Music / Jazz
The week in jazz – April 11-17
A couple of interesting ‘new’ names will be rolling through Bristol’s jazz venues next week, alongside the return of a legend, a few local favourites and an intriguing left field prospect. Possibly best known for his part in the Modern Jazz Quartet tribute band MJQ Celebration, highly rated London bass player Matt Ridley (main picture above) brings his own quartet to the Hen & Chicken this week(Sunday 17). Playing collectively composed original material with a big improvisatory element the band also features saxophone powerhouse Jason Yarde (last seen at the H&C as a guest with Moonlight Savings Time). Matt’s one of the newer names, the other being young saxophone/bass/drums trio Partikel (Future Inn, Thursday 14). Led by saxophonist Duncan Eagles the band’s spacious and exploratory sound has caught many a critical ear and they’ve been dubbed ‘one of the hottest young bands on the UK scene’ by Jazzwise, no less.
The returning legend is the amiable monster sax player Paul Dunmall, a familiar figure around Bristol in the late 80s and 90s who was increasingly recognised worldwide for his powerful and accomplished improvisational skills. He comes back this time as one of the The Deep Whole Trio (Fringe Jazz, Wednesday 13) with equally accomplished free-thinkers Paul Rogers (bass) and Mark Sanders (drums) for what should be an object lesson in making things up as you go along.
So – the local favourites? One will be the multi-talented Andy Hague (above) who won’t actually be blowing his own trumpet as part of the Sound of Blue Note at the Bebop Club (Friday 15). Andy will in fact be drumming for the quartet behind the excellent Andy Urquhart’s hornblowing in a celebration of some choice tunes and arrangements from the US record label’s golden years. Given the late start of sets at the Canteen you might even be able to get over and catch some of the New Orleans street band party of the Brass Junkies that same night, though you’ll have to be ready to dance for the pleasure. Bristol-based saxophonist Julien Alenda fronts his new trio Trinomica at the Old Market Assembly (Thursday 14) and Bristol’s jazz festival organiser Denny Ilett will be welcoming a few friends to join his modern jazz guitar at the Alma Tavern (Sunday 17).
Finally the intriguing left field prospect: the latest thing to spin out of the ever-burgeoning Manchester Beats & Pieces Big Band would seem to be Glowrogues (Old Market Assembly, Friday 15), a 7-piece band combining forceful horns and hip-hop rhythms with a whole lot of flamboyant soloing. It’s a pretty good mix and the players are not half bad.
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