Music / Jazz
The week in Jazz February 19 -25
Given the burgeoning free and improvised music scene in Bristol it’s really timely that one of the greatest innovators (and masters) of spontaneous music makes a solo appearance in the city. Now in his 70th year, pianist and composer Keith Tippett is an undisputed virtuoso, combining phenomenal technical ability with the seamless imagination required to sustain solo improvisation for 45 minutes or more. Southmead-born, he remains a local hero whose Rare Music Club provided a focus for Bristol’s free music fans of a past generation. He returns to the Victoria Rooms (Friday 23) – scene of many great jazz occasions over the years – for a lunchtime performance that’s also free to enter.
Greg Cordez in action with Jake McMurchie and Pete Judge
Earlier in the week bass man Greg Cordez launches his Last Things Last CD at The Wardrobe Theatre (Monday 19). Recorded last year in New York with a dazzling line-up of contemporary NY jazzers the CD marks another step forward in Greg’s already noteworthy compositional skills and his UK quintet (including Get The Blessing’s Pete Judge and Jake McMurchie) brings out the music’s full melodic strength.
Will Barry joins Will Harris at The Fringe
There’s another bass-led fivesome at The Fringe on Wednesday 21, when Will Harris brings his London Quintet together. The project reflects Will’s time at the Royal Academy, with fellow alumni including pianist Will Barry, a core member of Jasper Høiby’s new Fellow Creatures project.
is needed now More than ever
Tori Freestone (left) and Monkish duo partner Alcyona Mick
There’s a nice ‘compare and contrast’ opportunity for fans of jazz piano who manage to catch both the Tori Freestone & Alcyona Mick gig (Future Inn, Thursday 22) and the John Donegan Quintet at the Bebop Club (Friday 23). Alcyona Mick is a member of the London-based Loop Collective and her contemporary style of play reflects both her classical training and deep love of Thelonious Monk – the latter having been the original catalyst for her duo with saxophonist Tori Freestone. The pair now mix Monk numbers with original compositions. John Donegan’s playing roots lie with more hard-bop players like Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans, and his muscular playing was a big influence in the Bristol jazz scene of the 90s before he moved to London. His quintet is an equally muscular affair, with Ben Waghorn’s sax and Greg Cordez on bass to keep it moving.
Sonic pioneer Lawrence Casserley
The aforementioned ‘free’ music strand runs throughout the week, with the Iceman Furniss Quartet leading a packed evening at The Old England (Mon 19), and veteran sound processing pioneer Lawrence Casserley heading an even more busy night at The Exchange (Wednesday 21). Mysterious ambient collagist Louise Brady also appears as Emei at Cafe Kino (Thursday 22) as an unlikely support to avant-folkster Jim Ghedi.
Zara McFarlane – ultra-contemporary vocals
And, finally, the ultra-contemporary vocals of Zara McFarlane (Fleece, Thursday 22)are a refreshing fusion of jazz styling and reggae, with complex and interesting arrangements framing her super-cool voice without ever getting in the way of her songs. Small wonder this Tomorrow’s Warrior protege got swept into Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood stable where they know how to produce this kind of thing so well.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
