Roberto Fonseca, Royal Hall, Sunday 12 July, 8pm

Havana comes to Harrogate in the form of Roberto Fonseca. Ibrahim Ferrer has said about Roberto: “This “muchacho”, despite having a jazz background, gets me and respects my music, and – boy, can the kid play…!” The young Cuban-born pianist infuses jazz, funk, soul, Afro-Cuban music and salsa to create a sound that fuses traditions and defies boundaries. Fonseca counts such greats as Herbie Hancock amongst his fans. As the Sunday Times put it: “The man has soul”.

Julie Fowlis, Harrogate Theatre, Monday 20 July, 8pm

Across the world, cultures are swaying to global rhythms in back street jazz bars and pub sawdust floors. Scottish songstress Julie Fowlis is a passionate torchbearer for the culture of her native Western Isles. She has taken her extraordinary talent all over the world, touring with the likes of Lou Reed and Suzanne Vega. Since Julie was presented with the 2008 Radio 2 Folksinger of the Year award by KT Tunstall, the Daily Telegraph predicted that she could be “the first Scottish Gaelic crossover star in the making.” Her soulful voice prompted Radiohead’s Phil Selway to declare: “You would need a cold heart indeed not to be moved by her music.”

Music from the Penguin Café, Royal Hall, Monday 13 July, 8pm

From Cuban and Celtic cool to the cult music of the Penguin Café: the Philip Glass infused sounds of the Penguin Café have featured on movie soundtracks, including the off-beat flick Napoleon Dynamite. Their explosive and melodic sounds have been described by the Evening Standard as, “a knock out.”
Arthur Jeffes brought together Music from The Penguin Café, continuing and evolving the work of his late father Simon Jeffes. Signed to Brian Eno’s record label, the Penguin Café attained cult status thanks to their experimental melodic sounds. Hits include the wonderful “Telephone and Rubber Band” that is written round the tape loop of an engaged and ringing telephone sound, “Perpetuum Mobile”, and the delicate “Paul’s Dance”, a duet for ukelele and Venezuelan cuatro.

James Taylor Quartet, Harrogate Theatre, Friday 17 July, 8pm

To add a little edge to the folksy vibes, funky jazz and soulful melodies, the Festival brings you an Acid jazz powerhouse: the James Taylor Quartet.
James Taylor is legendary and regarded as one of the greatest instrumentalists of his generation. The Theme from Starsky and Hutch cemented his reputation as master of the jazz-funk-r ‘n’ b workout; 60s spy themes, psychedelic and free-form jazz create a distinctive sound that has led to collaborations with Tom Jones. U2, The Pogues and the Manic Street Preachers have all featured James on their albums. In 1997 James had the chance to fulfil a dream when he was asked to score the theme tune to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the spy spoof starring Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley.

Don’t miss the chance to experience out of this world sounds with the global music line-up in Harrogate this July. Book now on 0845 130 8840 or go to our events page to book online. ]]> http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/events/2009/06/07/world-music-raises-the-temperature/feed/ 0