Ten years ago, the idea seemed extraordinary. Transport a host of jazz stars to a beautiful Hebridean island for a weekend; organise concerts in country houses, distilleries, village halls, golf clubs, birdwatcher’s and fishermen’s hotels, and old fashioned west coast bars and hope that an audience might find it appealing.

Combining jazz and fresh air was always going to be an audacious idea. But from the first notes - Tommy Smith playing solo for the first time in Islay House - it was clear that the blend was a winner. Audiences love the thrill of high quality music, totally informal settings, whisky, beaches, extraordinary landscape, good food, and party atmosphere.

Every year since, more and more people have made the trip to Islay to listen to the magic that results.

In 2008, we reach a milestone. The southernmost of the Western Isles of Scotland hosts its tenth jazz festival. From September 12-14, the island looks set to attract another crowd of jazz fans ready to traverse the single track roads in search of brilliant musical artistry, sometimes rehearsed and sometimes spontaneous.

This year’s programme features a host of musicians who have contributed to the success of the Festival over the last ten years, plus, as always some new and exciting guests.

Mario Caribe has played at every Festival. He will take centre stage at the atmospheric Bunnahabhain Distillery concert, where we will also celebrate the ten years of sponsorship from Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky which has supported the event since its start. Colin Steele has often referred to Islay as his spiritual musical home and his unique distillation of Miles Davis and Scottish folk inspirations has won him international acclaim. In a unique concert, he opens the Festival playing in duet with pianist, David Milligan. Colin's residency will also include a now rare concert for his Quintet, and an even rarer outing for his funky band, Melting Pot, with soul vocalist, Subie Coleman. Other longstanding Islay favourites appearing at the 10th anniversary are Phil Bancroft and Kevin Mackenzie with their Quartets, and the wonderful Islay singer, Sheena Swanson, who will feature another ten Festival veteran, drummer, Brian Palmer.

For the tenth Festival we have extra special guests, with exclusive UK appearances for the great American tenor saxophonist, Jimmy Greene, and the livewire Swedish pianist, Jacob Karlzon. The phenomenal New York Rosetta Trio will play their extraordinary acoustic strings music and will also support singer-songwriter, Jen Chapin, daughter of Harry, and a formidable artist in her own right. The leading blues singer, Tam White, will present his new project with the Sermon Organ Trio.

Thirty three year old Jimmy Greene's CV reads like a classic jazz star. He made his name playing in some of the toughest bands of jazz giants like Horace Silver, Tom Harrell, and Freddie Hubbard. He also enjoyed the big stages afforded by being a member of Harry Connick's Band. Now he's combined his sideman work with leadership of one of the hottest bands in New York, with four celebrated albums documenting their achievements. He'll play a
couple of concerts with the thrilling Glasgow trumpeter, Ryan Quigley, and will also guest with Jacob Karlzon's Band. Karlzon, 38, is a virtuoso pianist, an intelligent interpreter of standard jazz material and a composer of beautiful new tunes. He's made one of the great piano Trio records of the last decade: "Today" on Prophone, and he leads one of the most exciting
straight ahead jazz groups in Scandinavia. His new record features his own music, alongside covers of heavy metal band, Korn, and impressionist composer, Ravel.

Tasting the seven malts distilled on the island might seem a natural attraction for a jazz fan - and it's possible with a single glass of our sponsor, Black Bottle. Black Bottle have sponsored the Festival from Day One, and their enthusiasm remains undimmed. David Allan, Brand Manager is keen to explain the logic in the association: "Being ordinary is easy. Painless, pedestrian and predictable. But dull, deadly dull. And then there's Black Bottle, a singular dram that stands up and demands attention. Never reserved for the feint praise, it's adored by the critics. Ordinary it is not. In that respect it's a perfect match for the Jazz Festival.
Especially one which is based on uncompromising excellence in a relaxed atmosphere, and one that is based on the same island whose whisky is at the heart of the blend. The Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival is an amazing experience for everyone there. That's why people come back year after year, and that's why Black Bottle comes back year after year. So let us raise a glass of Black Bottle to celebrate this year's 10th anniversary, Slainte!."


Last year many concerts sold out, and accommodation on the island was difficult to find. Promoters, Assembly Direct and Islay Arts Association are expecting this year to be even busier and recommend Islay Jazz Festival regulars (once you’ve got the bug, you can’t stop going) and newcomers to book early. Fiona Alexander, Director, said: “This surely is the most magical place for a jazz festival. We love it, the musicians love it, the audiences love it. Islay is a real jewel in the jazz calendar.” Stuart Todd of Islay Arts Association said "Discovery and exploration are two key qualities that are inherent in jazz and are perfect for a visit to Islay".

Tickets for the Festival will be on sale directly from promoters, Assembly Direct, 0131 467 5200 and from The Craft Shop, High Street, Bowmore on Islay. Weekender tickets, allowing access to all events, are available for only £50. Numbers are limited by the capacity of the venues.

