Four additional events have been added to this year’s Liverpool International Jazz Festival! The jazz extravaganza, hosted by Liverpool Hope University’s Capstone Theatre, has added Adee Lifshitz & Phil Shotton Band as a free event on the Friday afternoon, a free Saturday afternoon showcase of the university’s students, a Melodic Distraction afterparty and Liverpool Sax Day to its incredible programme!
The festival returns for its 10th year from 23rd February 2023 with a top line up! Once again, the Liverpool theatre plays host to a jazz extravaganza — featuring some incredible award winning international artists spanning a range of genres from Indo-jazz to Afro-funk to classical! Here’s the schedule for this year’s festival….
For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Thurs 23rd Feb 2023 (7.30pm): Milap Indo Jazz Club
With original music, new improvisations and the collective harmony and groove of two genres, the band brings together some of England’s top Indian and Jazz music artists in a performance curated for LIJF 2023.
This is the foremost contemporary collaboration between Indian and Jazz music in England today and is the result of ten years of creativity between the professionals of Milap and the National Youth Jazz Collective. Expect a truly magical experience with positive vibes, beautiful interaction and highly creative musical energy!
For a ticket to this event (£11.50) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Fri 24th Feb 2023 (1pm): Adee Lifshitz & Phil Shotton Quintet
A special recorded and filmed performance for Liverpool International Jazz Festival by Israeli vocalist Adee Lifshitz celebrating her collaboration with saxophonist Phil Shotton and his quartet, this concert marks the start of a 2023 tour of jazz clubs and a bumper year of performances at the Chapel Jazz Club in Ormskirk.
You can expect swinging standards in the style of Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London and Dinah Washington. Phil’s saxophone playing has been described as being reminiscent of the great Scott Hamilton and the interaction between Adee, Phil and the band is joyful, creative and full of excitement – swinging, melodic interactive jazz that leaves your foot tapping and melodies in your mind!
FREE ADMISSION! No booking required — just turn up to The Capstone Theatre!
Fri 24th Feb 2023 (7.30pm): Devils Of Moko
Devils Of Moko consists of Dominic J Marshall on piano and synth (Dominic J Marshall Trio, The Cinematic Orchestra), Mulele Matondo on bass (Kongo Dia Ntotila) and Sam Gardner on drums (Septabeat, Samadhi Quintet). Their music is a collective melting pot that captures all of their individual styles.
With the Western musical structure of Mulele’s grooving Congolese rhythms and sonic stories, Sam’s explorations of electronic music, drum & bass and production and the soulful jazz melodies of Dominic’s piano playing, the trio’s music has an uplifting and soul busting sound. Music without boundaries, Devils Of Moko are experimental, exciting and electric!
For a ticket to this event (£11.50) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Fri 24th Feb 2023 (9.30pm): Melodic Distraction Afterparty
If you still feel like carrying on the night, head to Melodic Distraction just over the road in The Fabric District. The cool radio station and events space will be hosting some live jazz and jazzy DJ sets until late — a fantastic hang out and one of the coolest venues in the city that’s all about the music!
FREE ADMISSION! No booking required — just turn up to Melodic Distraction!
Sat 25th Feb 2023 (1pm): Dock In Absolute
Dock In Absolute is a stellar trio from Luxembourg composed of Jean-Philippe Koch on piano, Arne Wiegand on bass and Victor Kraus on drums. Built around Koch’s original compositions, the trio’s music fuses different styles from progressive jazz to classical and rock elements. The compositions are sparkling, varying, forceful, pressing, rich in twists and turns in mood.
The group brought its first album out in 2017, under the Label CAM JAZZ and the second one in 2019. The third album is planned for 2023. DIA has been named the “Export Artist of the Year 2017 and 2019” by music:LX as they are the most active band in Luxembourg. The band’s latest album has been listed in Jazzit Magazine Awards “100 Greatest Albums of the Year”.
For a ticket to this event (£11.50) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Sat 25th Feb 2023 (2.30pm): Liverpool Hope Uni Students
Join us as we turn the Capstone foyer into a jazz club for the afternoon! Students and staff from Liverpool Hope’s music department will present a diverse range of music from vocalists to a jazz flute ensemble, directed by music performance lecturer Dr Tom Sykes.
This performance is free to attend and will be a relaxing way to spend time between the theatre concerts, as well as providing an opportunity to hear some of Hope’s music students in a jazz context. The first set will start as soon as the Dock in Absolute concert finishes at around 2.30pm.
FREE ADMISSION! No booking required — just turn up to The Capstone Theatre!
Sat 25th Feb 2023 (7.30pm): Shez Raja ft. Tony Kofi
Voted one of the ‘hottest bass players in the world’ by readers of Bass Player magazine, Shez Raja is renowned for his high energy live shows, unique Indojazzfunk sound and global star collaborations with Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Trilok Gurtu and Wayne Krantz.
Following spectacular performances at leading venues including Ronnie Scott’s, the Jazz Cafe and at major international festivals, Shez and his band have amassed a big following with a reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts on the scene today.
Tony Kofi is a British Jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, a player of the alto, baritone, soprano, tenor saxophones and flute. Having ‘cut his teeth’ in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority. Prsented by LIJF and Milap — this will be a very special night indeed!
For a ticket to this event (£11.50) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Sun 26th Feb 2023 (10am): Curly Music Liverpool Sax Day
This day-long event features workshops, masterclasses, performances from International Sax Superstar Marius Neset plus the North’s leading jazz tenorist/educator Dean Masser.
Bring your sax and join in the ensemble classes hosted by prolific International sax expert and composer Andy Scott, and also peruse and try out all the latest sax models and paraphernalia at the many trade stalls. In addition, Liverpool Sax Day ticket holders get automatic free entrance to the highly anticipated Liverpool International Jazz Festival Marius Neset Quartet evening concert.
For a ticket to this event plus the evening concert (£28) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
Sun 26th Feb 2023 (7.30pm): Marius Neset Quartet
Norwegian saxophonist and composer Marius Neset has earned countless nominations and awards for his performances and recordings, including the Spellemannprisen, in Norway, for the album Lion in 2014, and an ECHO award, in Germany, for the album Snowmelt in 2017. The 2017 edition of the Downbeat magazine listed him as the only European jazz musician in their list of ’25 artists to watch’.
Marius has performed with jazz musicians all over the world, has appeared at prestigious venues and events from Ronnie Scott’s to the Motreal Jazz Festival and received composition commissions from the BBC and many others. Marius has also worked with classical musicians such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Andreas Brantelid, Michala Petri, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Louisa Tuck, Ingrid Neset, and the Vertavo String Quartet.
For a ticket to this event (£15) CLICK HERE! For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
The Capstone Theatre, located on Shaw Street in Islington just outside the city centre, has been hosting Liverpool International Jazz Festival for 10 years now — bringing some of the best international acts to the city whilst nurturing local talent. For jazz fans, this 10th year is simply a must — with some incredible artists on display over the four days — and a festival pass is both a steal and a great Christmas present!
Liverpool International Jazz Festival / 23rd — 26th Feb 2023 / The Capstone Theatre, 17 Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP
For more info on the shows and for tickets visit The Capstone Theatre WEBSITE!
For a ticket for the entire festival (£48.50) CLICK HERE!
