Welcome to Virtually Brecon Jazz - Brecon Jazz Festival 2020 is almost ready to launch. Here is our news...
What a big challenge! but we are a dedicated group of volunteers who, like you, love Brecon Jazz and are committed to making sure that the 37th year happens and is celebrated in appropriate style. It has also been a very different 'ask' for the musicians making their contributions, but when we asked Steve Lehman, one of our headlines, who'd been planning to come to Brecon with his Trio after a summer European tour, he replied immediately - "Count me in! I'm thrilled to be part of this and will do whatever I can to help". Now Steve will be playing for us from his living room in Los Angeles...
Creating the 'concerts' for a virtual environment meant that we had to seek out partnerships with others and get additional expertise on board - with slim resources of course: our donation button is below... But we got support from Friends of Brecon Jazz and from Brecon Town Council, and ordinary supporters like you. We found good companies, and they have worked with us as part of a major 'just in time' collaborative team and project. Incredible people. More about our partners later.
So the news is all GOOD!
And we have (re)created an amazing programme, involving over 100 musicians with links and musics from around the world, Europe, the East, US States, regions of the UK - and from all across Wales. Instead of flying to UK or driving to Brecon this time, they are staying put, and playing for us from where they are, often with band members in different places and even countries too. In a way, so are we, the audience, confined to base, watching from home, with family or friends, in our 'bubble' groups, or outside even - well, maybe that's going a bit far, BJF has long had an interesting relationship with the weather in August! A 'greener' footprint though perhaps this time, for BJF.
'Virtually Brecon Jazz' and the 'Festival 2020 online' will be delivered by a three-way partnership between ourselves, as Brecon Jazz Club who programme, organise and promote BJF annually, Ratio Studios & Productions in South Wales, who have worked with and advised musicians on creating their digital/recorded performance content, and online music hosting platform VIALMA, which shares our values of providing high quality artistic services without advertising, and curates specialist music and performances for their subscribers.
Even more amazing, BJF2020 will be FREE. So it is very 'accessible' ( as well as experimental) and you will only need to check in with an email address and name to join and enjoy it. For us, there is an opportunity for a much wider audience for both the jazz event and the featured musicians, with new people being introduced to BJF - and to Brecon as a destination too.
We'll be in touch in our next email, with details of how to join in, and the programme of delights that awaits: at this 37th Edition, you will find our most ambitious lineup to date and a mix of genres from experimental to traditional and all things between. We've got swinging vocalists, a big band, quartets, trios, familiar as well as new names, trumpets, pianists, saxes, guitarists, and talks, some jamming, interactions...truly something for everyone! And it's going to be a very Brecon Jazz Festival. Just virtual. You'll find all the usual friendliness and hospitable, easygoing atmosphere there - that Brecon 'vibe'.
The Edition 37 Festival space opens on Vialma platform on Friday 7th August and remains online until Sunday 30th August.
With no tickets or money to pay, just top drawer jazz from International, Welsh and UK performers - playing 'just for you' - there will be lots to see and talk about for years...So PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO SUPPORT BJF, which is run as a not for profit Trust: Click this link to make a donation https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=-IDjt_T_upzkmRqYoG44V071Eos6su6Oa7JGXfiF0DAcefEkg9nsDY8UmsGcxmrWGEXu4m&country.x=GB&locale.x=GB
Finally, your messages of encouragement and support have been very much appreciated and definitely spurred us on - thank you, and we'll see you again in person (or online, or both) when we can.
Visit our website: http://www.breconjazz.org
Why not enjoy some musical highlights from previous years on our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDk7Io7SVs9ytE4S2SwujVw/videos
Thank you from the Brecon Jazz Festival Team
Lynne, Roger, Sharon, John, James, Karin & co
To get in touch, please reply this email or send to: info@breconjazzclub.org
Festival Planning & Volunteer team
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