The Cambridge Jazz Festival was founded in 2014, the first in this city for over 45 years. Not that the jazz scene in Cambridge has been lying dormant. Anything but. This is a city that punches way above its weight in terms of the quality and variety of its arts, and jazz is no exception. Throughout Cambridge, jazz thrives in all its different guises.

The organisers had some specific goals in mind – bringing together the jazz communities from the town and the universities, showcasing local talent (and in some cases, inviting them back home again!), and bringing the best bands from around the country and internationally to perform in our city.

The festival is a celebration of the huge variety of music that jazz encompasses, from gypsy jazz to funk, from jazz poetry and spoken word to hip-hop, from solo artists to big bands and to open jazz up to new audiences, particularly young people, and to give them the chance to get involved as well as come and listen.

In addition to bringing some of finest UK jazz musicians in the UK, the Festival also aims is to support and help inspire the next generation of jazz musicians and to help raise awareness into the benefits of music and music therapy in our community.

This will hopefully break down some of the old preconceptions and stereotypes, and present jazz in Cambridge as what it truly is – a thrilling, varied, and compellingly creative art form. A lot has changed in 45 years, as you’ll see…come to the gigs, see the films, hear the talks, and learn something new at the workshops of the Cambridge Jazz Festival.

With the generous support of sponsors including the Arts Council England, Brewin Dolphin (title sponsors) and CambridgeBID, and with your participation and encouragement, Cambridge can be given the jazz festival it richly deserves.

Roslin Russell
Co-founder and Director