Bristol’s month in jazz – November 2022

So it’s a bit of a saxophone-fest across the city this month, with a host of big name visitors and some of our best local reed talent getting the spotlight while some tasty African grooves run through November, too.

The sax-fest kicks off from the start of the month, beginning with a Fringe in the Round double bill including Greg Sterling’s saxophone trio Trinomika (Tue 1) as well as singer Victoria Klewin’s quartet collaboration with Guy Shotton’s keyboards. That’s followed by Paul Dunmall’s return to Fringe Jazz (Wed 2) with a fine quartet of improvisers including Liam Noble’s piano, John Edwards on bass and Mark Sanders drumming. The next night (Thur 3) at St George’s sees Scots hero Tommy Smith perform a solo improvising ‘No Wires’ show exploring the acoustic of the building, then fireworks night heralds the great Jean Toussaint in the Bristol Beacon Foyer (Sat 5). Toussaint’s 40 year career began in New York with the legendary Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers but he subsequently made his home in England where he has collaborated with many of the UK’s best over the years. The Bristol gig has an all-star quintet line-up including the brilliant trumpeter Freddie Gavita with Shane Forbes drumming.

That’s just the first week! Then there’s Fringe Jazz favourite Iain Ballamy with his new quartet including pianist Rebecca Nash (Fringe Jazz, Wed 9) before the Bebop Club showcases impressive young Scots star Helena Kay (Thur 10) with her Golden Sands quartet. The Bebop also welcomes alto player Luke Annesley (Thur 17), famed for both free and straight ahead playing, while a late change of programme sees top young talent Xhosa Cole come to Fringe Jazz (Wed 23) in a sparkling trio with Robert Mitchell’s piano and Mark Sanders on drums. The fleet of foot might be able to dash from that gig to catch some of No Go Stop tenor player John Pratt’s powerhouse quartet JP4 at Canteen. The Bebop welcomes back Canadian saxman Terry Quinney (Thur 24), this time alongside guitarist Neil Burns’ Organ Trio with former Bristol player Martin Jenkins returning on Hammond and then Fringe Jazz rounds off the month with veteran reed player Alan Barnes (Wed 30) in partnership with pianist David Newton – an empathetic collaboration that goes back to the late 70s. Brisk young sax player Alex Merritt leads the Sunday 6 session at Stag and Hounds while hard bopper Martin Kern takes the reins there on the 20th.

Bass player Riaan Vosloo (pictured at top) features in Luke Annesley’s quartet but more importantly brings his own septet Riaan Vosloo’s Commotion to Fringe Jazz (Wed 16) (incidentally featuring another brace of great saxophonists in Sam Crockatt and Nick Dover). It’s a splendid celebration of the influx of exiled South African players and music to the UK scene back in the 60s and 70s, introducing British audiences to their rich rhythmic styles  and passionate playing. Bristol’s Keith Tippett was an avid fan and active participant back in the day and his compositions will feature alongside those of Dudu Pukwana, Chris McGregor and others. It’s the highlight of a lively sequence of African derived events in Bristol, starting with two nights of Afrobeat from Dele Sosimi’s band at the Jam Jar (Fri 4, Sat 5) and then there’s two stars of West African Mandingue: Diabel Cissokho (Canteen, Fri 11) and N’famady Kouyate (Jam Jar, Thur 17). North African guembri grooves drive the Gnawa Blues All-Stars (Canteen, Fri 18) while Ghanaian master drummer Ben Badoo’s Baraka (Canteen Sat 19) picks up African and Caribbean rhythms and fuses them with danceable jazz. There’s a similar contemporary fusion in the sound of Helele (The Lightship, Fri 25). But back at the Jam Jar there’s a chance to catch desert guitar supremo Justin Adams in collaboration with Moroccan Gnawa guimbri virtuoso Mohammed Errabbaa (Sun 27) – a sparkling meeting of minds at the heart of an expanded band line-up.

