Brighton’s Kemptown Carnival returns this year on Saturday 4th June with six stages of music. Jazz groups will be appearing on the BN1 stage (Swing Ninjas at 12pm and Quizas Jazz Band at 2pm), the Radio Reverb Stage (Jorge’s Hot Club at 4pm and Harry’s Tricks at 5pm) and all-day jazz at Jack Kendon’s New Generation Jazz Stage outside The Bristol Bar from 12pm.

    On the same day, Saturday 4th June, Free Improv duo Trevor Watts & Veryan Weston perform at The Stade Open Space in Hastings. 7:30pm – 9:30pm, part of a weekend of events as part of the Hastings Winkle Club FreeJazzFest that continues on Sunday afternoon with the Jane Reeves Trio, The Violet Jive, Mike Hatchard Quartet and Tony O’Malley.

    And there’s more free improv with the return of The Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival over the weekend of 9th-11th September. The festival is partly funded by the Arts Council but also by raising donations and sponsorship. Next month there will be a fundraiser at The Verdict, Brighton on Thursday 7th July with Cath Roberts/Peter Marsh/Paul May, Ian Brighton, Seth Bennett/Anton Hunter/Tom Ward and In Threads Starts at8pm, tickets £7.

    With the final issue of Jazz In London being published in April, Sarah Chaplin and Mick Sexton have launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise funds to fill the void with a website that will provide up-to-date listings for jazz gigs around London. To contribute to the Kickstarter campaign, visit this site. The fabulous Mary Grieg published Jazz In London every month since the early 1970s before announcing this year that she was stepping down for personal reasons. For more on the history of Jazz In London visit London Jazz News.

    Sunday 5th June sees a big band extravaganza at Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) in Dyke Road Park with Straight No Chaser Big Band, Terry Pack’s Trees and Imagine A World all performing from 1pm.         

    Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre will also be featuring big bands over the summer with the BBC Big Band on Friday 24th June and the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Sunday 24th July.

    And don’t forget the Isle of Wight Newport Jazz Weekend from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June featuring Stacey Kent, Ross Stanley, Dave Newton, Karen Sharp, Craig Milverton and many others.