Policy Statement

This event is being organised by a local committee of musicians and jazz fans.

Our aim is to promote jazz on the Isle of Wight. Members of the committee will not receive any financial reward. Inspected accounts will be made available on request.

The committee will cover the cost of the main venues and headline acts. This will be funded by sponsorship, ticket sales and other fund-raising activities.

Any subsequent profits will go towards funding future events.

We will encourage other performances during the period. However, we will not act as agents. It will be the responsibility of the performers and venues to negotiate between themselves.

click here to hide

Nate Najar

Guitarist Nate Najar is emerging as one of this decade's finest modern jazz exponents. He is a player who uses a distinctive technique to convey his artistic prowess - not many artists play acoustic classical guitar with right hand classical technique, yet it is the perfect choice for Najar's comprehensive approach. Not restricted to single notes or chords, Nate seamlessly weaves melody, harmony and rhythmic freedom. The result is music that is swinging, emotional, inventive and interesting.

Rick Andersen of the All Music Guide called Nate "one of the most consistently interesting and stylish young guitarists on the jazz scene...."

2010 saw Najar release "Groove Me" on Woodward Avenue Records. A collaboration with Tony Award winning vocalist Melba Moore, "Groove Me" reached into the top 10 of the Billboard Jazz chart. Nate's 2012 Candid Records release "Blues For Night People- The Nate Najar Trio Remembers Charlie Byrd" introduced him to the international stage, including performances at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and the London Jazz Festival. In 2014, Candid Records released Nate's "Aquarela Do Brasil" a collection of much loved Brazilian melodies, Jobim masterpieces and jazz tunes given the samba treatment. !

"This Is Nate Najar", Nate's latest release, features his longtime musical partner John Lamb (ex Duke Ellington) on bass, newcomer James Suggs on trumpet and Matt Home on the drums. The album weaves joyous swing, gorgeous bossa nova and subtle unaccompanied guitar in a collection of tunes ranging from "Sidewalks of New York" to Chick Corea's "500 Miles High" and a beautiful pairing of Chopin's "Prelude in Em" with Antonio Carlos Jobim's "How Insensitive."

Becky Byrd, wife of the late guitarist Charlie Byrd says it best: "There is no doubt that there is a piece of Charlie's soul in Nate's mind, heart and fingers. Get ready world, here comes Nate Najar!!!"

Watch the Nate Najar Trio perform "Brazilville"

Nate's Website