We know what an important role the church has played in the development and sound of jazz, so despite the music’s more profane connotations, a cathedral might not be such an unlikely venue for a jazz series. Thus it is next month when Rochester Cathedral in Kent hosts its second jazz festival.
Born-and-bred Medway man and organist James Taylor (Hammond more than Kit-Downes-style pipe organ) is in charge of musical direction and has devised the programme. His acid-jazz band kicks off the event on Tuesday 12 November and is followed by the BBC Big Band (13), who will play swinging renditions of classic TV and movie themes.
Taylor’s group is followed by another trio but with piano replacing organ – that of Jason Rebello (14). The next day brings the Laurence Cottle Big Band paying tribute to Tower of Power (15). The final event, Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio with the Britten Sinfonia (16), may be the closest to antecedent in the cathedral’s concert series, reminding of Jan Garbarek, the sanctified Swedish saxophonist who made a big success of improvising in reverberant chapels over a cappella classical music.
Last year’s festival enjoyed sell-out performances, including by Ronnie Scott’s Big Band. The cathedral (“growing in Christ since AD604”) hopes the festival will become an annual event helping to raise much-needed funds for the upkeep of the thousand-year-old building.
The jazz series follows other fundraising efforts, including a lightshow by Luxmuralis this month that attracted thousands of visitors and an art installation this summer to mark 900 years of Textus Roffensis, a medieval manuscript written at the cathedral.
James Taylor said: “It’s such a privilege to contribute to the ever-expanding cultural life of this town. It’s thrilling to see audiences of over 700 packing the nave.”
The Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival takes place 12-16 November. Tickets are at https://www.rochestercathedral.org/jazz
