Music / free jazz
Bristol’s week in Jazz, July 30 – August 5 2018
So this week it all kicks off on Wednesday (1), jazzwise, with the all-star, drummer-led Andrew Bain Quintet coming to the Fringe. Most associated with saxophonist Jon Irabagon, Andrew can also claim involvement with super-hip NY outfit Mostly Other People Do The Killing as well as, contrastingly, playing for both John and Jacqui Dankworth in his time. He’s joined by excellent Whirlwind label mate Sam Crockatt, subtle and atmospheric pianist Rebecca Nash with Riaan Vosloo’s bass leaving Percy Pursglove free to concentrate on blowing his own trumpet. Best get in early for that one – it’s a small venue and that’s a big draw.
Spontaneous weavers Flowers/Corsano
But if your tastes run to the free-er end of the jazz spectrum you’ll be heading downtown to the Exchange that night where a splendid triple bill is headed by the Flowers/Corsano Duo, a weaving mixture of roiling drums and neo-sitar guitar explorations that flows and flowers. Similarly free-form interactions will come from Grigg/SALTINGS and Autobitch. Meanwhile, to round off the Wednesday menu, Waldos Gift will be exploring their maths and progging their fusions in their inimitable way at Gallimaufry.
Los not-so-secret Clandestinos
With Future Inn taking a summer break it’s up to the diminutive El Rincon to wave the jazz flag on Thursday (2) with the venue’s musical mainman Pete Judge’s Los Clandestinos duo with John Baggott. Given their diversely separate musical careers (Get The Blessing, Three Cane Whale, Portishead, Massive Attack, Robert Plant etc) it’s always charming to see two such left field musicians sit down and explore classic mainstream jazz with care and skill.
is needed now More than ever
Jazzy folksters Rock of Eye
Things rack up again on Friday (3) however, with El Rincon welcoming another trumpet-led duo, this time with the great Cuban player Michel Padron showcasing a new Electro-Latin duo and adding effects to his ever-stylish playing. Over at Salt Cafe there’s a very interesting pairing of improvisational folk/acoustic music led by the Rock of Eye trio who uniquely use violin, mandolin and double bass to make a free-flowing jazz that seamlessly mutates from one traditional tune to another. With support coming from the amazing and spontaneous Paul Bradley it should be an ear-opener, as inevitably will be The Exchange’s Schwetfest 3.0, an anarchic session of arcane improvisational performers ‘doing what we want to do’. Influences will range from Armenian folk, industrial noise and Really Banging Techno – you have been warned.
Groove exploiting Snazzback
Friday also marks the start of the nearby Valley Fest over by the Chew Valley lakes with a number of local jazz favourites appearing including the aforementioned Waldo’s Gift , the neo-classical Spindle Ensemble and groove-exploiting Snazzback.
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