jazz event, allows artists to stretch their wings and be more creative.”
Playing the first show are Cambridge Groove Orchestra (CGO) and Four For Nothing Jazz – both of whom will be playing at a concert dedicated to just them for the very first time.
Formed in 2017, CGO features a full band line-up playing a wide range of music from the the swing eras of the 1940s and 50s through to more modern arrangements of well-known numbers. The band is lead by Mike Denman and features the sublime singing talent of Chloe Grimes.
Four For Nothing Jazz, stylised as 440.JAZZour For Nothing Jazz, is a sextet specialising in jazz standards, and will be acting as support on the night.
Tickets for tomorrow’s event are priced at £15 (£12 concessions) and are available from ticketsource.co.uk/jazzyfaction-ltd. The Next Stage is always looking for new acts and artists to support. To find out more, visit jazzyfaction.com/the-next-stage.html.