But back to the jazz … flamboyant trumpet hero Jonny Bruce’s Organ Trio hit the Bebop (Thur 3) the same night as piano trio Yetii’s monthly Pizza Express style session in the Greenbank, while vocalist Karolina Griskute’s trio squeeze into El Rincon (Fri 4). Trumpeter Andy Hague’s Double Standards Quartet pops up in the Tobacco Factory (Sun 6) the same day that classic jazz and swing outfit Bill Frampton’s Jazz Trio feature in the Hare on the Hill (Sun 6). Longtime Celtic jazz fusioneers Carmina appear as a trio at El Rincon (Thur 10) while the ‘tapas Tardis’ main man Pete Judge will be appearing on solo piano at St George’s (Thur 10), part of a double bill with Three Trapped Tigers keyboard player Tom Rogerson also appearing solo. Pete’s third album of solo piano compositions has just been released – how does he find the time? Swing singer Lucy Moon pops into the Stag & Hounds (Sun 13), Manouche swingsters Schmoozenbergs are at the Jam Jar (Sun 20), and Jack Calloway’s Band celebrate light-hearted swing-jazz at Fringe (Thur 24). A big draw, however, should be the excellent Nu Civilisation Orchestra (Thur 24, St George’s), a talent-stuffed big band of Tomorrow’s Warrior protegés exploring the jazz side of Joni Mitchell, notably her work with Charlie Mingus. Singer ESKA takes vocal duties but, to judge by their previous Marvin Gaye project, the many players of the Orchestra will be equally ear-catching. And while his Electric Ladyband big band has been getting guitarist Denny Ilett deserved plaudits across the country he crops again at the heart of Santarnal (wise use of an r there!), a brilliant 5-piece focusing on the Latin-jazz-psychedelia of the great Santana band (Tue 29, Mr Wolf’s). And Mr Wolf’s hosts a buzzing new residency later on Sundays as each week keyboard ace Dan Moore and power drummer Matt Jones welcome a new guest for a session. Elles Bailey’s blues/jazz guitarist Joe Wilkins goes first (Sun 20) followed by Snazzback fretmeister Eli Jitsuto (Sun 27).

You’ll find some of the city’s finest playing with soul-jazz singer/songwriter Pete Josef (Tue 1, Strange Brew) and Neo-soul multi-instrumentalists Mellowmatic are at Canteen (Fri 4). Another big highlight of the month will be Glaswegian ensemble corto.alto, headed by effervescent trombonist Liam Shortall (Thur 4, Lost Horizon) with amazing drummer Graham Costello just one of the star players in the band. Past appearances at Jam Jar have been brilliant groove-driven showcases and with support from ultra-hip Berlin outfit Moses Yoofee this visit should be a belter. Similarly, Pete Cunningham‘s super-successful Ishmael Ensemble (Thur 10, Trinity) have taken their fusion of jazz, soul and dance music to an international audience since the pandemic, becoming one of the country’s finest and most popular contemporary jazz acts. Similarly ubercool vibes from the other side of the Atlantic are promised when Try Thoughts star Sly5thAve plays at Lost Horizon (Thur 17), combining jazz freedom, funk energy and Hip-hop discipline. London-based sax trio Jagama (Thur 24, Canteen) make a sophisticated blend of jazz, prog and ambient music. More straight ahead (in that New Orleans style) the New York Brass Band will fill the Old Market Assembly with Mardi Gras energy (Fri 25). Having first come to attention with his dazzling guitar work in Kokoroko, Oscar Jerome’s George Benson influences shine through in his solo work with his own band (Tue 29, Trinity).

Meanwhile, back out on the wild side … we already mentioned Paul Dunmall’s quartet at Fringe Jazz (Wed 2) but November things start with the ever unexpected Liquid Library (Tue 1, Cube) and Mr Dunmall’s gig is up against the Broken Numbers 6tet (Wed 2,Cafe Kino), a multi-generational collective of familiar faces from the Bristol improv scene. That night also sees the Brunswick Gathering at The Lightship, celebrating the fertile and freethinking spirit of Bristol’s late lamented Brunswick Club. This fifth bimonthly session features multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Evans. Probably the only avant-rocking hurdy gurdy player ever hits town on Friday 4 when Einsturzende Neubaten veteran Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto’s duo hackedepicciotto bring ‘dark ritual intensity’ to the Crypt of the Mount Without. Abstract experimental composer Carmen Villain premieres new electro-acoustic music with the Manchester Camerata at St George’s (Tue 8) while the Arnolfini hosts Circle, a live performance installation collaboration from the Vilk Collective duo with the digital collective Squidsoup (Tue 11). And it’s great to see another Improv’s Greatest Hits session at Crofters (Wed 9) featuring bass/violin duo John Pope & John Garner as well as trumpet/violin duo Cirenne and the ever unpredictable Big Fuss all making it up as they go along.

And, of course, there’s all those jam sessions for you to do-it-yourself: every Sunday (Hepcat’s Hot Jazz Jam, Barrelhouse; Stag & Hounds jam session) Wednesday (Donut Filler Jam, Mr Wolf’s) and Thursday (Jam & Toast, Old England), plus fortnightly JFS Jam Sessions (Mr Wolf’s, Tuesday). The Hare on the Hill has a Hot Jazz Jam (Wed 9) and the Canteen has its Jazz Jam session (Wed 2), Stone Cold Funk Jam (Wed 16) and Canteen Latin Session (Tue 22).