Various Artists: Scarborough Jazz Festival Present: 2024 Live Festival Compilation

In the late 1960s, record labels introduced inexpensive compilation albums that typically focused on specific genres. These collections strategically paired established artists with emerging talents. By doing so, they offered listeners an accessible entry point to discover multiple artists within a particular scene—essentially functioning as an early form of playlist. While such musical curation now primarily occurs on digital platforms, the organisers of Scarborough Jazz Festival have revived this tradition with a compilation recording of performances from their 2024 event. This thoughtfully curated album serves as a snapshot of the current UK jazz landscape, providing an excellent cross-section of some of the most innovative performers on the contemporary British scene and beyond.

Scarborough is a seaside resort on England's east coast. The festival is held annually at the town's magnificent Victorian Spa Complex. This recording, Scarborough Jazz Festival Present: 2024 Live Festival Compilation, captures the essence and ambience of the festival on a double CD featuring a high-quality line-up of 17 artists.

Fine guitar and fiery vocals feature as The Al Morrison Blues Experience open the first CD with a smouldering version of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love." There is more excellent guitar playing, but in an entirely different style, from David Preston’s Purple / Black, the guitarist's band comprised of pianist Jason Rebello, bassist Kevin Glasgow and drummer Sebastian Rochford; they gradually build the tempo with exciting solos in "VHS Poem." A further highlight is provided by the Fergus McCreadie Trio as they weave their folk/jazz magic over the delightful 11 minutes of "Fairfield Isle."

The album cover features Hattie Whitehead; her well-judged vocals feature as part of the excellent Hejira septet covering Joni Mitchell's "Coyote." Other high points include the Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), the Gareth Lockrane Big Band and a superb version of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Blackbird" from Dutch vocalist Fay Claassen, ably supported by pianist Barry Green and tenor saxophonist Emma Rawicz.

There are excellent performances throughout the album, from such luminaries as Alan Barnes, Nigel Price and Elaine Delmar to international guests the 3D Jazz Trio, who offer a terrific crowd-pleasing version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova standard "Favela." Catering to a wide variety of tastes across the jazz world, this album serves as a great record of the 2024 festival and a gentle reminder that it returns in 2025.

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