Jazz Preview: ‘Ideal solution’ for festival after Loussier falls ill

Programmes, posters and T-shirts had already been printed. The Bach-with-a-beat pianist who sold millions of albums in his heyday was central to a programme with a French flavour in the Spa Grand Hall.

“It was every festival organiser’s nightmare,” says Mike, suddenly confronted with finding a replacement at desperately short notice. Happily he came up with an ideal solution in the shape of David Rees-Williams, who, like Loussier, specialises in adapting classical themes to a jazz piano trio format.

Rees-Williams and his colleagues take the concept to a broader level in their interpretations of Handel, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Scarlatti, Mozart and Purcell as well as Bach.

Some reviews suggest that anything Loussier does, they can do better, and a relieved Gordon says: “I can guarantee our audience will be dazzled.”

Elsewhere in the line-up the Gallic tinge is preserved by the multi-instrumental Hadouk Trio, the Paris-based singer Mina Agossi and the Orchestre National de Jazz who observe no musical boundaries in an adventurous repertoire.

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Tommy Evans Orchestra, Liz Fletcher, Gilad Atzmon , Matt Anderson, Kate Williams, Mark Nightingale, Christine Tobin and the ubiquitous Alan Barnes make up the British presence.

More a little later about the ninth Scarborough festival which will be held from September 23 to September 25.