Jazz It Up! is a musical collaboration between jazz musician Sid Peacock, ten Gloucestershire school jazz bands and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Jazz It Up! 2010 has got off to a tremendous start. This year’s theme is ‘Heaven and Hell’, drawing on the roots of jazz music in gospel and blues. Ten Gloucestershire schools have had their first rehearsal session with Sid Peacock where they saw their arrangement for the first time and also worked on some improvisation techniques.

Participating schools are:

• Cheltenham Bournside School
• Cheltenham College
• Chosen Hill School
• Cleeve School
• Cotswold School
• Farmors School
• Marling Grammar School
• Pate’s Grammar School
• Pittville School
• St Peter’s School

The bands are really excited about their arrangements and even at this early stage there are several promising solos in the offing. The Education team at Cheltenham Festivals, who attended the rehearsals, were amazed by the quality of the playing from all of the bands, particularly as they were sight-reading a brand new piece of music! Sid was impressed too, and is looking forward to working with the bands again in April, by which time he hopes they will have been able to add their own individual twists to his arrangements.

All this hard work will culminate in two dynamic performances on Saturday 1 May and Sunday 2 May. Each school will play a 20-minute set, including the arrangement Sid has written for them — conducted by Sid himself. Jazz It Up! has been hugely enjoyable for participants and audience alike over the years, and looks set to be another resounding success in 2010.

Budvar Jazz Festival Marquee
Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May
11am onwards
Free

list all jazz events
call the box office 0844 576 8970 for last minute booking.

Budvar Jazz Festival Marquee
Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May
11am onwards
Free

Cartoon capers in the Festival marquee

Why not join us for an exuberant celebration of Gloucestershire schools’ thriving jazz scene.

We’re delighted to welcome jazz guitarist, vocal artist and composer Sid Peacock to lead Jazz It Up! this year. As part of the Jazz It Up! project each school will work with Sid on a specially arranged cartoon theme as part of their set. From Roobarb and Custard to Scooby Doo and The Simpsons, come and hear some of the fantastic music that accompanies the antics of our favourite animated characters.

Don’t miss out on all the fun!

list all jazz events
call the box office 0844 576 8970 for last minute booking.