The jazz combo that everyone’s talking about!
We’re once again offering our popular Jazz Weekender tickets, granting you access to all BIF jazz events during the Festival’s opening weekend, at a heavily discounted price.
Enjoy a spectacular weekend of live music, with 12 gigs varying from jazz, blues, funk and Latin, plus an Oscar Peterson extravaganza.
Events are taking place in our own intimate jazz club at The Palace Hotel as well as at the Pavilion Arts Centre, both in the heart of town.
***TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!***
The line-up includes:
Thursday 10 July
INEZA
Jazz at the Palace, 7pm – 8.30pm
Ineza and her quartet will present an exclusive preview of her debut album, to be released in late ‘25. Be among the first to experience her take on contemporary Jazz, featuring introspective lyrics and rich, evocative soundscapes.
Rwandan-born, Belgian vocalist Ineza has firmly established herself as a powerful and expressive artist in the UK Jazz scene – an in-demand vocalist with a distinctive voice that has captured the attention of critics and audiences alike.
GRAHAM CLARK QUARTET
Jazz at the Palace, 9.30pm – 11pm
Violin virtuoso Graham Clark returns to BIF after a stunning gig in 2022. A Buxton resident for over 25 years, Clark is well-known for his weekly jazz residencies and his unique blend of jazz, rock, and experimental music. He’s played with legends like Daevid Allen and Elbow, and as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra. The quartet delivers inventive, panache-filled jazz, and promises an unforgettable performance.
Friday 11 July
EMILY MASSER QUARTET feat Alex Clarke
Jazz at The Palace, 12pm – 1.30pm
Emily Masser is fast becoming one of the most exciting young voices in the jazz scene. At just 20 years old, the Wigan-born vocalist has gained recognition from jazz luminaries following her debut album Introducing Emily Masser, recorded with The Clark Tracey Quintet. Emily will be performing song-book standards with a modern twist, alongside an all-star rhythm section, and special guest Alex Clarke on sax. Expect distinctive arrangements and a soulful delivery that brings a modern edge to timeless tunes.
‘Her range, variation, and seemingly effortless delivery reflect a confidence and ability that belie her years.’ Jazz Journal
TRIO JDM
Jazz at the Palace, 2.30pm – 4pm
Dave Walsh is known for his superlative drumming with countless jazz greats, award-winning singer-songwriters, and chart-topping pop acts alike.
Guitarist Jamie Taylor has been heard with some of the finest jazz musicians from either side of the Atlantic. His bop-influenced work is regularly heard at legendary London venues like Ronnie Scott’s and The Troubadour.
On hammond organ is the wonderful Martin Longhawn, perhaps best known to jazz audiences for his work with the excellent Svarc/Hanley/Longhawn group.
Expect to hear accessible original music alongside material from a wide range of composers and eras.
BAIANA
Jazz at the Palace, 8pm – 9.30pm
Baiana is the Brazilian-inspired project of Liverpool-born singer-songwriter Laura Doyle.
Refreshingly joyful and charismatic, Baiana’s live show promises a heady mix of infectious rhythm, superb musicianship, and beautiful songs. The full band, including the trio from the Haggis Horns (who’ve worked with the likes of John Legend, Mark Ronson, Corinne Bailey Rae and Amy Winehouse), is coming to Buxton, featuring a line-up of some Europe’s leading jazz musicians.
A hugely popular draw at Love Supreme and Ealing Jazz Festival, Baiana also headlined the Southend Jazz Festival, as well as supporting Brazilian mega-star Gilberto Gil on his UK tour.
‘The band we are all obsessed about’ Deb Grant, BBC 6 Music
BUTCHER’S BREW
Jazz at the Palace, 10.30pm – late
A late-night treat, with the fabulous Butcher’s Brew playing jazz, funk, blue note and Latin.
A lot of trumpeter Ray Butcher’s work is inspired by Miles Davis. He has performed at The 606 Club, Ronnie Scott’s, and many others. He performed the trumpet solo on ‘God’s Great Dance Floor’, for Grammy-nominated singer Martin Smith, and also the version by Chris Tomlin, for the album Burning Lights.
