Music / bristol international jazz and blues festival
The week in jazz, January 15-21 2018
Pianist Rebecca Nash began her playing career as a Bristol school pupil before pursuing a jazz education in Cardiff and London and becoming a tutor at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Now resettled back in her home town, her empathetic and subtle keyboard style will feature at two of this week’s most eye-catching jazz gigs, beginning with this week’s Fringe jazz appearance by the drummer-led Andrew Bain Quintet (Wednesday 17). Having spent some years playing on the New York scene Andrew’s composition and playing have been honed in the UK’s contemporary jazz world, and this hot fivesome is a splendid showcase.
Bristol ‘ex-pat’ jazz singer Sara Colman
By contrast The Jazz Dames (Redgrave Theatre, Saturday 20) is an unapologetically retro exploration of the classic jazz vocalist Peggy Lee, with Rebecca Nash playing both bandleader and Musical Director. Five of the city’s top singers, including Rebecca’s long-time collaborator Sara Colman, will be cherry-picking from the countless memorable songs of Peggy’s career. This highly successful formula is now in its third year as a curtain raiser to March’s Jazz and Blues Festival.
Ros Cuthbert and Ashley John Long
Singer/songwriter Ros Cuthbert comes to the Bebop Club (Friday 19) to showcase some of her new material developed with pianist Daan Temmink and bass player Ashley John Long for her forthcoming second album. A highly successful visual artist who has also worked in theatre Ros’ distinctive compositions reflect her strong imagination, while her band with Daan and Ashley joined by guitarist Jerry Crozier-Cole and drummer Andy Tween is a lively gathering of talented players.
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Emerging hooliganism on the jazz scene
Quite why pianist George Cooper and Abstract Orchestra drummer Joost Hendricks picked the name Rise of The Hooligan for their fusion duo is hard to guess, though Joost has been part of a Star Trek inspired improvising band called Shatners Bassoon so creative names come easily to him. Very much part of the Leeds jazz maelstrom he’s a player to keep an eye on and their Future Inn appearance (Thursday 18) comes with special guest bass guitarist Kenny Higgins, a groove machine best known for his work with the Haggis Horns.
Paul Bradley
Another strong presence on this week’s calendar – though not actually appearing themselves – is the genre defying alt-folk trio Three Cane Whale whose members all have gigs with other outfits. Trumpeter Pete Judge’s duo Los Clandestinos brings him and keyboard player John Baggott back to El Rincon (Thursday 18), while mandolinist Alex Vann takes Rock of Eye to Salt Cafe (Friday 19). Formerly known as Zephon, this trio with violinist Madame Ceski and Ron Phelan on bass uses a free-form improvisation approach to flow between interpretations of traditional folk tunes. There will be a solo improvised support set from Three Cane Whale guitarist Paul Bradley as a bonus, and Paul also appears in The Bradley Brothers at the Tobacco Factory (Sunday 21) with sibling Mark.
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