The week in Jazz November 14 – 20

Sunday, bloody Sunday eh? It’s not unusual for the jazz week to throw up a difficult choice for the discerning listener but this week’s head-to-head is a classic: two extraordinary visiting acts from the world of free improvisation, each representing a genuinely iconic role in the music and both playing on Sunday evening (20). 

So, at the Cube you can see rough-hewn saxophonist Peter Brötzmann (main picture above), a European legend since the late 60s, in his duo with Heather Leigh, slide guitarist extraordinaire. Their music shifts between meditative and frenzied with seamless logic. But at Arnolfini there’s an all-female evening featuring the equally legendary Les Diaboliques (above), a longstanding trio collaboration with its roots in the late 70s Feminist Improvising Group. The threesome are Scottish vocalist Maggie Nichols with French bass player Joëlle Léandre and Swiss pianist Irène Schweizer and they make serious and playful music with elements of satirical theatre. They will have support from Halftone, a Bristol-based all-woman quartet playing part-composed music with a strong commitment to improvisation.

By contrast – but still on Sunday night – a popular trumpeter returns to the Hen & Chicken with Damon Brown’s Korean Trio, a Seoul-based project involving top South Korean guitarist Kang Woon and bass player Park Jin Kyo. This tour marks their UK debut and accompanies the release of the CD Walking On, described by promoter Ian Storrer as having ‘a touch of Chet Baker about the music’.

But before that climactic Sunday there’s a week’s worth of other treats, starting with the dazzling Phronesis at St George’s (Tuesday 15), another European collaboration of three exceptional players who hurl themselves into richly spontaneous renditions of their tunes in the absolute confidence that each will keep up with the other. There’s an aftershow from electro-acoustic soundscapers Saltings, too.

Wednesday (16) sees a pair of Partisans at the Fringe when the Phil Robson Organ Trio comes to town. Guitarist Robson and drummer Gene Calderazzo are joined by pianist Ross Stanley who has emerged as a serious Hammond organ talent, too, and the band is getting rave reviews for its contemporary sound. Another hip and happening keyboard player appears at Future Inn (Thursday 17) in the shape of Polish-born and UK based Tomasz Bura, whose Bura III feat. Rouhangeze brings eclectic Mauritian soul-jazz singer Rouhangeze Baichoo (pictured) for her Bristol debut.

Friday night (18) sees more ivory tinkling action at the Colston Hall Foyer free early evening slot in the shape of contemporary jazz pianist Mike Collins (above) and his quartet featuring Canadian saxophonist Len Aruliah in a set of Mike’s distinctively reflective tunes. It would be a gentle aperitif to anyone thinking of heading to the Bebop Club to catch BEJE (Bristol European Jazz Ensemble) later that evening. Comprising German, French, Italian and UK players the band have a vigorous straight ahead energy that’ll make for a lively evening.