BY MARK BEIRNE-SMITH

Ilkley Jazz Festival 2017 has ended for another year. This year’s festival which ran from August 16 to 20 was bigger than previous years with more venues hosting great jazz artists from around the UK with many of the venues selling out.

Monkman’s, who have had regular monthly jazz sessions since their first gig with Ilkley Jazz Festival were yet again another sell-out success with the vocal talents of Zoe Gilby opening the festival and later in the week with Paul Baxter and Richard Ormrod. Martinez Wine Bar raised the roof with Dave Smith and Quinta, were also another sell-out gig with Yorkshire jazz veteran Julie Edwards. Treppenwitz were equally successful at The Friends of Ham.

The first night at The Winter Gardens saw Ian Shaw wowing a spellbound audience and showing why he is one of the world’s leading jazz singers. Saturday at The Winter Gardens was equally enthralling with band upon band of astonishing musicianship, Jamil Sheriff Trio, Jamie Brownfield Quartet, James Mainwaring Trio. Culminating with a beautiful set of Hoagy tunes from Jazz Singer and Ilkley Jazz Festival’s Artistic Director Beverley Beirne, followed by a very special Saturday headline gig with London based musician John Crawford and his energetic, flawless Latin American based grooves, leaving audiences completely mesmerised. Saturday was rounded off at The Black Hat with the ever popular Late Night Jazz Jam, where the staff got into the swing of things and spent the weekend dressed in 20’s outfits, serving Prohibition cocktails.

The lucky few may also have spotted Backchat Brass, a lively bunch of young musicians popping up to play around town on the Friday - causing music and mayhem.

The festival ended on the Sunday back at The Black Hat for a gypsy jazz set with Hot Club Du Nord and later with a laid back Jazz Picnic and the vibrant sounds of The Dales Jam.

Ilkley Jazz Festival Directors, Mark and Beverley Beirne-Smith would like to thank all of the venues for their excitement and enthusiasm for the weekend.

"There was an incredible community spirit about the festival and people who came from further afield were given a huge Yorkshire welcome. The venues are incredibly supportive and really help to make this festival a town event which we hope to develop more as we move forward. We would also like to thank the audiences for their support, they were fantastic! Our promise, is to make next year’s festival even bigger…so keep checking our website and social media sites and put next year’s dates (August 15 to the 19 ) in your diary."