Full listings are attached. Further information is available on www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk  

Tickets 01496 810 262 / 0131 647 5200/ www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk  



Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival 2008 - listings information

Friday 12 September
Colin Steele and Dave Milligan Duo
Especially for Islay 10, two of the Festival's favourite musicians, trumpeter Steele and pianist Milligan play a one-off duo, including compositions written for the occasion. Folk, jazz, swing distilled into music of great beauty.
6–7pm, Port Mor, £7 (£5 conc)

Jimmy Greene Quintet
The tenor saxophonist is one of the major players on the New York modern jazz scene, having established his reputation with Horace Silver, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard and Harry Connick and made four acclaimed albums with his own groups. For his Scottish debut, as leader, he fronts a band with Ryan Quigley (trumpet), Paul Harrison (piano), Mario Caribe (bass) and Doug Hough (drums). High energy!
7.30–9.30pm, Bruichladdich Hall, £9 (£7 conc)

Tommy Smith and Jacob Karlzon Duo
The first Islay Jazz Festival featured Tommy Smith playing in duo, and the Festival challenges the saxophonist again – to play some standards, and some tunes which reflect an interest in folk musics and soundscapes. The Swedish pianist is one of the most beautiful piano players and composers in European jazz. World exclusive!
8–10pm, Ionad Chalium Chillie Ile (Columba Centre) £10 (£8 conc)


Melting Pot
Funky jazz time with a rare reprise for Colin Steele's groove based band, featuring the stunning vocals of Subie Coleman and the preaching horn of Phil Bancroft. From latin–edged tunes to laid back funk.
10.30PM–12.30Am, Bruichladdich Hall, £8 (£6 conc)


Saturday 13 September

Colin Steele Quintet
"A bop unit quite unlike any other. Steele's lithe, dancing folk-like themes give a definite Scottish flavour, and the soloists respond beautifully." (Irish Times). "A dream of a band" (Independent On Sunday). Steele's back in his spiritual
musical home of Islay with his classic group.
12:30–3pm, Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven, £8. Lunches available


10th Anniversary Concert: Mario Caribe and Guests
A concert that starts with one and ends with ten. That's musicians on stage. Mario Caribe celebrates ten years of Islay Jazz by playing solo, then duos with Phil Bancroft; plays with Sheena Swanson; with his latin jazz band, Sexteto del Fuego; and finally with a specially assembled ten piece band. And to add extra spice to the occasion, the Black Bottle Islay Pipe Band will be on hand to play around the Distillery before the concert.
4–6pm, Bunnahabhain Distillery, £10 (£8 conc)
Distillery Tour at 3pm – places are limited so please book on 01496 840646


Jacob Karlzon – Local Heroes
The Swedish pianist has some exciting Quintet music for Jimmy Greene (tenor sax), Ryan Quigley (trumpet), Calum Gourlay (bass) and Stuart Ritchie (drums). Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock are clear influences, but Karlzon is an
original and a leading musician in Scandinavian jazz today.
6.30–8.30pm, Ionad Chalium Chillie Ile (Columba Centre) £9 (£7 conc)


Sheena Swanson and Stephen Duffy – Holiday On Islay
Sheena Swanson and Stephen Duffy sing the songs made famous by the great Billie Holiday - with Paul Harrison (piano), Mario Caribe (bass) and Brian Palmer (drums). Presented in the newly refurbished Bowmore Hall with cabaret style seating.
8–10pm, Bowmore Hall, £8 (£6 conc)


Rosetta Trio and Jen Chapin
Bassist, Stephan Crump is one of New York's top cutting edge bassists and composers. He's a member of Vijay Iyer's and Liberty Ellman's Quartets. His own Rosetta Trio with guitarists, Ellman and Jamie Fox, has been one of the off-beat sensations of the decade. Acoustic all-strings jazz with a contemporary approach. Lately, they've formed the backing Trio for singer-songwriter, Jen Chapin, daughter of Harry, and an original voice in turning tunes by David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder into what she calls jazz-tinged urban-story songs. You'll hear both groupings - one Trio, one Chapin.
9.30–11pm, Ionad Chalium Chillie Ile (Columba Centre) £9 (£7 conc)

Sexteto Del Fuego
An explosive celebration of latin jazz, bossa rhythms and Brazilian vibes - led by the Brazilian Maestro Mario Caribe and featuring the stellar horn section of Chris Greive and Ryan Quigley.
10.30pm–12.30am, Bruichladdich Hall, £8 (£6 conc)



Sunday 14 September

Phil Bancroft Quartet
One of the giants of the Scottish jazz scene, Bancroft's magisterial tenor saxophone sound can be tough and gruff as he builds intensity and energy, but it can also melt your heart with its tender core.
noon–2pm, RSPB Centre, £8. Light lunches available
11–11.45am bird watching walk from RSPB Centre

Greene / Greive / Quigley Sextet
Trumpet, trombone, tenor Sax front-line with a penchant for the uptempo Blue Note grooves and with a swinging rhythm section (Dave Milligan, Calum Gourlay, Doug Hough), means this will be classic modern jazz from the Blue Note era.
12.30-2.30pm, Ardbeg Distillery, £8. Lunch menu available

Jacob Karlzon Trio
"A musical personality of great magnitude" (Politiken,Denmark). Karlzon is a pianist of rare touch who can play hard grooves one minute and ballads of great beauty the next. His new album contains music by heavy-metal band, Korn, and by Ravel. With Mario Caribe (bass) and Stu Ritchie (drums) he spans all moods.
3–5pm, Ionad Chalium Chillie Ile (Columba Centre) £7 (£5 conc)

Kevin Mackenzie Quartet
The guitarist's bright, melodic and catchy tunes are written for the guitar/tenor sax partnership that was originally influenced by John Scofield and Joe Lovano, but has now taken a life of its own. "From acoustic romance to businesslike boogaloo, (the tunes) are simply model citizens of the planet jazz" (The Herald).
5.30–7pm, Laphroaig Distillery, £7 (£5 conc)

Tam White with The Sermon Organ Trio
Blues and jazz combine with the great Scottish blues singer fronting a classic Hammond Organ Trio with Paul Harrison, Malcolm McFarlane and Dough Hough. White loves the music of Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, and Joe Williams, all great blues and soul singers who revelled in jazz company.
8.30–10.30pm, Machrie Hotel, £10 (£8 conc).