He has worked with Dr John, Mica Paris, Robbie Williams and many commercial artists.
‘Ray Butcher is a trumpeter and composer who has clocked up years of achievements’ Cross Rhythms
SATURDAY 12 JULY
ALAN BARNES PRESENTS
A Celebration of Art Pepper’s Centenary
Jazz at the Palace, 1pm – 3.30pm
Alan’s Inspiration: ‘I have assembled this all-star band to celebrate the centenary of Art Pepper’s birth in 1925.
Art Pepper first came into my life at around 15 through a double album, Art Pepper – Discoveries, recorded in the early ’50s. The alto sax playing… was clear, virtuosic and accurate – a beautiful, fresh, full-of-life sound that danced over time in a light and subtle yet intensely probing way. From that moment, one thing was clear: for me, that was how the alto saxophone should be played.’
DEAN STOCKDALE QUARTET WITH STRINGS PRESENTS
100 Years of Oscar Peterson
Plus special guests Alan Barnes, Mark Armstrong and Emily Masser
Pavilion Arts Centre, 7pm – 9.30pm
Following an acclaimed performance last year, the Dean Stockdale Quartet returns with a new set for a very special evening to honour the one and only Oscar Peterson, born August 15th 1925. 2025 will mark the legendary jazz pianist’s 100th birthday.
This show will feature the quartet and some special guests – Alan Barnes, sax, Mark Armstrong, trumpet, Emily Masser, vocals, and the Amika string quartet – performing new arrangements of Oscar’s music.
EMMA RAWICZ QUARTET
Jazz at the Palace, 10pm – late
Emma Rawicz is a young saxophonist, bandleader, and composer with astonishing musical maturity. At just 22 years of age, she has achieved a huge amount, including the release of two critically-acclaimed albums, extensive headline tours across 15 countries, and appearances in high-profile festivals and venues.
Her projects include her regularly touring quartet and sextet line-ups, duo concerts with pianist Gwilym Simcock, and her 20-piece Jazz Orchestra, which has already performed her exciting original music at important London venues.
‘The name Emma Rawicz is on everyone’s lips right now’ Julian Joseph, J to Z, BBC Radio 3
SUNDAY 13 JULY
DODEKA
Jazz at the Palace, 1pm – 2.30pm
Ivo Neame’s ‘Dodeka’ is a unique new band formed in 2022. Following the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, he decided to record new music for a virtual big band. In May 2020, Help Musicians and Arts Council England supported him in multitracking a big band album – this eventually became Glimpses of Truth. Thanks to music technology and the internet, Neame produced a critically-acclaimed work during a tough time. As it was possible to record musicians from their homes anywhere in the world, he also decided to involve US jazz stars Gilad Hekselman and Ingrid Jensen on the record.
XHOSA COLE QUARTET PRESENTS
Freemonk
Jazz at the Palace, 4pm – 6pm
We are delighted to welcome the return of Xhosa Cole.
He celebrates the compositions of pianist Thelonious Monk. FreeMonk explores, abstracts and collages Monk’s compositions, breaking his music out of convention and breathing new life into these timeless tunes. Joining Cole are some of the finest improvising musicians in the UK: Pat Thomas on piano, Josh Vadivello on bass and Tim Giles on drums.
“It is the highly gifted Xhosa Cole who is currently making most waves … Cole has the rich expressive range and technical skills that characterise significant soloists” – The Guardian
GEORGINA JACKSON’S ‘SASS AND BRASS’
With her Mighty Mini Big Band
Jazz at the Palace, 8pm – 9.30pm
Expect a velvet-voiced pick and mix of swinging, bluesy ballads and iconic songs, alongside a hefty dose of sizzling brass. It celebrates some of the ‘Vintage Vegas’ sounds that have inspired Georgina’s unique talent, from Louis and Ella to Ray Charles, Sinatra and Adele.
Her band features some of the most incredible musicians in the UK today. The band may be mini, but it sure is mighty!
Tickets go on sale on Friday 1 November at 10am.
