Elaine Delmar, one of Britain’s greatest jazz vocalists, takes to the cloister at Iford on the evening of Thursday 20th June 2024 for a truly intimate evening of music drawn from her enormous repertoire of songs from ‘Great American Songbook’.

Accompanied by two of the great names of British jazz: Barry Green (piano) and Simon Thorpe (double bass) – this promises to be a world-class evening of music, with one of the UK’s true greats.

Precede the concert by picnicking in the beautiful Grade 1 listed gardens and enjoy a wander through the various water features, columns and antiquities.

The performance takes place within Iford's Grade II* cloisters (covered for the evening). In-the-round with just 90 seats, this will be a unique experience with everyone just a few meters away from the performance.

The concert will feature a sparking collection of songs that have defined and inspired Elaine’s incredible career.  Expect music from the likes of Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, George Gershwin, Michel Legrand and Stephen Sondheim;  alongside lesser-known masterpieces that will delight and surprise even the most experienced and well-travelled audience!

Seating
‘Up close & personal’ seats will be within the centre of the (covered) cloister and very close to the performers.

Standard seats will be located in the cloister’s ambulatories, behind the cloister’s slender columns. Seating is pre-allocated in favour of those who book first. Tickets are not issued in advance, but an usher will show you to your allocated seats on the night.

Concert timings
Garden gates open for picnics: 18:00
First set: 19:30
Interval: 20:15 (complimentary teas & coffees will be served on the Conservatory Terrace)
Second set: 21:00
Finish: 21:45

Please note that 25% of your ticket price is a heritage contribution that will be spent directly on the restoration, maintenance and improvement of the venue, being the Grade 1 listed garden here at Iford and the numerous listed structures therein. Ticket prices include VAT.

“Among the multitude of good jazz singers in Britain, there is not one who can surpass Elaine Delmar”
The Observer

“One of the finest”
Jazz Journal

“Her style is a mixture of Broadway musical punch and jazz inflected subtlety. she has the belting defiance of a torch singer at times and the knowing raised eyebrow rasp of a blues artist, but also a hushed, confiding intimacy where it is appropriate, it is a blend that invites the widest possible audience”
The Guardian

Elaine Delmar has long been established as a singer of the very highest calibre. A British Jazz great, with the voice, looks and personality that have captivated world-wide audiences through her many stage and television appearances – including work on Broadway, West End, as well as the UK’s finest concert venues, including The Barbican, The Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, as well as regular visits to jazz venues such as London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

‘Britain’s Ella, Billie, Sarah & Lena in one - our first lady of song’ - bio for Elaine Delmar

Daughter of the acclaimed jazz trumpeter, Leslie “Jiver” Hutchinson, Elaine was born in Harpenden, England.   After eleven years studying classical piano and vocals, Elaine decided to concentrate on a vocal career in Jazz, from where she has become acknowledged as one of the world’s finest Jazz vocalists.

Whenever the jazz cognoscenti gather and the conversation turns to vocalists with class, it is never long before the name of Elaine Delmar is mentioned in appropriately respectful tones. Elaine has all the attributes that make a great singer: a striking voice, great technique, an individualistic ability to interpret the great songs, plus striking good looks, and a big personality.

Initially Elaine attained fame with her outstanding performances in the critically acclaimed jazz musical “Bubbling Brown Sugar” in London’s West End. These sell-out shows provided the impetus that took her to New York’s Broadway as one of the stars of “Jerome Kern Goes To Hollywood”. 

Elaine is renowned for her classic interpretations of the great American songwriters such as Gershwin and Cole Porter. She has also acted in Ken Russell’s “Mahler”, and at the National Theatre in David Hare’s “A Map of the World.”

Appearances at concerts and festivals, numerous tours of Europe, US, New Zealand, Australia, South America and Canada gives Elaine an enviable reputation.

A regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s world renowned club in London, Elaine appears at the UK’s most prestigious venues, including The Barbican, London’s Cadogan Hall, and The Royal Albert Hall.

In 2013 Elaine was awarded the  ‘Special Award’ at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in recognition of our outstanding contribution to Jazz, and in 2023 she received the ‘Jazz Vocalist of the Year’.

An exceptional evening in the beautiful surrounds of Iford Manor’s Grade 1 listed gardens. Grab your friends, picnic blankets and drinks for an evening of peripatetic delight.

Bring your own food and drink, or save the hassle and purchase from our Iford Manor Kitchen pop-up on the Great Terrace in the evening. Menus to be made available nearer the time of the event. 

Event timings:
18:00 - garden gates open for picnics & live jazz on the lawn
18:00 - 22:30: DJ Mike Vitti at the summer house
20:00 - 20:50: First set from The Martin Sjöstedt Trio & Ian Shaw at the casita
21:30 - 22:20: Second set from The Martin Sjöstedt Trio & Ian Shaw at the casita
22:30: Finish

In the casita….
The night promises a great mix of Great American Songbook and Scandi classics, plus music from Charlie Mingus to Joni Mitchell, George Gershwin to Burt Bacharach from The Martin Sjöstedt Trio, with guest vocalist Ian Shaw. 

