Music / Jazz
The week in Jazz Aug 21-27
If there’s one Bristolian jazz institution that can justly claim ‘world renown’ it is The Old Duke, the West Country’s home of the 1960s UK’s ‘trad jazz’ revival. Ever since those heady days the pub has been a proud standard bearer for classic New Orleans style jazz as well as hosting modern jazz and blues as regular parts of their weekly programme, and most August Bank Holiday weekends have seen King Street taken over by a splendid al fresco celebration. This year’s Old Duke Jazz Festival (Sat 26 – Mon 28) will feature Duke faves including The Blue Notes, Cass Caswell, Jeremy Huggett and the Keith Little Band but will be especially momentous for The Severn Jazzmen (pictured above) who are celebrating 50 years since forming in 1967.
Blues mentor Eddie Martin
Special mention must also go to blues guitarist, harmonica player, singer and songwriter Eddie Martin, whose Blues Band headline on Saturday night. Eddie’s contribution to The Old Duke over decades has been both as regular performer and also facilitator of open mic nights that have helped many fledgling musicians to spread their wings. But it’ll be his stinging slide guitar, well-worn vocals and impeccable timing that’ll hold the cider-drenched crowds.
Greg Cordez new tunes to show off
Despite the annual August slump in regular jazz gigs there’s still a few choices to be made before the weekend, however, with big props to The Fringe for keeping going through the summer. They are hosting the Greg Cordez Quintet, a crackling fivesome showcasing new compositions from Greg’s imminent CD, recorded in New York. Greg’s compositional style is careful and stylish, unlike improvising noise demons Action Beat (Crofters Rights) headlining a Cacophonous Sarcophagus night of restless sounds, with the Iceman Furniss Quintet in amongst it somewhere. Your final Wednesday choice is visitor Will Wells, multi-instrumentalist keyboard and trombone player from Sousin Kula who joins dextrous math-prog trio Waldo’s Gift at their residency in the Gallimaufry.
is needed now More than ever
The ever-versatile Pete Judge is an El Rincon favourite in his many guises and this Thursday (24) sees new duo Los Clandestinos bring John Baggott to the intimate venue. John’s very much ‘keyboard player to the stars’, with performing and recording links to Massive Attack, Portishead, Robert Plant and many others, but this venture features his own jazz compositions as well as a few of those ‘carefully chosen standards’ and, of course, Mr Judge’s distinctive trumpet and flugelhorn.
Read more about Greg Cordez’ new album
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