The Brecon Jazz Festival is a music festival held annually in Brecon, Wales. Normally staged in early August, it has played host to a range of jazz musicians from across the world.
Created in 1984 by local enthusiasts – musicians, promoters and fans – the early festival featured live jazz music on the streets and in the pubs and cafes of Brecon. It was a community event originally created by the town's residents, modelled on New Orleans-style jazz events. Jed Williams as president of the Welsh Jazz Society, and founding editor of the Cardiff-based magazine Jazz UK had many international connections and was involved since 1984, working with local organisers including Liz Elston and Tony Constantinescu.[1][2][3] George Melly, who had a house close by, and was a friend of Tony Constantinescu, performed the following year after the success of the first festival.[4] Since 2016 the festival has been directed and presented by the Brecon Jazz stakeholders coordination group, founded by members of the local jazz club. Assets and historic rights to the festival are held by Brecon Jazz Festival Ltd and Friends of Brecon Jazz on behalf of the town of Brecon.
As well as the main festival, a Brecon Fringe is organised as alternative free music in pubs, hotels, galleries and cafes in the town.[5]
- ^ Allen, Gavin (2008). "And all that jazz... Humble beginnings of Brecon Jazz Festival". Retrieved 4 November 2008 – via The Free Library.
- ^ "HSBC Brecon Jazz 2008 : 7–10 August - Official Website". Friendsofbreconjazz.com. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Brecon Jazz no longer viable, says study". Brecon and Radnor Express. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Phil Johnson (6 August 1993). "JAZZ / Swinging in the valley: Phil Johnson reports on a small Welsh town bracing itself for a musical and on the voice of Julian Joseph - Arts and Entertainment". The Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Brecon Fringe - The Brecon Fringe Festival". Breconfringe.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.