Bristol’s week in jazz, November 25 – December 1

Oh it’s a busy week, this one, chock full of great excuses for forgetting about Christmas, elections and other near-apocalyptic gloominess. There’s a load of tasty Afro, Latin and other world music influences, a slather of funk, lashings of brass and three chances to celebrate an undersung talent of the Bristol scene.

Bristol-based Ruth Hammond (pictured above) was the star saxophone player of her year at Leeds College of Music, and as such was only just pipped for the BBC’s Young Jazz Musician award. It’s her keyboard skills that are most widely known, however – possibly highlit by the fact that she actually married a Hammond (drummer Scott of that ilk). While being a prolific accompanist and collaborator on said instrument (Starlings, Hammond-Hopkins Trio, Phil King Band) it’s been great to see her sax skills re-emerge, notably in the Brass Junkies and on Gary Alesbrook’s recent album. She’s appearing on keys this week in two of her regular combos, Hopkins Hammond Trio (Canteen, Wednesday 27) and  Sophie Stockham & Ruth Hammond (El Rincon, Thursday 28), but it’s Friday’s Soul Approach gig at the Bebop Club that stands out. This new quintet project from the equally prolific Andy Hague was conceived to feature Ruth’s suave and soulful tenor sax in numbers by Stanley Turrentine, Hank Mobley and other soul-jazz luminaries.

Another talented local saxophonist and composer makes a welcome return this week when the Kevin Figes Quartet comes to Future Inn (Thursday 28). Kevin’s writing reflects a thorough understanding of jazz heritage, while his playing blends strong contemporary influences with classic style. Similar comments could be made about another local alto star – Sophie Stockham – whose quartet Orphic plays at Tobacco Factory (Sunday 1). And Orphic flugelhorn player Pete Judge also appears at the Grain Barge in the hotly-anticipated return of legendary surreal pop-jazz combo Organelles (Thursday 28).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-v-Oqre96Y

First up in the African treats this week are Kokoko (Fiddlers, Tuesday 26). This quite remarkable collective from Kinshasa play unique handmade instruments in a fusion of modern electronic dance music and richly African rhythmic traditions. The result is wholly original, thanks to their imaginative creativity. It’s an unfortunate co-incidence that on the same evening you can also catch Cameroonian Afrobeat band Helele at the Gallimaufry and Senegalese singer and dancer Batch Gueye at Mr Wolfs. Tough choices.

African music buffs can still get to Senegalese kora-playing legend Seckou Keita when he comes to St George’s in AKA (Thursday 28), an acoustic trio with Latin jazz guitar wizard Antonio Forcione and Afro-jazz percussionist Adriano Adewale. Three virtuoso players with flexible ideas about their traditions make for an interesting jazz-world fusion.

An undoubted giant of contemporary Latin dance music comes to Marble Factory in the shape of Will Holland aka Quantic (Friday 29). Now relocated to New York producer and musician Will spent many years in Bogota, Colombia, immersed in the Cumbia scene. As a result his band has some of the finest local musicians helping him make compelling contemporary music that never loses the irresistible grooves of that dance. That’s sure to be a flawless performance, too. It’s another unfortunate co-incidence that London-based Cubans  Sambroso bring their Buena Vista tribute to Fiddler’s on the same night. Tough choices, indeed, but there’s still Chilean-rooted Latinistas La Madrastra (Hare on the Hill, Sunday 1).

Funkwise, you have ‘lounge funk jazz with teeth’ outfit Errol’s Kitchen (Leftbank, Friday 29) and Manfredi Funk Initiative (No 1 Harbourside). Both bands feature the rhythm pairing of Stef Manfredi (bass) and Anthony ‘Errol’ Flynn (drums) and a fair amount of instrumental dexterity besides. For a more jazzy take on those grooves (and many more besides) there’s lively young Leeds collective  TC & The Groove Family (Crofter’s Rights, Friday 29).

Big brass and string sounds from even farther afield come to Canteen in the shape of Fat Suit (Thursday 28). Their awesome line-up allows for complex compositions combining rock, jazz and prog ideas tightly meshed into an almost orchestral sound. They’re followed at Canteen by London’s Brass Funkeys (Friday 29), purveying the new-style New Orleans second line sound.If you’re not too wrung out after that there’s Dat Brass (The Lanes, Saturday 30), another bunch of Londoners working smart hip-hoppery into their full-blown onslaughts.

Returning to more homegrown talent, the fine pairing of future jazzers Hippo with contemporary funk band Prudent Primate should fill Mr Wolf’s (Friday 29), while the excellently cool beats’n’ jazz contemporary sound of Phantom Ensemble will please The Bell (Wednesday 27). Gallimaufry regulars Waldo’s Gift welcome half-Bristolian duo Luo to join them on Wednesday (27) while the increasingly amazing Snazzback appear at the Galli on Thursday (28).

Finally … it’s good to welcome regular live jazz to the Star & Garter on a Sunday, with hotshot Hammond band the Johnny Henderson Trio featuring this week (Sunday 1).