JAMES HUNTER

21.30 – 23.15

THE FILTHY SIX

19.15 – 21.00

THE CHRIS WALKER SWINGTET

5.00 – 6.30

For our Saturday line up this year we wanted to do something new, to find some real up and coming British talent and also look beyond the jazz genre, and well, we think we’ve done rather well…

We are delighted to announce that our festival headliner for this year is to be rising Rhythm and Blues star James Hunter. James has performed on BBC Radio 2 and Jools Holland and will be fresh from a hugely successful tour of the US over the winter.

James Hunter

Once described by Van Morrison as one of the best voices, and one of the best-kept secrets, in British R&B and soul, James and his skin-tight band have performed everywhere from hole-in-the-wall to the Hollywood Bowl and have supported the likes of Aretha Franklin, Los Lonely Boys, Boz Scaggs, and Van Morrison himself. The mellifluous R&B of his songwriting with its affectionate echoes of Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, has gained rave reviews in both the UK and the US. The Los Angeles Times praised James Hunter’s extraordinary soul voice; and Rolling Stone called his 2006 album “People Gonna Talk” a treat not to miss.

James’s wonderful retro style is underpinned by his powerful, raw soul voice, impressive blues guitar work and confident jazz-tinged saxophone solos from band members Lee Badau and Damian Hand.

Songs that sound as if they come from classic-era British R&B, back in the mid-1960s… Hunter deserves to be a star – The Guardian

To support Mr Hunter, we have a group of highly talented young rascals from London who go by the name of The Filthy Six.

The Filthy Six

In the words of Mr Craig Charles, presenter of  The Funk & Soul Show on BBC 6Music – these guys have got all the licks. Soul jazz how we like it, rough, rugged and played by guys totally on top of their game. A very exciting addition to the uk scene

They play a hip-shakingly powerful mixture of soul jazz, funk and boogaloo in the finest traditions of late 60′s Blue Note artists, lead ably by gifted young trumpeter Nick Etwell. In the past they have headlined the Jazz Lounge at Glastonbury amongst a host of other festivals in the UK and abroad, culminating in 5* reviews up at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and a nomination for Best Newcomers at last years Marlborough Jazz Festival. 2010 also saw the boys perform to great acclaim on the Mark Lamarr Show, BBC Radio 2, and the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6Music, so these guys are on their way to the top! We like them because their music appeals to move-busting dance floor groovers and potent, chin-scratching jazz heads alike, which just about describes our lovely RAAJ audience!

Starting off our festival is local swing band The Chris Walker Swingtet. Many will recognize Chris as long time friend of the festival, who has helped the team for many years in finding jazz talent, and appeared in various bands at the festival over the years. He is an accomplished clarinet player, and this year brings his wonderful laid back blend of swing/traditional jazz, with a few bluesy ballads thrown in for good measure. The perfect way to take your first sip of real ale on a sunny Saturday afternoon in July