The week in Jazz February 6-12

The Bristol visit of the New York Standards Quartet in 2012 was one of that year’s jazz highlights so there should be some deserved interest in the return of the band’s stylish saxophone player (above) when Tim Armacost’s Triad play at the hen & Chicken (Sunday 12). As well as Tim’s expressive and distinctive playing (he has immersed himself in both Indian and Japanese music as well as jazz) the threesome includes influential UK-based bass player Michael Janisch and Austrian drummer Klemens Marktl.

The gig comes at the end of a star-spangled week for jazz aficionados, with the inevitable hard choice coming, inevitably, on Thursday night (9). That night St George’s are hosting Quercus, the brilliant folk-jazz collaboration between singer June Tabor, ever-eclectic jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy and pianist Huw Warren. Their music is darkly atmospheric, not least due to Ms Tabor’s notorious choice of sinister traditional material as their starting point.

By contrast over at Future Inn John Law’s Recreations sees the master improviser of jazz piano team up with some bright young whippersnappers (including impressive saxman Sam Crockatt). As the name suggests the emphasis is on revisiting classic tunes with a view to original interpretations – something John can always be counted on to find. And for even further contrast you could try cutting edge electronic trio The Strobes who hit Canteen on the same night. Launched last year with debut album Brokespeak the band’s intelligent combination of skewed beats and intricate keyboard/guitar interactions is as post-math as it comes.

But leaving Thursday’s dilemma aside there are still more treats on offer this week, notably Wednesday’s (8) session at the Bristol Fringe featuring Sirkis/Bialas IQ. The Sirkis is, of course, superb percussionist Asaf – a frequent collaborator with John Law, among many others – with soulful Polish vocalist Sylvia Biales, smart pianist Frank Harrison and the frankly gobsmacking bass guitarist Kevin Glasgow also contributing the occasional harmonica break. Their music is reflective and evolutionary, weaving emotional soundscapes from simple melodic lines.

Also somewhat gobsmacking is Sardinian ‘guitar sorcerer’ Paolo Angeli (Lantern, Tuesday 7). Paolo has developed a frankly weird hybrid guitar-instrument using extra strings, mechanical hammers and electronic effects with which he generates free-flowing musical improvisations somewhere between ambient jazz, folk and stadium rock. He is supported by contemporary world-acoustic guitarist Derek Gripper.

Finally, the Alma Tavern (Sunday 12) welcomes Italian composer and pianist Maria Chiara Argiro (above) with her London-based quintet and original contemporary music from her recently-released debut album The Fall Dance which falls somewhere between modern jazz and contemporary classical music.