Cambridge Jazz Festival: Big Band Bonanza

Come and party through the decades from swing to funk with two fabulous big bands! Upbeat Big Band features the full 17-piece line-up, and along with their fabulous vocalist, they play an exciting mix of modern and classic charts, including arrangements by members of the band. Established in 1998, Linton Jazz (pictured) is a community band that plays a variety of big band music focusing mainly on fun and recognisable tunes, whether that be jazz standards or big band versions of pop and funk classics, with influences from Maynard Ferguson to Bruno Mars. Apart from their annual concert, Linton Jazz perform a number of concerts throughout Cambridgeshire in support of many charities. Over the band’s 28-year history they have raised £325,000 for good causes. In 2026, Linton Jazz received a Special Recognition Award for performing and raising money for the 24-hour Relay for Life in Bury St Edmunds for the last 10 years, in aid of Cancer Research.