Kim Cypher is a Cheltenham girl born and bred, totally committed to her hometown and to the wonderful local community who continue to support her ongoing ‘journey’ as a jazz musician. It has been a long time coming, following a dream to give local musicians an opportunity to be celebrated and to have a ‘voice’ alongside national and international artists in their hometown festivals.
Seventeen years after her initial performance on the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Free Stage as part of the festival fringe back in 2008, Kim is incredibly proud and honoured to be part of the hugely respected main Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year, together with her highly respected band and special guest Ashley Slater.
Kim’s first performance on the festival Free Stage in 2008 was as a semi-professional jazz musician. Both herself and husband Mike were playing part-time whilst also maintaining professional careers, Kim in teaching and Mike as a regional bank manager. To be a small part of such a respected jazz festival in their hometown meant the world to them back then and they were delighted to be invited back to play the Free Stage again in 2011 and for a third time in 2012. At this point both had decided to launch themselves entirely into following a joint dream of becoming full-time jazz musicians, giving up financially secure careers which provided pensions, private health, company car etc to embark on a lifelong musical dream.
Becoming more widely known on the jazz scene, the Cheltenham couple were invited to join the Jazz Festival Advisory Committee, where they attended meetings to put forward ideas for the festival.
By 2016 Kim had released her debut album 'Make Believe’ and was becoming firmly established on the London and UK jazz circuit. She played the jazz festival Free Stage and in the ‘Around Town’ fringe festival again in 2017 and 2018.
With two more album releases, regular sellout shows in the London clubs including world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, as well as helping to keep the Cheltenham jazz scene alive and thriving throughout the year, including running two popular jazz clubs in Cheltenham - Smokey Joe's and Dunkerton's, bringing in highly respected jazz musicians to Cheltenham from all over the UK and overseas, the couple are now finally set to fulfil their Cheltenham Jazz Festival dream this year!
Having reached out to Cheltenham Festival's Co-CEO Ian George last year to arrange a meeting to discuss their vision of allowing for progression for local musicians to be celebrated as part of the main jazz festival, the couple were subsequently offered a prime slot in the main Jazz Arena, their first performance in the main festival (17 years after their initial appearance on the Free Stage) and an opportunity to represent all local musicians who may have followed a similar pathway.
This is more than just a performance for Kim and Mike Cypher, it is a huge step forward in terms of local jazz musicians collaborating and having a 'voice' in their hugely respected hometown jazz festival. It is also a dream come true to be celebrated in their hometown.
You can catch their performance in the main Jazz Arena on the closing night of the festival, Monday May 5 at 6:30pm, with Kim’s hugely respected album tour band of top UK musicians and special guest Ashley Slater.
Tickets are on sale now so please get behind this inspirational, dedicated couple and let’s all celebrate local musicians.
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