September’s Kings Place Festival is an epic three-day chance to cram in as much or as little cultural nourishment as required after a sports-heavy summer.

Jazz is one of the pillars of the programming at Kings Place, in central London near St Pancras station, all the year round, particularly the Saturday night strand in Hall 2, and while at times the atmosphere there despite the beautiful surroundings and quality of the bookings can be a little lacking in excitement, the festival judging by previous years does ramp up the buzz factor a considerable notch. This year overall there are some 100 performances taking place across the arts, including classical music, comedy, and spoken word.

The jazz programming is extensive and includes cellist Matthew Barley and Friends (that’s the shakuhachi of Adrian Freedman and the piano of Julian Joseph), the sax/piano duo of Jason Yarde and Andrew McCormack, and Yarde’s Trio WAH! Also on are the vibes/piano duo of Jim Hart and Barry Green; Alexander Hawkins; Tomorrow’s Warriors performing The Queen’s Suite by Duke Ellington; and saxophonist Denys Baptiste’s new trio Triumvirate featuring up-and-coming drummer Moses Boyd along with bassist Larry Bartley.

(Denys Baptiste, pictured, top)

The festival also hosts the Edition Festival, showcasing artists from the roster of the leading Cardiff-based indie jazz label. The Ivo Neame Ensemble, Troyka, the sax/tuba duo of Marius Neset and Daniel Herskedal, and tenorist Josh Arcoleo are among those taking part.

(Ivo Neame, pictured above)

Trumpeter and composer Jay Phelps (above), who features on the soundtrack and plays the role of a member of the Louis Lester band in Stephen Poliakoff’s upcoming television drama Dancing on the Edge, also appears at Kings Place in two line-ups. One of these features the talented Canadian’s quartet joined by the Koco Quartet led by violinist Miles Brett, who like Jay also acts and plays in the Poliakoff serial, which is set in the London of the 1930s and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jacqueline Bisset and John Goodman.

Free foyer events include octets and dectets by the National Youth Jazz Collective, the duo of bassist Ben Hazleton and singer Julia Biel, the duo of Emilia Martensson and Barry Green, plus singer Randolph Matthews with saxophonist Rob Hughes. The festival runs from 14-16 September. 

Stephen Graham

More at www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival