Culture: Joe Wears the Crown ; Martin Longley Is Now Being Gently Weaned Off Music, Following an Overloaded Weekend at the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival

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Encompassing diverse acts from Brooklyn, Brazil and Birmingham, the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival did indeed live up to its name. Norway, Hungary and Mexico were also represented, but the role of Birmingham Jazz chairman Tony Dudley-Evans as the event's artistic director always ensures a generous spread of locally- connected names, particularly within the Jerwood Rising Stars part of the programme.

Alto saxophonist Chris Bowden managed to sell out his Saturday afternoon gig. This was a feat which was to be repeated several times over in the Cheltenham Town Hall Pillar Room. Bowden's augmented band were previewing a strong set of new material, continuing his predilection for convoluted thematic development as part of a generally funking structure.

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Culture: Joe Wears the Crown ; Martin Longley Is Now Being Gently Weaned Off Music, Following an Overloaded Weekend at the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival

Bowden is always a soloist with a sense of urgency, filling his passionate lines with smouldering tension, working in tandem with the monstrous baritone belch of Andy Ross. Bowden's bassist, Ben Markland, also led his own quintet. He was debuting new compositions that possess a mellower characte...

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