Cambridge Jazz Festival 2016

News

September 29, 2016

Following the success of our collaboration with the Cambridge Jazz Festival (UK) in 2015, we’re delighted to be returning to the festival this autumn. Last year, we enjoyed a fabulous concert from the Tara Minton Quintet, plus a workshop for harpists the afternoon before the gig. This year, we’ll have a day with another star of the blue harp: Ben Creighton-Griffiths.

On the penultimate day of the festival, Saturday November 26th 2016, Ben will appear in association with Clare Jazz. He’ll play a solo set at 8:30PM in the Clare College cellar bar (get there early – last year, the queue snaked around the block). Ben is a real champion of solo Blue Harp jazz, both with the use of processing and effects pedals, and also almost unplugged. Tix: here.

Beforehand, from 2-5PM on November 26th, Ben will give a workshop for harpists in the Garden Room of Clare College. This is a class for students of all ages and stages.  Ben will draw on his experience as both a classical and jazz musician, offering harpists to come and perform pieces from either genres in a relaxed atmosphere. This will be followed by an informal talk about his progression from classical to jazz music, and then a group “Introduction to Improvisation” jam session!

Places are free, but limited. Harps are also free-but-limited: our UK partners Telynau Vining will bring as many harps as they can fit on the van, and you are welcome to borrow them on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up for the workshop, please email Elen Vining, with details of what piece you would like to play for Ben in the first half of the class.

Between workshop and concert you can fill in the time by having a glass of wine with us, and exploring Telynau Vining’s exhibition of Camac’s latest instruments, also in the Garden Room directly after the workshop.

We look forward to seeing you there!