Petworth promises "unforgettable evening of exceptional jazz"

Petworth Festival has joined forces with The Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues Festival to promise an “unforgettable evening of exceptional jazz.”

New Petworth Festival co-artistic director and violinist Lizzie Ball joins Ronnie Scott’s House Band, led by the jazz pianist James Pearson, to “bring the energy of London’s iconic jazz club to the Petworth Summer Festival with a vibrant celebration of Gershwin and Grappelli.”

A Musical Portrait of Gershwin and Grappelli will be on Friday, July 31 at 7.30pm at Midhurst Rother College, Midhurst.

A spokesman said: “An all-star quartet of musicians, Lizzie Ball (violin & vocals), James Pearson (piano), Misha Mullov-Abbado (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums) celebrate the music of the inimitable George Gershwin and some of his fellow composers who influenced his unique and enduring style.

“Covering the vibrant artistic scenes of early 20th century Paris, London, and New York, the programme includes music and arrangements by Heifetz, Ravel, Kreisler, Gershwin, Bernstein, Britten, Copland, and Pearson. In addition they will explore how Gershwin’s legacy had a direct impact on both classical and jazz artists alike, including Stephane Grappelli and Yehudi Menuhin.”

Tickets on https://petworthfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173674544

Born in Sheffield, raised in rural Derbyshire, and based in London, Lizzie is a violinist, vocalist, concert producer and founder of Classical Kicks Productions. A prolific performer, Lizzie has been on the international stage for two decades. Lizzie was awarded an Honorary Masters from The University of Derby in 2018 in recognition of her innovative, creative approach to classical music. Shortly after this Lizzie was chosen as one of the UK’s most inspirational females in a list of 50 outstanding UK women making an impact, in a feature run by Daily Mail.

Lizzie grew up in the village of Hathersage, Derbyshire, and attended her local comprehensive school Lady Manners School in Bakewell in the Peak District. Music played a big part in her early life. Her mother had wide-ranging musical tastes and her father was an accomplished jazz pianist.

At the age of seven Lizzie heard a violin being played on the radio and decided in that moment that the violin was the instrument she wanted to play. At the age of ten her mother took her to see a concert by the violinist Nigel Kennedy and she was blown away by his totally unorthodox approach to classical music. Even at that young age there was something about this approach that truly resonated with her.

Lizzie became leader of the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra and after achieving top-grade A Levels, gained a place at St John’s College, Cambridge to read music where she became principal of the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra and an instrumental scholar. She undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music where she studied under the master violinists Yossi Zivoni and David Takeno.