Ornette Coleman with the Master Musicians of Jajouka and James 'Blood' Ulmer. Ten Morrocan men who play either a drum or a kind of horn called a Ghaita make the strangest harmonic and melodic music my ears have heard so far in my life. After 15 minutes of just them making music Ornette and his quartet came out. It took a good 10 minutes for them to all find each other, but when they came together it was insane. Especially Denardo Coleman and Tony Falanga were in tune with the MMoJ with Ornette soloing and sometimes blending. The MMoJ left the stage and Blood came on to play with the quartet. This was some classic harmolodic free jazz and they were kicking it. When I first heard Ornette's music it tripped me out, but now I can completely immerse myself in his soundworld. Listen to bits of this gig here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TICxH5P-sEY

Krystle Warren. What a voice! A woman standing on the stage with her guitar, and just blowing everyone away with the power of her voice. She sometimes sounds a bit like Rufus Wainwright, but then the other way around androgynous. Really, really good this and my surprise of the festival which I shall be investigating further. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3ACfBpZSY&feature=related

Hudson Mohawke/ Dimlite. The Friday had one stage programmed by the guys from Viral Radio and I caught bits of HudMo and Dimlite. They were both really good, but it's just the kind of music I like to listen to at home or something. I did a bit of dancing, but the jazz people weren't out to party like these guys are usually used to I guess. Intricate beatpatterns and musical structures to die for topped of with some awesome bass, I love it. HudMo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZx2nAtxsdA Dimlite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnN8H-GHeY

Timucin Sahin Quintet. Wonderfully wild jazz. Timucin plays a double necked guitar with the top one a seven string fretless one. There's a bit of electronics involved in his guitar processing as well and the rest of the band was killing it as well. Nothing of this quintet on youtube, but check his quartet at Moers Festival here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqC225vRzyI

Kurt Elling. The man is just the best male jazz singer in the world today. I was told this before hand, but I wholeheartedly agree with it now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReSEuYauAcw

Onwards to the Manchester Jazz Festival