Swedish bass and piano player/arranger/composer Martin Sjöstedt is one of the most exciting musicians on the European jazz scene today.  He will bring fellow Swedes, bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Daniel Fredriksson to this year’s festival for our celebration of Scandi jazz! 

Martin features as the bassist and arranger in the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and plays regularly with international jazz stars Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, and Jim McNeely amongst many others.

They are joined by multi-award winning vocalist Ian Shaw who has amassed a number of highly acclaimed internationally released albums. He has been cited, along with Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling, as one of the world’s finest male jazz vocalists.

On the lawn….
Renowned DJ Mike Vitti brings Saturday Night's Funky Nation from Ronnie's Bar (upstairs at Ronnie Scott's) to Iford again. Playing from the Summer House you can enjoy modern jazz classics during your picnic, then dance the night away later on the lawn.

Heritage contribution and important terms
Please note that 25% of your ticket price is a heritage contribution that will be spent directly on the restoration, maintenance and improvement of the venue, being the Grade 1 listed garden here at Iford and the numerous listed structures therein. Ticket prices include VAT.

Tickets are non-refundable, unless the event is sold out and we are able to successfully re-sell your ticket. An administration fee of £5 per ticket resold will be charged. 

An exceptional evening in the beautiful surrounds of Iford Manor’s Grade 1 listed gardens. Grab your friends, picnic blankets and drinks for an evening of peripatetic delight.

Bring your own food and drink, or save the hassle and purchase from our Iford Manor Kitchen pop-up on the Great Terrace in the evening. Menus to be made available nearer the time of the event. 

Event timings:
18:00 - garden gates open for picnics & live jazz on the lawn
18:00 - 22:30: DJ Mike Vitti at the summer house
20:00 - 20:50: First set of A Night of Blue Note at the casita
21:30 - 22:20: Second set of A Night of Blue Note at the casita
22:30: Finish

In the casita….
Celebrate A Night of Blue Note with QCBA, the explosive sax & trumpet duo Brandon Allen & Quentin Collins, who have been wowing audiences globally for over 20 years now, performing at venues such at Ronnie Scott’s, Ducs des Lombards and Monterey Jazz Festival.

For this Blue Note special they promise to deliver a high energy homage to some of the best known artists from the legendary record label’s golden period during 1960’s. Expect to hear classic tunes by Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Donald Byrd & Herbie Hancock.

Backed by their powerhouse rhythm team of Hammond Organ titan Ross Stanley & drumming legend Ian Thomas, and performing evergreen classics such as Lee Morgan’s ‘The Sidewinder’ and Herbie Hancock’s ‘Canteloupe Island’, this group will exhilarate and enthral in equal measure.

On the lawn….
Renowned DJ Mike Vitti brings Saturday Night's Funky Nation from Ronnie's Bar (upstairs at Ronnie Scott's) to Iford again. Playing from the Summer House you can enjoy modern jazz classics during your picnic, then dance the night away later on the lawn.

Heritage contribution and important terms
Please note that 25% of your ticket price is a heritage contribution that will be spent directly on the restoration, maintenance and improvement of the venue, being the Grade 1 listed garden here at Iford and the numerous listed structures therein. Ticket prices include VAT.

Tickets are non-refundable, unless the event is sold out and we are able to successfully re-sell your ticket. An administration fee of £5 per ticket resold will be charged. 

Enjoy a delicious 3 course lunch (included in the price) accompanied by sublime jazz from the awarding-winning Karen Sharp (saxophone). Teaming up with talented pianist Gareth Williams, they will be performing largely from the Great American Songbook, focusing on tunes that inspire interplay, invention and exploration.

Included in your ticket price:
Enjoy two 45 minute sets of this fantastic music, during your delicious three-course lunch in the Iford Manor restaurant.

Afterwards, you can head into Iford Manor Gardens until the gardens close at 4pm.

MENU - to be confirmed. There will be a selection of starters, mains and desserts to choose from on the day. Please make us aware of any dietary requirements or allergies when booking to ensure we can cater for you. 

Please note that drinks are not included and will need to be paid for separately.

Timings:
Arrive in the restaurant from 11:30am to ensure that you are seated and served drinks before the music begins at midday. There will be two 45 minute sets, with a 30 minute interval. The music will finish c. 2pm and the restaurant will close at 14:30. You can then enjoy Iford Manor Gardens until it closes at 4pm. 

About the artists
Karen Sharp has won the tenor saxophone category of the British Jazz Awards on numerous occasions and is regularly nominated in the baritone sax category of the USA 'Downbeat' critics and reader’s poll. She tours regularly with her quartet which features Nikki Iles, Dave Green and Steve Brown and she plays with larger ensembles such as the Nikki Iles’ Jazz Orchestra, the Steve Waterman Big Band and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

Gareth Williams is a jazz pianist who is known as one of the most intensely creative, dynamic and exciting performers in the UK.