Classical and Jazz: Preview - Barbican's Blaze summer festival - various venues
Published: 17 June 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
THIS weekend marks the start of the Barbican’s Blaze summer festival of music and dance. Music at the month-long festival ranges from jazz, roots, rock and reggae to Latin and contemporary and includes world premieres, commissions, open-air concerts and free events.
Most concerts are at the Barbican, but events are also taking place at the Hackney Empire; Gillett Square, Dalston; Shoreditch Park; and Theatre Royal, Stratford.
Legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are opening the festival at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. As the New York jazz orchestra’s concerts at the Barbican this week have been sold-out for quite a while, the Victoria Park concert provides another opportunity to hear some great jazz for free.
The Wynton Marsalis big band is also at the Hackney Empire on Sunday evening, playing jazz from the 1960s to the present day. Expect great compositions by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Jackie McLean alongside Marsalis originals.
On Saturday, eight decades of British big band music are celebrated at the Barbican by a specially assembled band led by glorious veteran trumpeter Guy Barker.
– For concert details, see listings