NQ Jazz Orchestra are back!

Prolific pianist-composer Lukas DeRungs brings his European quintet to Manchester as part of his album release tour, 'WAKE'! With the music ranging from evocative songs to rhythmically intricate interlocking structures, "both tender and explosive", Lukas' music is brought to life by rising-star vocalist Immy Churchill (UK), virtuoso guitarist Karim Saber (UK/IR), NYC-based drummer Jonas Esser (DE) and heavy-grooving bassist Jan Dittmann (DE).

As the founding member of Phronesis, one of the most talked about and acclaimed European bands during the last decade, Jasper Høiby now returns with his new piano trio 3Elements. With a melodic and bold sound of visceral and kinetic musical interplay and featuring a revolving line-up of some of Europe’s best young talent, his latest release ‘Like Water’ features piano prodigy Chaerin Im from South Korea and Jamie Peet, a uniquely eclectic drummer from the Netherlands. Since creating his first band in 2005, Copenhagen-born London based bassist Jasper Høiby has gained recognition for his fresh and dynamic approach to jazz, blending intricate compositions with spontaneous improvisation.

After a lengthy hiatus, NQ Jazz is back! We’re delighted to be shaping up for a new season (kicking off with the incredible Jasper Hoiby’s latest project on 7th Oct) - ahead of our Monday series kicking off, we’re excited to bring you a very special fundraising concert, in the form of the first ever outing of the 18-piece NQ Jazz Orchestra - a collection of some of the North’s most exciting musicians giving up their time & musicianship for free to help us raise funds to support our upcoming events.

Sun-Mi Hong, an acclaimed South Korean drummer based in Amsterdam, is a rising star known for her boundless creativity and infectious energy. Winner of prestigious awards including the Edison Award and the SENA Dutch Jazz Competition, Sun-Mi's music blends rooted grooves with exhilarating outbursts.

NYC based piano legend Aaron Parks makes an exceptionally rare visit to Manchester, alongside a stunning trio lead by guitarist Tom Ollendorff and featuring bassist Conor Chaplin and James Maddren on the drums. Parks has already had an illustrious career, rocketing to prominence in Terence Blanchard’s Grammy winning band at the age of 18, and performing/recording with so many luminaries on the global jazz scene, inc. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ambrose Akinmusire, Gretchen Parlato, Joshua Redman, Billy Hart, Marcus Miller and many, many more besides…

A trailblazing artist with an unwavering passion, Joe Webb is poised to modernise Jazz piano tradition with his unmatched talent and rockstar-like demeanour. With a captivating fusion of traditional piano virtuosity and an unwavering passion for 90’s guitar bands and football, Webb emerges as a truly unique talent, fearlessly challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of contemporary Jazz.

Formed almost 10 years ago as a regular workshop & performance of Manchester's creative music scene to trial new compositions for large ensemble, the Manchester Jazz Collective returns with a monthly residency at The Yard after a 5-year-long hiatus!

"Four Norwegian improvisers with an utter disregard for purism, and an almost reckless attitude towards taking musical risks -Wako are exploring their very own language and approach to music."

Drawing from R&B, Hip-Hop, Electronica and Brazilian Popular Music; Glowseeker paint sweet melodies and crisp, vibrant grooves, over a backdrop of lush keys, quirky samples and dreamy synths.

“Trumpeter Mark Kavuma and tenor sax player Theo Erskine join forces on an intimate, retro set that reflects on the pandemic era with sensitivity and soul” - The Guardian

Winner of ‘UK Jazz Act Of The Year’ and ‘Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2022 Jazz FM awards, Georgia Cécile is at the helm of the new wave of UK jazz crossover artists.

Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat make their NQ Jazz debut, celebrating the release of their second album Northern Flame - a collection of new music inspired by stories of the resilience and strength of Northern women past and present

Guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg has been steadily building his name as one of the most compelling composer/performers in Jazz. Combining timeless melodicism with forward thinking lines and textures, His style and approach has created a strong following of fans around the world.

