Like Cheltenham Jazz Festival starts this week April 27 for May 2, another highlight of the program comes in the form of the Nu Civilization Orchestra musical discovery of Marvin Gayethe iconic album of What is happeningalongside excerpts from the soundtrack of disturbing man (4 p.m. Jazz Arena, April 30). Created last year to celebrate both the 30th anniversary of Tomorrow’s Warriors and 50 years since the release of What is happeningthe 24-piece orchestra, conducted by Peter Edwardsreflects on our times through the prism of Marvin Gaye’s catalogue. What is going on On gave voice to a generation, reflecting on America’s violence and turmoil with sharp wit and deeply moving songs that still ring true today.

New talent is showcased throughout the program, such as a Bristol-based blues singer double bill They Bailey and winner of the rising Scottish Jazz Prize Georgia Cecile at the Jazz Arena (12:30 p.m., May 1).

Holiday Monday also sees the Jazz Arena host saxophonist At Yolanda Brown’s live version of his hit show CBeeBies Band Jam, introducing young listeners to musical sounds and styles to help them discover the wonders of music-making (11 a.m., May 2). Mercury Prize nominated drummer Moses Boyd then takes over with his group of leading London musicians on the music of his acclaimed album Black matter (2:304 p.m.). And later that night Brian Jackson (who wrote, arranged and produced more than 10 albums with Gil Scott-Heron), performs music from his recent album for Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Jazz Is Dead label as well as classics from the GSH repertoire (6:30 p.m., May 2).

A strong open-air scene and family-friendly lineup also rub shoulders with the headliners. This includes performances from rising stars of the The warriors of tomorrow as well as festival favorites Thrill Collins, while some of Gloucestershire’s top school jazz bands perform on the Jazz It Up stage. the Around the city the lineup includes concerts at participating local venues such as the John Gordons and Harry Cook Free House, featuring sets from Chloe and AI and Justin Light Band, while the popular Late Night Jam Sessions will return to Wine Hotelwhere many festival headliners (like Gregory Porter) come to play spontaneous sets with the talented house band.

These shows join those already announced in Jazzwise which are:

Wed 27 April: Denny Ilett Sings Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole (The Daffodil); Emeli Sandé (Chapiteau).

Thu April 28: Joanne Shaw Taylor (Jazz Arena); Liane Carroll (The Daffodil); BBC Radio 2 celebrates jazz at the 25th Cheltenham Jazz Festival (Big Top).

Fri 29 Apr: Nitin Sawhney (Jazz Arena); Lucia Cadotsch with Kit Downes, Phil Donkin and James Maddren (Parable); Errol Linton (The Daffodil); Corinne Bailey Rae (Big Top); Zoe Rahman Quintet (Parabola) and Kansas Smittys Takeover (The Daffodil).

Sat. April 30: The Royal Birmingham Conservatory (Parabola); Faye MacCalman: Invisible Real (106 The Promenade, Cheltenham); Lady Blackbird (Jazz Arena); Big Band by Imelda May and Ronnie Scott (Big Top); Neil Charles Dark Days (Parable); Nu Civilization Orchestra presents What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (Jazz Arena); Shake the stew (parable); James Bay (Chapiteau); Jordan Rakei (Town Hall); STRATA (parable) by Graham Costello; Cherise (The Daffodil); Dave Douglas and Joey Baron (Jazz Arena); Gregory Porter (Chapiteau) and Nubya Garcia (Town Hall).

Sun May 1: Faye MacCalman: Unseen Real (106 The Promenade, Cheltenham); Elles Bailey and Gerogia Cécile (Jazz Arena); Penguin Cafe (Town Hall); Paul Dunmall with Liam Noble, John Edwards and Mark Sanders (Parable); Electric Lady Big Band (Jazz Arena); Tom Odell (Marquee); PP Arnold (Town Hall); Ensemble Laura Jurd (Parable); Emma Smith (The Daffodil); Maisha and Gary Bartz (Jazz Arena); Iain Ballamy with Rob Luft, Huw Warren, Conor Chaplin and Will Glaser (Parable); Saving Grace with Robert Plant and Suzi Dian (marquee); Mulatu Astatke (Jazz Arena) and Mike Westbrook: The Uncommon Orchestra: On Duke’s Birthday (Parabola).

Monday May 2: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 (Big Top); Moses Boyd (Jazz Arena); Gabrielle (Chapiteau); Brian Jackson (JazzArena); Myra Melford Quintet (Parable) and Jamie Cullum (Chapiteau). Jazzwise is a media partner of the festival.

For program and ticket details, visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/