Music / Jazz
Bristol’s week in jazz, July 29 – August 4
The Galli’s residents are going walkabout this week, while a range of female vocalists pop up all over the place. Star visitor, though, has to be a hot young saxophone talent from London (via Amsterdam).
Jazzwise magazine picked the alto sax-led Josh Schofield Quartet (Fringe, Wednesday 31) and his quartet as one of their ‘one to watch’ bands for 2019 and this week gives a Bristol audience its first chance to do just that. The band is stuffed with talent, including drummer Billy Weir who impressed greatly with John Law at the Bath Jazz Weekend, and they are augmented by trumpeter Christos Stylianides. Josh himself has a fluent post-bop style and his compositions show a deep understanding of jazz traditions that has made him a hit on the scene in Amsterdam, where he now lives.
Gallimaufry residents Snazzback and Waldo’s Gift are both popping out this week, with accomplished groove merchants Snazzback playing at Canteen (Monday 29) and electro-acoustic improvising trio Waldo’s Gift going to The Plough (Thursday 1). The Waldo’s will also be back at the Gallimaufry on Wednesday (31) when they welcome Snowpoet multi-instrumental main man Chris Hyson into their free-flowing math-tinged workout.
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The Leftbank’s funky house band LBJBs are also putting themselves about, gigging their up-tempo funk and hip-hop flavoured sound at No 1 Harbourside (Friday 2), while El Rincon regulars Los Clandestinos will be sitting down by the tiny tapas bar’s front window once more (Thursday 1). Despite the name the band is hardly a secret now, with Get The Blessing’s Pete Judge playing trumpet alongside Robert Plant/Portishead keyboard player John Baggott. Despite their rocking credentials the duo play light-touch arrangements of judiciously chosen standards.
Those vocalists? There are five distinctive voices on offer, starting with Duval Project’s Marie Liste exploring favourite R&B and blues numbers with guitarist James Ladd (Canteen, Tuesday 30). They’re followed on the same stage by swing and jazz quintet Scarlet Muses (Wednesday 31), fronted by singer Ruth Brown and featuring the impeccable drumming of Emma Holbrook.
Saturday (3) sees Sicilian-born Vita Falbo leading Latin-leaning fivesome Sol at Mr Wolfs, while on Sunday (4) there’s the choice of Brighton’s Sam Carelse visiting the Stag and Hounds weekly session and the louche lounge sound of Jo Swan & Nick Pullin at the Tobacco Factory.
And then, finally, the raw Ukrainian harmonies of Dakhabrakha return to The Lanes (Tuesday 30) as they bounce out of the WOMAD weekend. The band have refined their vocal tradition into a performance art spectacle, with striking costumes and fine melodrama, enhanced by emphatic percussion. Livewire drum and sax duo Run Logan Run will also be appearing
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