Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of the most popular jazz events in the United Kingdom. The festival is part of the annual festival season in Cheltenham, a town in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham also hosts science, and literature events every spring. Attracting over 20,000 spectators, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival was founded in 1996, under the direction of Jim Smith. The program features a mix of world jazz icons, aspiring performers, and unique performances of different genres.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival is held at different venues in the city center, which usually includes Apollo Stage in Imperial Gardens, the late Victorian Gothic Cheltenham College Chapel, Cheltenham Town Hall, and others. The festival also runs Jazz for Schools program, which encourages children and young people to perform at the festival.
Throughout its history, Cheltenham Jazz Festival's stage witnessed such legends as Chick Corea, Ray Brown, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Gregory Porter, Randy Crawford, Nubya Garcia, Kamasi Washington, Courtney Pine, Eartha Kitt, Katie Melua, Paloma Faith, Hugh Laurie, Laura Mvula, Corinne Bailey Rae, Imelda May, Soweto Kinch, Van Morrison, BBC Big Band, and BBC Concert Orchestra.
