The inaugural Broughton Jazz Festival brought big sounds and huge energy to Bellevue Crescent yesterday.
Individual musicians attended workshops at Broughton St Mary's Parish Church in the morning, before three of the city's largest jazz ensembles each played 45-minute sets in the afternoon.
Sound of 17 Big Band kicked off, and immediately stirred some of the audience to their feet.
The Drummond Community Big Band, which bases locally but draws support from across the capital, followed.
Finally, a pared-down Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra – including former Drummond CHS pupil Sean Gibbs on trumpet – concluded the proceedings. ESJO had performed together earlier in the week, and exuded confidence.
[img_assist|nid=1111|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=156|height=200]ESJO director and Festival organiser Dan Hallam said he was delighted at how the event had gone. The morning workshops in particular had been surprisingly well attended, and the audience – Spurtle estimated between 50 and 60 attended at any one time – was modest but enthusiastic.[img_assist|nid=1108|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=161]
Plans are already under way for a repeat next year, although the timing will probably be pushed forward a week or so to ensure the maximum number of performers can attend.
All in all it was a good start to what we hope will become a regular fixture in the Broughton entertainment calendar. Organisers and participants deserve thanks and applause.
Locals should be delighted that Broughton St Mary's – excellent acoustics, flexible space, easy access – has potential to be a really successful venue in years to come.
[Thanks to © Graeme Robertson for Images 2-4 above and below.]
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