Bristol’s week in jazz, February 3 – 9

It’s a week for jazz-minded fans of ubercool keyboard players, supersmart saxophonists, open-minded improvisers and, as ever, the funk.

Right now it doesn’t get much more hip and/or happening than dynamic young polyrhythmatists The Ezra Collective. Despite that band’s ubiquity, their keyboard player Joe Armon-Jones (Fiddler’s, Friday 7) has found the time to carve out his own parallel success with a blend of heavy club beats and clever contemporary jazz. Two Brownswood albums stuffed with the big names from the young London scene plus sell-out UK tours have consolidated his reputation as both talented and hard-working. The gig is another Worm Disco event and the WD promotion team have just announced their programme for two brilliant hot-ticket nights at the Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival (March 26-29) combining some of the country’s best young acts with stars of the local contemporary jazz scene.

British saxophonist Julian Costello (Be-Bop Club, Friday 7) cast his net even farther to pull together his Julian Costello Quartet, with Polish guitar whizz Maciek Pysz, Russian bass star Yuri Goloubev and Canadian drummer Adam Texeira. Hence their album title Open Borders, perhaps, though it is also a reference to Julian’s commitment to breaking down musical boundaries. Unusually, they are inviting anyone interested to come to their soundcheck to meet the band and learn more about their music.

Pianist Andy Nowak’s Polish roots aren’t necessarily evident in his playing – though there’s an undeniable European flavour to it – but his strongly rhythmic music and thoughtful improvisation make him a rewarding listen. There’s two chances to catch him this week, firstly in the Matt Hopkins & Andy Nowak duo (New MoOn On The Quay, Wednesday 5) and then in his Andy Nowak Quartet (Future Inn, Thursday 6), playing a standards set with guitarist Matt, Al Swainger’s bass and Scott Hammond drumming. There’s solo jazz piano from Tim Funnell at the Hare on The Hill on Wednesday (5), too, and then keyboard ace Dan Moore pops up in the Denny Ilett Organ Trio (No 1 Harbourside, Friday 7).

If you fancy putting your love of top quality improvisatory jazz on the record there’s the chance to do just that at Fringe Jazz on Wednesday (5). As it’s the last night of their UK tour the mighty Paul Dunmall & Jeff Williams Quartet aim to preserve the gig for a live CD. Both saxophonist Paul and drummer Jeff have decades of experience at the highest level and their co-conspirators – bass player Olie Brice and trumpeter Percy Pursglove – are hot on their heels, reputation-wise. It should be a very atmospheric evening. There’s more exuberant saxophone when Brighton’s Ollie Angelkov Cummings leads the Sunday (9) session at the Stag & Hounds.

There are two chances to catch the remarkable voice of Lady Nade this week, the first being as half of Nevada (Canteen, Tuesday 4), her duo with dazzling finger-style and jazz guitarist Holly Carter. The second is an afternoon showcase of Nade’s own music in the St George’s Listening Room (Saturday 8), a really nice new feature of the refurbished building that does just what it says on the can. Later on Saturday you can catch Lithuanian vocalist Karoline Griskute with her quartet at Leftbank.

The Cube are giving over the weekend to the Bristol debut of uncategorisable improvisatory US genius Lonnie Holley (Saturday 8 & Sunday 9). A prolific visual artist and sculptor Lonnie’s 40 year creative career also has a strong musical thread, with work occupying a spiritual space reminiscent of Sun Ra, Moondog or Gil Scott-Heron (whilst also being nothing like any of those). His Sunday performance also features soulful ambient trio Jabu with poet Daniela Dyson. If you can’t get into that you might like to head for Cafe Kino where Off Grid Bristol have an evening of ambient experimental dance with noise-drone artist  AHRKH headlining. Kino’s other ambient night Silencio (Thursday 6) is sold out, however, but on that night there will be a modular session at The Old England featuring ambient explorer YAW (among others). And a busy week at Kino includes another Liquid Lounge evening (Saturday 8) with headliners Pigeon a splendid quartet of local improv luminaries on flute, violin, guitar and bass.

And, finally, the funk … or, rather, the business of jazzy grooving. Hottest name has to be Midlands-based nu-funk groovers Cantaloop (The Bell, Wednesday 5), while the Love Inn are promising deep fried funk from Bristol’s Melotone that night, too. Friday night (7) at the Attic has 8-piece Afro-Caribbean combo Hotsteppas, complete with rapping MCs, and the powerhouse brass-led Leeds 7-piece Tetes de Pois rattle the Jam Jar that night, too. Finally, Saturday sees LeftBank’s remorselessly funky house band LBJBs head out for No 1 Harbourside.

And if all that sweaty dance floor business leaves you breathless you can always finish the week recuperating gently with classic early jazz and country blues duo King & Hall at the Hare on the Hill (Sunday 9).