Music / ella fitzgerald
The week in Jazz December 4 – 10
Trumpeter Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana label has certainly generated a fresh element in the UK jazz scene, largely centred around Manchester and inspired by the spiritual jazz of John and Alice Coltrane. With the release of their 2017 CD Shadow Work Norwich-based trio Mammal Hands offer an interesting extension of the modal ideas underpinning spiritual jazz. The spacious sound of their bass-less combination of sax, piano and percussion blends the more minimalist ideas of early Portico Quartet with the ambient fluidity of Halsall’s work and a certain Nordic austerity. It’s a winning combination that should pack out The Fleece (Thursday 7).
Get The Blessing in their blue period
Time was when Get The Blessing (Hen & Chicken, Sunday 10) were also radical trail-blazers shaking up the jazz scene, but though their music has lost none of its intelligent intensity and wit in 17 years it has to be admitted that, with an international following and five acclaimed albums, they are pretty establishment figures now. An all-too-rare Bristol appearance, therefore, is a nice Christmas present for us all.
Claire Martin goes for that showstopper look
A couple of gigs will be stretching much further back in jazz history this week, with Jools Holland’s seasonal 2-day visit to the Colston Hall (Saturday 9/Sunday 10) bringing his full Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and guests including the splendid Beth Rowley alongside regular vocalist Ruby Turner. And in 2017 it’s time to be celebrating the Ella Fitzgerald Centenary with accomplished vocalist and broadcaster Claire Martin joining the BBC Big Band at St George’s (Thursday 7) for a run through of the classic songs most identified with The First Lady of Song herself.
is needed now More than ever
The Iceman cometh
Improvised music, of course, has yet to be created so could always claim to be the sound of the future and Bristol’s burgeoning wild side has much to offer, with a trio of gigs at the Old England ranging from fly-obsessed skronky trio Hokkett (Wednesday 6) to random chord generator Michael Son Of Michael (Sunday 10) via Noizubito’s electronic chaos onslaughts. Meanwhile at Cafe Kino (Wednesday 6) one of the scene’s main instigators Harry ‘Iceman’ Furniss launches a mixtape of gig recordings with his own IFQ and artcore powerhouse Capri Batterie.
Perdato having fun with their jazz
Drummer Tony Orrell has been mucking about in the free end of things since the 80s, of course, and brings an element of creative uncertainty to all his work. The trio Perdato (Fringe, Wednesday 6) emerged at The Fringe a few years ago, uniting Tony with keyboard player Dan Moore and trumpet-playing bass man Percy Pursglove. All three are splendid free-thinkers as well as top players and the sound of them having fun with the music they love is an enduring pleasure. By contrast the equally talent-stuffed Will Harris London Quintet (Bebop, Friday 8) will represent a more organised side of the jazz tradition, with bass player Will’s compositions and arrangements designed to exploit the musicianship of the players he hooked up with during his recent time at the Royal Academy. Watch out especially for demon pianist Will Barry who also plays with Jasper Hoiby’s Fellow Creatures.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