Unknown to Known offers an intimate dialogue of meandering melodies and textural grooves over resounding harmonic landscapes. At times euphoric and often dynamic, this music is always interactive, honest and raw. On woodwinds, Idris Rahman and Tamar Osborn weave together the melodic fabric of this music. Their lyrical approach gracefully compliments one another, whether they play in unison or counterpoint. Jihad Darwish oscillates between the sitar, double bass and electric bass, providing a bridge from melodic and harmonic worlds down to earthy, pulsating yet sensitive grooves which Yusuf Ahmed ties together on the drums and various hybrid percussion instruments. At times euphoric and dynamic and at others deeply meditative, the music the quartet creates is always interactive, honest, and raw -deep thinking jazz music at its best.

Drawing on the history of 60s free jazz and hard bop, but with a modern sensibility grounded in the sounds of today’s European scene, John Pope’s quintet play hard-grooving, anything-goes energy music that seeks to bring people together in a joyous racket.

Drawing on the history of 60s free jazz and hard bop, but with a modern sensibility grounded in the sounds of today’s European scene, John Pope’s quintet play hard-grooving, anything-goes energy music that seeks to bring people together in a joyous racket.

Byron Wallen returns to Manchester to perform with his quartet 'Four Corners', showcasing new material. Featuring guitarist Rob Luft, bassist Paul Michael and drummer Rod Youngs.

From collaboration with Sting, Manu Katché and Marilyn Mazur, to performances at major Jazz Festivals, to her appearance with the vocal Jazz Group GURLS, to her own projects Pixel and the Ellen Andrea Wang Trio, Wang has consistently sought to tastefully blend Jazz and Pop in new ways.

This collaborative project unites two iconic and vibrant ensembles, The Printmakers – Nikki Iles’ all-star sextet featuring the great Norma Winstone MBE – and the London Vocal Project, the unique groove-based jazz choir directed by the inspirational Pete Churchill. Together they will cook up a feast of newly-devised music placing women at the heart and the helm, bringing together the exceptionally lyrical output of Norma Winstone with the beguiling music of award-winning pianist/composer Nikki Iles. For those familiar with the many different colours of the Printmakers’ music, this will be a rare opportunity to hear their sound re-framed by the extraordinary voices of the London Vocal Project.

Hypnotising and powerful minimal music. Scottish drummer and composer Graham Costello creates minimalist music that ranges from ambient and post-rock, to jazz improvisation and groove. Primarily with his band STRATA, he has been nominated for Scottish Album of the Year, as well as eight Scottish Jazz Awards. STRATA’s energy of noise rock, the organic improvisation of jazz, and the hypnotising patterns and feel of minimalism has been described as “a meteorite on the scene and beyond.” (The National)

One of the UK’s most exciting saxophonists, Nathaniel Facey is a prominent figure on the European jazz scene, with a truly unique sound full of ferocious passion and lyrical mastery. This fire-breathing trio of long-term collaborators play with a deep sense of adventure & connection that sets the imagination alight.

Alina Bzhezhinska is a one-woman powerhouse, on a mission to bring the harp to the fore of contemporary sound - a sound that can penetrate any size venue, any genre, any generation, and any musical taste; drawing as much from 90s Triphop and Afrobeat as jazz greats Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. There’s no limits to where Alina’s music can go!

A young artist who very much embodies the current generation of emerging UK jazz talent, Donovan Haffner makes his hotly-awaited debut Manchester appearance at this year’s jazz festival having already raised the roof at Love Supreme, Ronnie Scotts, We Out Here and many more over the last 2 years.

Multi-faceted vocalist & instrumentalist Alice Zawadzki returns to her erstwhile home of Manchester with her stunning trio of some of Europe's most creative & distinctive musical voices, Fred Thomas & Misha Mullov-Abbado.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Kit Downes, Jim Black and Moskus each member contributes with compositions that, while maintaining strong melodic identities, invite the players to continually find new paths through the music.

A brand new reimagining of the works of Jazz Titan Thelonious Monk by Xhosa Cole, featuring NYC tap dancer Liberty Styles.

Same Moon in the Same World is an ambitious new collaboration between British musicians Alex Hitchcock (saxophone) and Ant Law (guitar). Recorded in 2020 and 2021 across multiple continents – bridging the gap between London and Tel-Aviv, and Amsterdam and New York.

This show will present music from Dominic Ingham’s critically acclaimed release ‘Role Models’, featuring an arresting suite of lucidly crafted and characterful pieces, showcasing his distinctive and highly personalised style, rooted in his background of folk and classical music.